Actor Alex Duong Dies at 42 After Rare Cancer Battle

Alex Duong, a Texas-born actor and comedian best known for his role on "Blue Bloods," died Saturday morning after a yearlong battle with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. He was 42.

Born and raised in Dallas, Duong graduated from North Dallas High School and later moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting and comedy.

Duong was best known for his role as gang leader Sonny Le on the police drama "Blue Bloods." He also appeared in dozens of other popular television series over his career, including "Dexter," "The Young and the Restless" and "Pretty Little Liars."

He also wrote for Netflix's "Historical Roasts" and became the first cisgender Vietnamese man to perform on Comedy Central. He was working at the Comedy Store in West Hollywood until his health problems began.

He died in a hospital Saturday shortly after experiencing septic shock.

"With the heaviest hearts, we share that our dear Alex passed away peacefully this morning, surrounded by love and dear friends," friend Hilarie Steele wrote in an update on Duong's GoFundMe page. "He was comfortable and thankfully out of pain."

Duong is survived by his wife, Christina, and their 5-year-old daughter, Everest.

"He fought so hard for a year and never once complained about the pain he was in," his wife wrote in a Facebook post. "The pain I feel now is nothing compared to what he endured."

Duong's health problems began in early 2025, when he developed a persistent headache and people noticed his left eye bulging, according to an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

He was quickly diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, which is an "aggressive" soft-tissue tumor that "has the worst prognosis" of rhabdomyosarcoma diagnoses, according to a 2019 report in the International Journal of Applied and Basic Medical Research. Only several hundred new cases occur per year in the United States, according to the National Library of Medicine.

He lost sight in his left eye and underwent extensive radiation and chemotherapy treatments, but the cancer eventually metastasized to his spine. He was reportedly bedridden since February.

A memorial service for Duong will take place from 12 to 3 p.m. PT on April 17 at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to support Duong's 5-year-old daughter and her future.