Alex Duong, a renowned comedian and actor whose laughter and wit were cherished through appearances on "Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle" and "Blue Bloods," has sadly passed away after a year-long battle with cancer. On Saturday, March 28th, his dear friend Hilarie Steele shared the news of his passing on GoFundMe, revealing that the beloved comedian had breathed his last breath "surrounded by love and dear friends" after experiencing septic shock the day prior.
"He was comfortable and thankfully out of pain," Steele wrote, explaining that Duong's wife, Christina, and their 5-year-old daughter, Everest, were both able to bid their final farewells to him. "He was alert enough to say goodbye to his little girl, whom he had cherished every moment since the day she was born," she added.
The GoFundMe page was set up to help cover Duong's memorial service, as well as Everest's education needs, ongoing care, and daily support. "We are devastated, but so grateful for the support, prayers, and generosity you have all shown during this unimaginable time," Steele wrote. "Your continued support now means everything as Christina and Everest navigate the days ahead and arrange a beautiful celebration of his life."
On March 27th, Steele had shared that Duong was "fighting for his life" after going into septic shock due to a "severe and life-threatening infection that had overwhelmed his body." She emphasized how quickly everything had changed, stating that both Christina and Duong were "trying to stay strong while navigating the unimaginable" in his final hours.
In early 2025, Duong was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that affects soft tissue. His manager had noticed that his eye was swelling and discolored, leading to the diagnosis. Not long after his tumor was labeled "extremely aggressive," Duong lost vision in his left eye completely and felt like he was "just being fed and given drugs, sitting there getting fat and missing my family."
The comedian told the Los Angeles Times that he spent much of the following year managing "excruciating back pain" and frequently visiting hospitals for chemotherapy and radiation therapy — despite struggling to meet guild minimums for health insurance as a member of SAG-AFTRA. However, as his cancer progressed, the tumors pushed on his brain, causing him to begin having seizures.
On March 12th, Duong was back in the hospital for another round of chemotherapy as the tumors in his spine had "taken a heavy toll on his body." "Christina continues to work full-time while caring for Alex and their five-year-old daughter, Everest," Steele wrote in an update on GoFundMe at the time. "The emotional and physical weight of everything happening is enormous, and some days it’s hard to even process it all."
Yet, Everest continues to bring light into their lives," she added. "Children have a way of reminding us to keep going, even in the hardest moments."
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