<P> After finding Trevor, Arlene begins to pursue Eugene sexually . Eugene has deep burn marks visible on his neck and face, and he initially resists Arlene's overtures out of insecurity . When they finally sleep together, he is seen to have extensive scarring all over his torso . Arlene accepts Eugene's physical disfigurement and forms an emotional bond with him, but quickly abandons their relationship when Ricky (Jon Bon Jovi) returns to her, claiming to have given up drinking . His return and her acceptance of it angers Eugene, whose own mother had a habit of taking his abusive, alcoholic father back . When Arlene attempts to explain to Eugene that she believes Ricky has changed for good, Eugene explains that his father intentionally burned him by knocking him unconscious, then pouring gasoline over him and igniting it . He berates Arlene for being "one of those women" and warns her of Ricky's potential to abuse Trevor . When Ricky drinks again and resumes his abusive behavior, Arlene realizes her mistake and forces him to leave . </P> <P> Trevor's school assignment marks the beginning of the story's chronology, but the opening scene in the film shows one of the later favors in the "pay it forward" tree, in which a man gives a car to Los Angeles journalist Chris Chandler (Jay Mohr). As the film proceeds, Chris traces the chain of favors back to its origin as Trevor's school project . After her date with Eugene, Arlene paid Jerry's favor forward by forgiving her own mother, Grace (Angie Dickinson), for her mistakes in raising Arlene, and Grace, who is homeless, helps a gang member escape from the police . The gang member then saves a girl's life in a hospital, and the girl's father gives Chris his new car . </P> <P> Chris finally identifies Trevor as the originator of "pay it forward" and conducts a recorded interview in which Trevor describes his hopes and concerns for the project . Eugene, hearing Trevor's words, realizes that he and Arlene should be together . As Eugene and Arlene reconcile with an embrace, Trevor notices his friend, Adam, being bullied by gangster - like children, as he has several times before . He pays it forward to Adam by rushing into the scene and fighting the bullies while Eugene and Arlene rush to stop him . One of the bullies takes a switchblade out of his pocket and stabs Trevor in the abdomen with it . The bullies run away and Trevor is taken to the hospital, where he dies from his injuries . This news is reported on television as well as the fact that the movement is spreading across the country; Arlene and Eugene are soon visited by hundreds of people who have participated in or heard of the "Pay It Forward" movement by gathering in a vigil to pay Trevor their respects . </P> <Ul> <Li> Kevin Spacey as Eugene Simonet . He is Trevor's social studies teacher, and an emotionally and physically scarred man . As a teenager, he suffered abuse from his father (including lighting him on fire) and still has burns visible on his face and torso . He begins the film as a shy recluse, self - conscious about his deformities, but eventually he enters a relationship with Trevor's mother Arlene and overcomes his fears . He sets an assignment to Trevor's class, asking them to change the world for the better . He is significantly changed from the novel, where he was an African - American man named Reuben St. Clair who had been injured in the Vietnam War . </Li> <Li> Helen Hunt as Arlene McKinney . She is Trevor's alcoholic, single mother who works at both a casino and a strip club . She has a past history of abusive relationships, especially with her mostly absent husband Ricky . She eventually enters a relationship with Eugene, and with his and Trevor's help manages to overcome her alcoholism and abuse . </Li> <Li> Haley Joel Osment as Trevor McKinney . He is a 12 - year - old boy who is troubled by his mother's alcoholism and his father's abuse and absence . He starts the "Pay It Forward" movement . He initially believes that the movement was not successful, and does not feel much pride towards it, stating that he was acting to improve the world - not to receive recognition . He is stabbed and killed while trying to pay it forward to his bullied friend, Adam . </Li> <Li> Jay Mohr as Chris Chandler . He is a reporter who traces the "Pay it Forward" movement from Los Angeles back to Trevor . He interviews Trevor and writes a magazine column on the movement after Trevor's death . </Li> <Li> James Caviezel as Jerry . He is a homeless drug addict who Trevor attempts to help as part of the "Pay it Forward" movement . Although Trevor believes his attempts have failed once Jerry relapses into drug use, Jerry eventually pays it forward by saving a woman who was about to kill herself on a bridge . </Li> <Li> Angie Dickinson as Grace . She is Arlene's mother and Trevor's grandmother . Although she was a negligent parent to Arlene, almost forcing them to live on the street, Arlene eventually forgives her as part of the "Pay it Forward" movement . </Li> <Li> Jon Bon Jovi as Ricky McKinney . He is Trevor's abusive and alcoholic father who has since left the family . Arlene often allows him to return to the family despite the abuse, however she learns throughout the film to reject him and protect Trevor and herself from violence . </Li> <Li> Marc Donato as Adam . He is Trevor's friend who has been bullied his whole life at school . Trevor pays it forward to him by preventing him from being bullied, however he is stabbed in the process . </Li> </Ul>

Who dies in the movie pay it forward