Justin Charles Pierce was born in London, England to a Welsh mother and an Australian father, and grew up in the Marble Hill section of Manhattan, New York City. He attended P.S. 7 in the Bronx for elementary school and J.H.S. 141 in the Riverdale section of the Bronx for junior high school. However, his parents' divorce when he was 15 years old marked a significant turning point in his life.
After his parents' divorce, Pierce began acting out and skipping school in favor of skateboarding. He soon dropped out of school and moved out, staying in a basement with fellow skaters. Pierce's reckless behavior continued, and he was eventually arrested for possession of marijuana and heroin substances found under his pants during a police road search. The court hearing resulted in an inconclusive outcome, leading to his release.
Pierce returned to live with his parents at the age of 19, but his struggles continued. One day, while skateboarding in Washington Square Park, he was discovered by film director Larry Clark, who cast him in his controversial 1995 independent film Kids. Pierce's portrayal of Casper, a foul-mouthed skater punk, earned him an Independent Spirit Award and recognition in the film industry.
Pierce went on to appear in several films and television shows, including A Brother's Kiss, First Time Felon, This Is How the World Ends, and Malcolm in the Middle. He also starred alongside Ice Cube and Mike Epps in the motion picture Next Friday. Despite his professional success, Pierce struggled with personal demons, and his life was cut short on July 10, 2000, when he was found hanging in his room at the Bellagio hotel.
A Catholic service was held for Pierce on July 15, 2000, at St. Patrick's Old Cathedral in Manhattan's Little Italy, attended by Kids co-star Chloë Sevigny. However, it was the memorial held by his friends at the Public Theater that revealed the most about the actor. Dozens of Pierce's close friends, many of whom were skaters, gathered to pay their respects and share stories about his life. As "Knocking on Heaven's Door" played over the sound system, the crowd wept openly, and friends rose to memorialize Pierce, celebrating his life and legacy.
