Jeff Ross is grieving the tragic loss of his friend and former collaborator, Alex Duong. The Blue Bloods actor and Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle star passed away on March 28 at the age of 42 following a grueling, year-long battle with a rare form of cancer.
Taking to his Instagram Story on March 29, the veteran comedian shared a touching selfie featuring himself alongside Duong, his wife Christina, and their 5-year-old daughter, Everest. Ross expressed his profound sorrow over the tragedy.
"BIG loss for our @roastbattle @thecomedystore family," Ross wrote. "We love you @dapperduong."
Along with tagging Christina and adding a heart emoji, Ross directed his followers to a GoFundMe campaign established to help alleviate the family's mounting medical expenses.
Duong's health struggles became public following a 2025 Los Angeles Times profile that revealed his diagnosis of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. The aggressive soft-tissue cancer eventually claimed the vision in his left eye, but the resilient comedian continued to fight alongside his peers.
The devastating news of his passing was confirmed by close friend Hilarie Steele on the crowdsourcing platform. She reassured supporters that Duong's final moments were peaceful and pain-free, surrounded by his loved ones.
"With the heaviest hearts, we share that our dear Alex passed away peacefully this morning, surrounded by love and dear friends," Steele wrote, adding a poignant detail about his final hours. "Christina and Everest were able to see him last night, and he was alert enough to say goodbye to his little girl, whom he has treasured every moment since the day she was born."
Before his untimely death, Duong spoke highly of the unwavering support he received from his fellow comics during his darkest days.
"Comedians always have each other’s backs when times are s--t," Duong told the Los Angeles Times. "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."