Ellen DeGeneres is paying tribute to someone close to her heart.
The former talk show host honored Tayt Andersen, a beloved and frequent guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, who passed away on Sept. 26 at the age of 19. According to his family, Tayt’s health declined after developing an infection while bravely battling cancer, per E! Online.
“We had a very special guest on the show several times and his name is Tayt,” Ellen said in an Instagram video posted after Andersen passed away. “He thought that I was his girlfriend, and so I told him he was my boyfriend.”
At 67, Ellen DeGeneres reflected on her bond with Tayt, remembering him as “a very special little human being” who filled every room with joy, laughter, and light. Fighting back tears, she admitted simply, “I will miss him.”
A tribute video highlighted Tayt’s many visits to The Ellen DeGeneres Show, with his mother, Chrissy Andersen, recalling his remarkable resilience. Born with only half a heart, Tayt underwent 12 surgeries before the age of 9. Through it all, his greatest comfort came from watching Ellen. He loved her show so deeply that he insisted doctor’s appointments be scheduled around it, even asking nurses to sit with him so he wouldn’t miss an episode, according to E! Online.
Tayt Andersen first appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in January 2013, where Ellen affectionately declared him her “only boyfriend” after discovering he called her his “girlfriend,” per PEOPLE. During a video call, he sweetly told her, “I love you.”
Just weeks later, he joined Ellen in person, beginning a tradition of heartwarming visits to the show over the years. One of the most memorable came in 2015, when Tayt proudly shared the life-changing news with her: “I got myself a new heart!”
A GoFundMe set up in Tayt Andersen’s name details his long and difficult health journey. Born with only half a heart, he endured 12 surgeries before turning 9. At age 10, he underwent a heart transplant, but later faced a new battle when he was diagnosed with post-transplant lymphoma during his teens.
In 2024, at just 18, Tayt was diagnosed with bladder cancer. By June 2025, the disease had spread to his pelvis, spine, abdomen, chest, and neck. Doctors then gave him a prognosis of just three to four months to live.
