The sudden passing of actress Jessica Campbell ('Election,' 'Freaks and Geeks')

She was only 38 years old and there was no indication that she was in mortal danger. On December 29, 2020, however, she suddenly fell down and did not get up. Actress and naturopathic physician Jessica Campbell passed away and leaves us with memories of the movie 'Election' and the cult series 'Freaks and Geeks.'

Born on October 30, 1982 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jessica Campbell started acting at a young age. She appeared in the TV drama 'In the Best Interest of the Children' when she was only ten years old. Pictured here on the right end side of the photo, she worked together with a very young Sarah Jessica Parker.

The movie was one of those typical TV dramas inspired by real life stories. It told the story of a young mother who had trouble raising her five children alone. (Jessica Campbell is the third child from the right on this photo.)

Her biggest role came in 1999, when she played a high schooler running for student body president in the movie 'Election.'

Starring Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick, the movie was praised by critics but failed at the box office. According to the Huffington Post, it's Barack Obama's favorite political movie, and filmmaker Edgar Wright put it in his list of favorite comedies ever.

Reese Witherspoon, who was 23 at the time, plays an overambitious high school senior who insists in winning the student body president election. One of her opponents is Tammy Metzler, played by Jessica Campbell.

Jessica Campbell was only 17 when the movie came out. She played a teenager with a broken heart and a nihilistic political pamphlet in the high school presidential race.

Her character is a gay adolescent with a complex character and teenage angst. Jessica Campbell was praised for her role and nominated for various awards. She won the 'Emerging Actor' award at the St. Louis International Film Festival.

Jessica Campbell's next project involved another high school comedy-drama. This time it was the cult series 'Freaks and Geeks,' in which the protagonists were a young James Franco, Seth Rogen, and Jason Segel, among others.

Jessica Campbell was 18 years old and gave life to the school girl Amy, who plays the tuba in the high school marching band.

At school she catches the eye of Ken (Seth Rogen), who falls in love with her. They end up as a couple, but it won't last long. Jessica Campbell's part in the series comprised only two episodes.

After 'Election' and 'Freaks and Geeks,' the young actress played in a few more productions. The biggest was the film 'The Safety of Objects' in 2001, with Glenn Close and a very young Kristen Stewart. Other films were the lesser known 'Junk' and 'Dad's Day' in 2002.

After these movies, Jessica Campbell decided to retire from acting and start a career as a naturopathic (holistic, alternative) physician. Her cousin, who posted this picture on a Go Fund Me page, says that she was "compassionate and loyal" and that she "packed a staggering amount of experiences into her tragically short lifetime."

Campbell got married in 2009 and had a son with her husband Daniel a few years later. On December 29, 2020, after meeting with patients, she collapsed at home. The cause of death has not been determined, but she allegedly had flu-like symptoms on the morning of her death. Jessica Campbell is leaving behind her 10-year old son, husband, mother, aunt, and her cousin Sarah Wessling who announced the news of her death on January 13, 2021.

Hearing the news of Jessica Campbell's sudden passing, Reese Witherspoon immediately sent out a tweet: "So heart broken to hear this. Working with Jessica on 'Election' was such a pleasure. I'm sending all my love to Jessica’s family and loved ones."

Read more: Stars we lost in 2020