Comedian and actor Alex Duong, best known for his work on "Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle" and the police drama "Blue Bloods," has tragically passed away at the age of 42 following a year-long fight with a rare cancer.
According to Hilarie Steele, a close family friend who was present during his final moments, Duong went into septic shock on Friday evening. He died the following morning at 11:00 AM at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California, surrounded by his closest friends and family.
Duong's health battle began last year after he suffered from persistent headaches behind his eye. Medical examinations and a subsequent biopsy revealed he had alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, an exceptionally rare and aggressive form of cancer. The tumor's severity required grueling rounds of treatment, leaving the comedian needing to wear an eye patch.
The comedy community rallied fiercely behind him during his illness. In August, comedy heavyweights like Ronny Chieng and Atsuko Okatsuka gathered at the Largo in Los Angeles for a dedicated fundraiser, playfully titled "The Alex Duong Has Cancer In His Eye Comedy Benefit Show."
A GoFundMe campaign initially launched by Steele to help fund Duong's treatments and aid in his journey to regain his sight is remaining active. All donations will now be redirected to provide financial support for his surviving family members: his wife, Cristina, and their five-year-old daughter, Everest.