Skye McCole Bartusiak: Child Actress of The Patriot and 24
Skye McCole Bartusiak was an American child actress and child model. She was best known for playing Mel Gibson’s youngest daughter in The Patriot (2000) and for her roles in Don’t Say a Word (2001) and Boogeyman (2005). She was also known as Megan Matheson on the second season of 24 (2002–03). She died in Houston on July 19, 2014, aged 21.
Skye McCole Bartusiak made her name at an age when most performers have not started yet. Before she turned ten, she had worked opposite Mel Gibson, Michael Douglas and Michael Caine. People still search for her because of The Patriot and because of her role as the frightened young Megan Matheson on 24.
Skye McCole Bartusiak at a glance
| Born | September 28, 1992, Houston, Texas, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Died | July 19, 2014, Houston, Texas (aged 21) |
| Occupation | Actress, child model |
| Years active | 1999–2011 |
| Known for | The Patriot (2000), Don’t Say a Word (2001), 24 (2002–03), Boogeyman (2005) |
| Profiles | Wikipedia · IMDb |
Skye McCole Bartusiak’s early film breakthrough (1999–2001)
Skye McCole Bartusiak started her screen career in 1999, when she was about seven years old. That year she appeared in The Cider House Rules, a drama starring Michael Caine and Tobey Maguire that went on to win Academy Awards. She also appeared in the TV movie Witness Protection. Early guest roles followed on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Frasier.
Her first substantial feature role came in The Patriot (2000), a Revolutionary War epic in which she played the youngest daughter of Mel Gibson’s character. In 2001 she appeared in the thriller Don’t Say a Word with Michael Douglas and in Penny Marshall’s Riding in Cars with Boys. She also had a role in The Affair of the Necklace that year.
Skye McCole Bartusiak on television and in genre films (2002–2005)
Skye McCole Bartusiak worked steadily in television from 2002. She played Rose Wilder in Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder (2002). She also played Young Charlie McGee in the Stephen King sequel miniseries Firestarter 2: Rekindled (2002), in which the young Charlie turns her pyrokinesis against a government abductor.
From 2002 to 2003 she played Megan Matheson on the second season of 24, the role many viewers remember her for. She also appeared in the TV movie Love Comes Softly. In 2004 she appeared in the boxing drama Against the Ropes. In 2005 she starred alongside Emily Deschanel and Lucy Lawless in the horror film Boogeyman and made guest appearances on House and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
Skye McCole Bartusiak’s later roles and directing (2006–2014)
Skye McCole Bartusiak moved into independent films as a teenager. She appeared in Kill Your Darlings (2006), played Daisy Goodhart in American Primitive (2008) and Alex in Pineapple (2008). Her last credited screen role was Lucy in Sick Boy (2011). That same year she began directing, starting with the short documentary University of Penn Relay Carnival. She died at her home in Houston on July 19, 2014.
Selected Skye McCole Bartusiak movies and TV shows
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Sick Boy | Lucy | Film |
| 2008 | Pineapple | Alex | Film |
| 2008 | American Primitive | Daisy Goodhart | Film |
| 2006 | Kill Your Darlings | — | Film |
| 2005 | Boogeyman | — | Film |
| 2004 | Against the Ropes | — | Film |
| 2002–2003 | 24 | Megan Matheson | TV series |
| 2002 | Firestarter 2: Rekindled | Young Charlie McGee | TV series |
| 2002 | Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder | Rose Wilder | Film |
| 2001 | Riding in Cars with Boys | — | Film |
| 2001 | Don’t Say a Word | — | Film |
| 2000 | The Patriot | — | Film |
| 1999 | The Cider House Rules | — | Film |
| 1999 | Witness Protection | — | Film |
FAQ
– What happened to Skye McCole Bartusiak?
Skye McCole Bartusiak died at her home in Houston, Texas, on July 19, 2014, aged 21. She was born on September 28, 1992.
– Was Skye McCole Bartusiak Mel Gibson’s daughter in The Patriot?
Yes. Skye McCole Bartusiak played the youngest daughter of Mel Gibson’s character in The Patriot (2000). It was her first substantial role in a feature film.
– Who did Skye McCole Bartusiak play on 24?
Skye McCole Bartusiak played Megan Matheson on the second season of 24, which aired from 2002 to 2003.
– What are Skye McCole Bartusiak’s best-known movies?
Skye McCole Bartusiak’s best-known films are The Patriot (2000), Don’t Say a Word (2001), Riding in Cars with Boys (2001), Against the Ropes (2004) and Boogeyman (2005). She also played Young Charlie McGee in Firestarter 2: Rekindled (2002).
The header image is an AI-generated illustration, not an actual photo or film still.
