DaytonDailyNews.com

De'Angelo Wilson, 29, a Dayton native who went to southern California seeking fame and fortune, hanged himself in the back room of a Los Angeles business on Nov. 26, according to his mother, Debra Wilson.

"He got depressed," Mrs. Wilson said. "His career kind of failed, and I think he was beating himself up. Things were real down and he just didn't know how to pick himself up."

Wilson is probably best known for his role as DJ Iz in 2002's "8 Mile," rapper Eminem's movie debut, and alongside Denzel Washington in 2002's "Antwone Fisher." Most recently, he appeared in 2005's "The Salon" and 2006's "Mercy Street."

Wilson attended Dunbar High School and was taking classes at Kent State University when he was cast in "8 Mile."

According to Los Angeles County Coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey, Wilson's body was found in the rear of a business in the 5900 block of Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles; time of death was determined to be 1:35 p.m."I talked to him about a month and a half ago," said his mother, Debra. "He wasn't good ... I was real worried about him."

The family is hoping to raise enough funds to bring Wilson home to Dayton for burial, she said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2403 or ldempsey@DaytonDailyNews.com.