Christian Cousins, the former child actor who appeared alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1990 comedy Kindergarten Cop, has died at 43 after suffering from liver disease. His half-brother, Jonas Roeser, announced the death in an emotional family tribute.
Cousins died on October 20, 2026, although the news gained wider attention on November 13. He was best known for sharing the role of Dominic with his identical twin brother, Joseph “Joey” Cousins. The pair also appeared in the television drama Knots Landing.
Christian Cousins’ Death Confirmed by Family
Roeser announced Christian’s death on October 22, revealing that the former actor had been seriously ill with liver disease.
“Christian had been very sick with liver disease,” Roeser wrote. He expressed comfort in believing his brother was reunited with his mother and no longer suffering.
Roeser also remembered Christian as a passionate, energetic person with ambitious dreams.
The family has not disclosed the specific liver condition, treatment history or immediate medical cause of death. Funeral arrangements have not been publicly confirmed.
Christian Cousins’ Age, Twin Brother and Family
Born Christian Michail Cousins on March 17, 1983, in Orange County, California, he was 43 when he died.
His identical twin brother Joseph worked alongside him throughout their childhood acting careers, with the pair frequently sharing screen roles.
Roeser revealed that he and the twins grew up in different states and did not meet in person until he attended college, although he had previously watched their television performances.
Cousins’ death follows other recent losses in television entertainment, including New Zealand comedian Dai Henwood, who died at 48 following a cancer battle.
His Famous Role Alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger
Christian and Joseph jointly portrayed Dominic Palmieri, also known as Cullen Crisp Jr., in Kindergarten Cop, directed by Ivan Reitman.
Schwarzenegger played John Kimble, an undercover detective who poses as a kindergarten teacher while investigating a criminal case involving a young boy and his mother.
The twins shared Dominic’s role partly because child labor regulations restricted filming hours for young performers.
During a 2020 reunion celebrating the film’s 30th anniversary, Christian recalled meeting Schwarzenegger and Reitman during auditions. He explained that the filmmakers invited the brothers to additional auditions to observe their interactions with other children.
Christian Cousins’ Movies and Television Career
Beyond Kindergarten Cop, Christian and Joseph portrayed Bobby Gibson Ewing in Knots Landing during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Their acting credits included Highway to Heaven, Critters 3, Intruders, A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion and Twin Sitters.
The brothers largely stepped away from professional acting during the mid-1990s after appearing in numerous television episodes and films.
Christian Cousins’ Life After Hollywood
Christian pursued a career outside entertainment after leaving acting. By 2020, he was working as vice president of retail development at LumiSource, a home furnishings company.
His participation in the Kindergarten Cop reunion offered audiences a rare opportunity to hear about his childhood experiences working with Schwarzenegger.
His death comes amid tributes to other familiar television figures, including British television presenter Tommy Walsh, who died at 69 following a long illness.
According to People’s November 13 report, Roeser’s tribute emphasized Christian’s personality and ambitions beyond his early acting career.
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