HOUSTON — Actress Skye McCole Bartusiak, who portrayed Mel Gibson’s young daughter in the 2000 film “The Patriot,” has died in her Houston home. She was 21.

Bartusiak’s mother tells The Associated Press the actress had been living in a garage apartment at her parents’ home. She says the actress’ boyfriend found her unresponsive on her bed Saturday.

Helen Bartusiak says she tried to resuscitate her daughter but could not. She says the actress had been healthy and did not drink or do drugs and the family still doesn’t know a cause of death.

Bartusiak made her film debut at age 6 in the “The Cider House Rules” in 1999. Her most recent move was “Sick Boy” in 2012.