Baby Driver child actor Hudson Meek dies at 16

Hudson Meek, an actor who appeared in “Baby Driver” and portrayed Bada in the preschool series “Badanamu Stories,” has died after falling from a moving car. He was 16.

Meek “fell from a moving motor vehicle onto the roadway” on the night of Dec. 19 in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, the Jefferson County coroner’s office said in a statement to the Times on Thursday. Meek suffered blunt force injuries and was taken to the University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital, where he died from his injuries two days later.

Vestavia Hills police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death, the coroner’s office said.

Police officials did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment Thursday.

“It breaks our hearts to inform you that Hudson Meek has gone home to be with Jesus this evening,” Meek’s family wrote in a statement on his Instagram page on Saturday. “His 16 years on this earth were far too short, but he accomplished so much and made a significant impact on everyone he met.”

Meek’s family described his death as a sudden and tragic loss. In his official obituary, the family mentioned that the teenager was an organ donor and his family was comforted “in knowing that he will continue to help others for years to come.” His family did not mention the cause or manner of death in the obituary.

Meek played a younger version of Ansel Elgort’s Baby in the 2017 action drama “Baby Driver.” He also appeared in the CW series “Legacies,” the Hulu series “Genius” and the NBC crime series “Found.” Some of his other projects are scheduled for release in 2025, his family said.

“He absolutely loved spending time on set and having the opportunity to learn the names and stories of each member of the cast and crew,” his family said.

Hudson Joseph Meek lived in Alabama and was a sophomore at Vestavia Hills High School, where he played for the Vestavia Hills Rebel football team. Meek was also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Honor Choir and loved hanging out with friends outside of school, playing water sports and “doing anything in the woods,” traveling and acting, the obituary said. He also loved watching “The Simpsons,” playing and watching sports — especially football, basketball and boxing — and “anything to do with the Auburn Tigers.”

“Hudson was thoughtful and thoughtful, but he was persistent when he set his mind to something,” the obituary says. He became a certified open water diver at age 13 and earned his advanced open water certification later that same year. He visited all 50 US states and had a goal of traveling to all seven continents. The actor was also an active member of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, where he frequently attended youth events.

“Hudson’s personality was unique. He was self-confident, convinced of his convictions, spontaneous and quick-witted. He never let the facts get in the way of a funny story, and he loved friendly banter. He was a joker, loved a good joke and was happiest when he was making others laugh,” the obituary reads. “Hudson thrived in environments that allowed him to meet and serve new people. Hudson was a vibrant and dynamic person who lived life to the fullest.”

Meek is survived by his parents, Derek Firth Meek and Lani Wells Meek, as well as his older brother, Tucker Firth Meek, his grandmothers, several aunts, uncles and cousins.

The family is planning a celebration of life ceremony Saturday and has established the Hudson J. Meek Memorial Scholarship at Vestavia Hills High School. They are asking mourners to make a donation to the fund in lieu of flowers.