Just two months before his tragic death, comedian Alex Duong believed he could beat cancer.
Duong battled alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that affects soft tissue, for a year before passing away on Saturday.
He was 42 years old.
Duong’s last Instagram post was on January 28, when a friend shared a video asking fans to support the comedian and actor after his battle with cancer worsened.
The friend said, “I just found out that my son Alex has been battling eye cancer for a long time. He was doing well, but recently he had a seizure. And because of that seizure, we found out there was something in his spine.”
Duong made a heartbreaking comment. “👏👏I’m leaving here.”
On Friday, Duong’s friend Hilary Steele revealed on a GoFundMe set up for Duong and his family, including his wife Christina and 5-year-old daughter Everest, that the “Blue Bloods” actor’s condition had taken a sudden turn.
“He was in septic shock and a severe, life-threatening infection had attacked his body,” she wrote. “He is in the hospital and the situation is critical. Everything has changed quickly.”
The next day, she announced his death, stating that he was “comfortable” and “thankfully no longer in pain.”
“He took great care in saying goodbye to his little girl. From the day she was born, he cherished every moment of her,” she wrote.
“We are devastated and so grateful for the support, prayers and generosity everyone has shown us during this unimaginable time.”
Duong received support from fellow comedians after he was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma in early 2025.
In August 2025, the “Alex Duong Eye Cancer Comedy Benefit Show” was held at Largo in Los Angeles, and comedians such as Ronnie Chen and Andrea Jin performed.
“Comedians always have each other’s backs when things get tough,” Duong told the Los Angeles Times of his battle with cancer last year. “We know how hard it is to suffer and struggle and scrape off in this lifestyle. That’s what allows us to do the jokes and keep growing.”
“It’s a beautiful thing to see in this world, it really is,” he said.
