Is Soleil Borda Dead?

Soleil Borda: Did Soleil Borda die? She seems to have dropped off the earth. Soleil Borda played “Tina” in the sitcom “Still Standing” which ran from 2002 to 2005. Almost always, a child actor in a sitcom that runs several years gets more work after the sitcom ends. According to IMDB, Soleil Borda hasn’t been in anything since “Still Standing” ended. That’s peculiar because she had an odd, almost creepiness about her that could have gotten her many more roles. Soleil Borda doesn’t have the look that would get her leading roles, but she certainly had a look and presence that would have landed her other sitcom roles and perhaps minor guest appearances in TV dramas.

I’ve looked up Soleil Borda in cyberspace and one viewer of “Still Standing” insists that after one of the episodes, it said “In Loving Memory of Soleil Borda.” Another viewer said it was “In Loving Memory of Jacintha VanDaal.” These names aren’t the least bit similar. Another viewer suggested that the credit for Soleil Borda must have come right after the “In Loving Memory,” thereby confusing that original viewer. But this makes no sense because the credit for Soleil Borda comes only at the beginning of the show.

A few people suggested that had Soleil Borda died, it would have made news, and would be in cyberspace somewhere. After all, she was a child actress in a sitcom. But I’m not so sure about this theory because Soleil Borda was not a leading child actress in a sitcom. She wasn’t quite at the status that the actress who played “Rudy” was on “Cosby.”

“Cosby” was a prime time high ranked sitcom. “Still Standing” didn’t come close to this status, though I don’t know why, since it’s hilarious. Had the actress who played Rudy (who had more speaking lines than Soleil Borda) died, while she was still very young, that would have made major news. But a little chubby girl on “Still Standing”? I’m not sure this would have made the newspapers, and certainly not “Inside Edition” or CNN — unless the death was the result of foul play or a car accident, perhaps. But if Soleil Borda died of illness…that may have been kept under wraps.

It’s odd that Soleil Borda’s IMDB profile says nothing of what she’s up to currently, since “Still Standing” ended in 2005. Usually, IMDB’s “Where they are now” will list something, even if it’s something about the actor retiring.

I did an IMDB check on the Trefger twins, who starred in four episodes of “Home Improvement” as 10-year-olds. One of the twins then played in “Castaway.” But IMDB lists nothing beyond that. They, too, seemed to have vanished.

However, googling their unusual names, Lindsey and Ashley Trefger, pulls up links for high school volleyball and softball teams. A volleyball team has a Lindsey Trefger on it, plus a photo. Well, it sure looked like highschool age advancement of the younger character she had played. But then, there’s another volleyball player, Ashley Trefger, same team, identical face. Plus, there is an Ashley and Lindsey Trefger on the same softball team, same age the actresses would be according to the link’s date. If that isn’t proof they’re the same girls who were in “Home Improvement,” I don’t know what is.

I figured a google of Soleil Borda might pick something up relating to what she’s up to these days; how many Soleil Bordas can there be? But nothing comes up except links related to “Still Standing.”

One viewer said Soleil Borda is in the movie “Black Christmas.” According to IMDB’s cast list, she’s not. Another viewer said Soleil Borda is in “The Middleman.” But ditto.

I sure hope Soleil Borda didn’t die.

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