Steven “Twitch” Boss was born in Montgomery, Alabama, on September 29, 1982. His constant energy and movement earned him the nickname “Twitch,” as mentioned in the Philadelphia Sunday newspaper. After studying dance at a community college, he appeared on Star Search and MTV’s The Wade Robson Project. In 2008, he competed on So You Think You Can Dance, introducing himself with, “My name is Steven Boss, AKA Twitch. I’m 25 years old, and I’m from Montgomery, Alabama.” His TV success eventually led to a film career.
It was during So You Think You Can Dance that he met Allison Holker, a Minnesota native and mother of one. Twitch told Dance Spirit that, aside from getting caught checking her out in a hallway, he didn’t initially interact with her. Allison, who thought he was cute and admired his fun personality from a distance, tried to get his attention multiple times. She shared with Dance Spirit that she would brush up against him, grab his bottom, or touch his arm whenever she could. However, Twitch didn’t respond to her advances at first.
Outside of rehearsals, they mostly kept their distance. Both were friendly and social with the other All-Stars, but they hadn’t really talked. One night at a party, Allison met Twitch’s mom and brother and even danced with Twitch for a bit. She later told Dance Spirit that she felt it was time to make a move. Twitch seemed to get the hint and asked for her number, but then he never called. Undeterred, Allison got his number and started texting him, though their conversations didn’t really go anywhere.
Then, in 2010, at the So You Think You Can Dance Season 7 wrap party, Allison decided to go all in. She showed up with the goal of finding him. When she saw him across the room, he pointed at her and gestured for her to come over. They went upstairs and danced for three hours straight. Twitch recalled, “We danced the entire night, and we’ve been together ever since.” Allison told HollywoodLife that they never had a first date or even a long conversation before that night, but after dancing together, they knew they wanted to be together.
Within three weeks of dating, she asked if he wanted kids. He excitedly told her he hoped to have seven or eight. He loved the idea of a big family since he didn’t grow up in one. After Season 7, Allison toured with “So You Think You Can Dance,” and Twitch toured with The LXD. Then she moved to Toronto for a project, and he went to Miami to film a movie. In their first year together, they were apart for nine months.
In her past relationships, men often said they were okay with her traveling for work but struggled to understand her lifestyle. Things were different with Twitch. Allison told Dance Spirit that they spent their first year together on Skype, proving their commitment by chatting every night despite different schedules.
Before they started dating, Twitch had already met Allison’s daughter, Wesley. Once they became a couple, Allison was cautious about his interactions with her daughter and the potential complications of dating a coworker. She told AskMen.com that she decided love was worth the risk and that without taking risks, you can’t grow. About six months into their relationship, when she realized it was serious, she let Twitch spend more time with Wesley. Eventually, he became like a second father to her, and Allison loved watching their bond grow. Her parents adored him too. He fit perfectly into their family, and she knew he was the one.
In January 2013, he proposed to Allison on the set of a Microsoft commercial, and she said yes. They got married in December that same year and later had two children, Zaya and Maddox. In 2014, he joined The Ellen DeGeneres Show as a guest DJ and eventually became a permanent part of the show and a co-executive producer. He also co-hosted Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings with Allison and appeared in several popular films and TV shows, including Magic Mike XXL, Modern Family, and Step Up: All In.
During a 2017 interview on the Aubrey Marcus podcast, Twitch opened up about facing some personal struggles. He didn’t go into details but mentioned that being a father added another layer of pressure. “No matter what, even if something seems very devastating, there’s some kind of force that keeps you going, and you bounce back immediately. It doesn’t have to be a Hollywood story like you’re writing the intro to a book. ‘Dog, I had the gun in my hand, yeah.'”
Allison told E! News that Twitch was an incredible father and stepdad. She shared that watching him with their children was a blessing and that he was the best example of a man and a father. She added that he made their family feel safe and inspired, and she fell in love with him all over again every morning they woke up together. Their family life revolved around the kitchen, where they would spend time together cooking, listening to music, and, of course, dancing.
In February 2020, US Weekly asked if they were thinking about having another baby. Allison said they weren’t against it; they just wanted to make sure they could give all their children the love and attention they deserved. As for Twitch, he changed his mind about wanting seven or eight kids after seeing what Allison went through during childbirth. He decided to leave the decision up to her.
In 2020, they celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary and ten years together as a couple. Twitch told ET Canada that he was excited about the next 15 to 20 years. Allison added that they loved watching older couples who still had so much love for each other after many years. She said, “We love watching old couples holding hands; we can’t wait to be old.”
At the start of their relationship, they spent a lot of time apart, but things changed over the years. By October 2022, Allison told OK magazine that they were waking up together, going to the office together, and working together all day. They were enjoying every minute and felt like they were back in the honeymoon phase of their relationship.
On December 14, 2022, just days after celebrating their ninth wedding anniversary, Twitch unexpectedly left his family home without his vehicle or any warning. Concerned by this unusual behavior, Allison visited an LAPD office, convinced something was wrong since they hadn’t argued or had any issues; he had simply gotten up and left, which was completely out of character. According to TMZ, law enforcement officials accompanied her back to their home and conducted a brief check of the property to look for any clues, acknowledging Allison’s insistence on the abnormality of Twitch’s actions. They considered listing him as a critical missing person, but shortly after Allison contacted the police, a 9-1-1 call revealed that Twitch’s body had been found at a motel near their home. The cause of his death was determined to be a self-inflicted wound. He was just 40 years old.
Allison confirmed his passing in a statement, saying, “To say he left a legacy would be an understatement, and his positive impact will continue to be felt.” A motel employee noted that Twitch did not appear visibly upset when he checked into his room, and sources reported that the entertainer had several exciting projects lined up in the near future. His passing sent shockwaves through the industry and beyond, highlighting the importance of being supportive of others, as one can never truly know the battles someone might be facing behind closed doors.