Chase Filandro, 20‑Year‑Old Rising Influencer and Actor, Dies Suddenly Leaving Behind a Legacy of Light

5 August 2025

On July 31, 2025, the vibrant life of Chase Filandro, a 20‑year‑old New York City based influencer, actor, photographer, and vocalist with the indie rock band Just Add Water, came to an unexpected end. Known to his more than 30,000 Instagram followers as a natural born storyteller and adventurer, he shared imagery and reflections from his travels across U.S. national parks. His sudden death landed as a shock to both friends and fans, many of whom saw in him a rare blend of warmth, creativity, and unguarded authenticity.

Filandro hailed from Huntington, New York, and was also pursuing a BFA at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he performed in both student films and stage productions. He had trained under acting coaches affiliated with Take 2 Actor’s Studio, which later issued a heartfelt tribute describing him as someone who brought “vibrant spirit” and joy into every environment he entered. Colleagues remembered him as “the brightest light,” while fans often echoed that sentiment, recalling his capacity to uplift through a simple smile or a spontaneous song.

In the days following his passing, his sister Franki Ford posted a moving tribute on Instagram describing Chase as an “avid traveler” who connected easily with strangers on hiking trails, particularly in U.S. national parks places he loved most. As part of his memorial, she launched a GoFundMe campaign raising over $24,000 within 48 hours to build a permanent tribute in one of his favorite parklands.

Though Chase was only in his second decade, his interdisciplinary spirit was rare. As a photographer he captured sweeping landscapes and everyday encounters with equal sensitivity. As a vocalist in a five‑person band based on Long Island, he performed live as recently as the summer of 2024. Through his social media stories, he offered glimpses not just of place but of human connection and fans returned that openness with loyalty and admiration.

Visitation and memorial plans are taking shape locally in New York. Services are scheduled for August 6 and 7 at Branch Funeral Home in Commack, with a funeral service at First Congregational Church in Bay Shore slated for August 8. The family welcomed donations to the memorial in lieu of flowers, uplifting both his spirit and his passions for nature and travel in tangible form.

Reading through tributes and online comment threads, it becomes clear that Chase’s influence wasn’t built simply on content it sprang from how he lived. Friends paint him as someone who would light up dark moments, offer a hug when needed, crack a joke, or break into song unprompted. One personal tribute reads: “You were such a bright light for me, even on my darkest days. I’ll miss your hugs, your jolly laugh…and most of all your silliness”

While still early in his professional arc, Filandro’s career spanned a mix of social media storytelling, acting, live music, travel documentation, and emotional connection. His absence feels especially hard because his presence felt deliberate and generous he made each project, each smile, each performance feel like an invitation.

Chase’s story reminds us that influencer culture does not always demand polished finishes or transactional views. In his case it was about openness and presence, about sharing public platforms not for amplification but for honest witness. Thousands of posts may now linger behind him, but the memories he created in person with friends, family, and fans carry weight far beyond likes or views.

In the final reckoning what remains is the memory of someone who approached mid‑twenties life with intention, kindness, and expressive creativity. His transition from social‑media following to memorial park tribute speaks not only to grief, but to the impact one person can have when they choose to shine not just post to remember.