“"Behind every man is a woman willing to listen to his B material."
Life story
Alex Duong is a Los Angeles-based comedian, writer, and actor. He is the youngest of six children of Huong Thanh Le (tailor) and Noul Van Duong (machinist). Alex is of Vietnamese and Chinese heritage. He grew up in Dallas, Texas where he attended Skyline High School and eventually North Dallas High where he graduated and went on to pursue a degree in medicine. His writings on the Vietnam War gained him a full-scholarship and eventually a meeting with producers in Orange County, CA. With the mild support of his parents, Duong left school to pursue a feature development deal with Melody Phan of Zenoost Media. The project "Enchanted Melody" ran into financing troubles and never found its way to theaters. The screenplay was turned into a stage play and was showcased at The East West Players Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles. Alex loved to write, act, and perform stand-up all over the country. His accomplishments include writing for Netflix's Historical Roast With Jeff Ross and becoming the first Vietnamese cis-male to perform on Comedy Central (Roast Battle Season 3). He leaves behind wife Christina and daughter, Everest. He peacefully past after a year long battle with cancer in Santa Monica, CA at 42 years old.
I will never forget the day I met Alex and Christina.
It was after work when Janson called and asked if I wanted to get dinner with a friend I had never met before. If you know me, I can be pretty introverted, so I hesitated. Part of me thought he should just go on his own while I stayed home watching K-dramas. But with a little convincing—and knowing the dinner spot was Yuchun—I pushed myself to go.
That night, I met Jennifer, who had brought along some friends—Alex and Christina. I remember thinking, wow, this guy is loud, and his girlfriend has the kind of laugh that makes everyone else laugh too. I will always be grateful that Christina wanted to exchange numbers that night, because from that moment on, we spent almost every weekend together.
There were countless nights of staying out late, bar hopping, and singing our hearts out at karaoke. Those really were the days of our prime, and they’re memories I will cherish forever.
One of my favorite memories was having you and Christina over at my parents’ house for Thanksgiving. We spent hours cooking, and when it was finally time to eat, we finished everything in about 15 minutes. The funniest part was when you made my niece cry—just from laughing so hard. It was such a special Thanksgiving, and I’m so grateful we got to share it together.
Watching you on stage, doing your comedy, I was always in awe of your raw talent and your ability to connect with anyone you met.
You will always be our friend, our family, our comedian—our star.
You will never be forgotten.
Alex,
You were always so kind to us. Our first time in LA and you were the BEST tour guide. So proud of the city and so excited to show us the comedy store. We'll never forget our trip to LA. You and Xtina made sure everything was perfect for us, even getting a surprise cake for my birthday. Even though we were sad to see Xtina leave Texas, we knew she was so happy and found her life partner in you. It's been pretty amazing seeing how many lives you've touched. We will always remember you. I know you're at peace now. Thanks for all the laughs along the way. -Ashley & Alex
There are some people who come into our lives and change everything, you were one of them.
I still can’t believe you’re gone. It feels unreal, like the world should have paused for a moment to hold onto you just a little longer. You brought so much light into my life and into so many others, and that kind of presence doesn’t just fade.
Your great sense of humor is something I’ll never forget. You always knew how to make me laugh when I needed it most.
I’m reminiscing about the good old days, from the AOL days to all the memories in between. It shows how far back we go. I still remember when you picked me up in LA and showed me around your neighborhood… those times will always stay with me. Watching you grow over the years was something truly special. You were such a genuine, kind friend, husband, and father, and that never changed.
The memories we shared mean so much to me. I think about your smile, your warmth, and how you made people feel safe and understood. You made life brighter just by being you.
It’s so hard to say goodbye. I wish we had more time, more experiences together. But I’m so grateful for everything — every conversation, every laugh, every day we shared.
Your legacy will always live on in all of us, in the love you gave, the lives you touched, and the memories we’ll carry forward.
You’ll always have a place in my heart.
Rest peacefully, my dear friend. You are deeply loved and will never be forgotten. Until we meet again.
ET - Alex Duong
