'Blue Bloods' actor Alex Duong dies at 42 after year-long battle with cancer
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Comedian Alex Duong, known for his role in ‘Blue Bloods,’ has died at age 42. He had reportedly been battling a rare and aggressive cancer, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, his friend Hilarie Steele confirmed.
In a Saturday, March 28 update on a GoFundMe page launched to help Duong, she wrote, “With the heaviest hearts, we share that our dear Alex passed away peacefully this morning, surrounded by love and dear friends. He was comfortable and thankfully out of pain.”
Alex Duong's family and friends devastated after his death
Steele also shared that the ‘Pretty Little Liars’ actor “was alert enough to say goodbye to his little girl, whom he has treasured every moment since the day she was born.”
“We are devastated, but so grateful for the support, prayers and generosity you have all shown during this unimaginable time,” she added.
Duong’s health worsened on Friday. Steele wrote on GoFundMe he “has gone into septic shock, a severe and life-threatening infection that has overwhelmed his body. He is in the hospital, and the situation is critical. Everything has changed so quickly.”
Alex Duong's pal urges for more donation for comedian's family
Following Duong’s death, Steele expressed her gratitude towards the donors.
“We are overwhelmed with gratitude — because of you, we have already reached the original goal. At the same time, with Alex passing, Christina's situation has become more serious and the financial needs ahead are much greater than we could have anticipated. If you’ve already given, thank you — truly. If you’re able to share or contribute again, it would mean everything right now,” she said.
Steele also urged people to “keep Alex and his family in your prayers. Your support is carrying them through the hardest time of their lives. We will update you with respect to details of his ‘Celebration of Life.’”
Alex Duong hailed his comedian friends for helping him
Earlier, during Duong’s fight with the soft tissue cancer, several comedians – Ronny Chieng, Atsuko Okatsuka, Andrea Jin, and Fumi Abe – came forward to help him. They organized a benefit show in August last year, raising $10,000 for Duong and his family.
Duong had told The Los Angeles Times at the time, “Comedians always have each other’s backs when times are s—. We know how hard it is to pine and struggle and scrape by in this lifestyle, just so we can do these jokes and keep improving.”
“It’s a beautiful thing to see in this world; it really is,” he added.
