Steph Curry Fires Back at Nick Young and Gilbert Arenas Over Ayesha Curry Movie Jabs

(Illustration: USA Current Affaires)

Beau Jessup, the 27-year-old daughter of British actress and television presenter Lisa Maxwell, has died suddenly while studying journalism in New York City.

Columbia Journalism School announced her death on Wednesday, November 11, sharing the news on its social media accounts. "Columbia Journalism School mourns the loss of Beau Jessup, a student in our M.S. program," the school wrote. "We join Jessup's family, friends and classmates in remembering her."

Jessup died on Monday, November 9. No cause of death has been confirmed, and no further details about the circumstances have been released.

Jessup was pursuing a master's degree in journalism at the prestigious Ivy League university and was due to graduate in May 2027 — just six months away. In September, her mother proudly shared a photo of Jessup with Columbia's Class of 2027 on social media, writing: "Congratulations guys! Especially my daughter @BeauJessup over in NYC making us all super proud."

A Promising Journalist

Before Columbia, Jessup studied social anthropology at the London School of Economics and Writing for Performance at the University of Cambridge — studies she said shaped her interest in cultural journalism, "particularly how institutions, identity, and social expectations influence the way we live and understand one another."

Columbia later published an interview Jessup had given for its "Notebook" series, which spotlights students, in memory of her life and her time in New York. The school said it had decided to publish the "insightful discussion in memory of her far-too-brief life and experience at Columbia and in New York City."

Jessup was the only daughter of Maxwell, 62, and her husband, businessman Paul Jessup. Maxwell is best known in the UK for playing Detective Inspector Samantha Nixon on the long-running police drama The Bill and as a former panellist on the daytime talk show Loose Women.

Tributes and Silence

🔥 Trending Now — Read More

Neither Maxwell nor her husband has spoken publicly about their daughter's death. Friends, classmates and colleagues have been sharing condolences as the news spreads, remembering a young woman with a bright future in journalism cut far too short.

Our thoughts are with Lisa Maxwell, Paul Jessup and all of Beau's family, friends and classmates at this devastating time.

Also trending today: 'Yes, Dear' star Anthony Clark dies at 62 as co-star Mike O'Malley pays tribute. Leave your condolences in the comments below.