Top photo: Michael Wolf Snyder with Frances McDermond.
FATHER FINDS SON DEAD
Michael Wolf Snyder, who worked on the new award-winning movie ‘Nomadland’ starring Frances McDormand, has committed suicide at the age of 35.
Snyder was found dead in his apartment in Queens, New York, by his father who went to check on him after he hadn’t been heard from for several days.
David Snyder, a psychiatrist, said his son had battled deep depression for many years.
Frances McDormand, who plays a homeless woman traveling through the American West, said in a statement: “Wolf recorded our heart beats. Our every breath. For me, he is ‘Nomadland.’”
The film’s director, Chloe Zhao, who also worked with Snyder on the 2017 contemporary western film ‘The Rider,’ said:
“On ‘The Rider’ and ‘Nomadland,’ I always looked at Wolf after each take. I didn’t wear headphones on set and so I heavily relied on Wolf to be my ears. He would nod at me with a happy grin, or tears in his eyes, or sometimes he would discreetly signal ‘one more.’”
Snyder is believed to have killed himself before getting to see ‘Nomadland’ win the Golden Globe award for Best Picture.
“Even his love for his family, as well as his love of film and his movie family, was not enough to conquer his demons,” his father said.
“I hope that Michael’s death will alert others to speak up and seek the help that they need. It is such a tragic waste that despair can end a life with so much promise.”
