Alex Duong, a comedian, writer and actor best known for his role on Blue Bloods, has died at the age of 42. He passed away on Sunday at St John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California, after a battle with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive soft tissue cancer.
Duong was diagnosed last year and underwent surgery to remove a malignant growth that was blocking blood flow to his optic nerve, causing vision loss. Friends Hilarie and Gregg Steele set up a GoFundMe to support his family amid mounting medical expenses and loss of work. According to Hilarie Steele, Duong was hospitalised with septic shock on Friday night before his death.
A statement from friends said: '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. [His wife] Christina and [daughter] Everest were able to see him last night, and he was alert enough to say goodbye to his little girl.'
Duong's acting credits included Dexter, Everybody Hates Chris, 90210, The Young and the Restless and Pretty Little Liars. He also wrote for Netflix's Historical Roasts and worked as a door guy at the Comedy Store from 2021. Donnie Wahlberg, with whom Duong worked on a three-season arc of Blue Bloods, had told him to prepare for an upcoming spinoff.
Last August, comedians including Ronny Chieng, Atsuko Okatsuka and Andrea Jin performed at a benefit show for Duong at the Largo in Los Angeles. He is survived by his wife and daughter. Details of a celebration of life are to be announced.
