Hannah Montana star Cody Linley’s older brother, Chad, died on August 6 in his Texas home and RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned the 29-year-old was once a promising actor who was ultimately outshined by his younger brother.

Nearly 16 years ago, Chad lived with his brother Cody and mother Cathy Sullivan in a 475-square-foot apartment in Los Angeles where they’d moved for “pilot season” from Dallas in an effort to launch the then 13-year-old Chad’s career.

“Chad had gotten a few bit roles, but his mom was an acting coach and the family was determined to make him the next Macaulay Culkin,” a source exclusively told RadarOnline.com.