Discovery Company. Associated Press in New York. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much 8:03 PM EST, Sat January 22, 2022, Regina King releases statement after death of son. Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741. Her most recent Emmy award came for her portrayal of Angela Abar in HBOs Watchmen. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text STRENGTH to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go tosuicidepreventionlifeline.org. "Our family is devastated at the deepest level. There were "more than two and half times as many suicides" in the US than there were homicides, according to the report. Hope your soul is resting, one user commented. Regina King took Ian as date to the Emmys. You may say you do, but if you dont have a child, you dont know what that is. He was 26. Before his tragic passing, Ian Alexander Jr would often accompany his famous mom to red carpet events. Ian was due to perform at the Avalon Hollywood Bardot on January 28. / CBS News. "Our family is devastated at the deepest level by the loss of Ian," a family . He shared a picture where Spongebobs appear to be running and screaming while flames burn around them. One said: Praying for Regina, Ian Sr., and the entire family. His mother, 51, has won critical acclaim in Hollywood, winning an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and four Primetime Emmy Awards. TV star Regina King's son, Ian Alexander Jr, tragically died by a reported suicide just days before launching his music career. According to a news . King spoke about the deep love she had for her son in a 2011 interview with CNN. He said, lets choose three [designs] each and not tell each other which ones they are and whichever one is matching, thats the one were going to get tattooed and we both chose unconditional love.. Allegedly Exploited Womans Altered State. Continue to shine bright, my guiding light, King wrote. To be all that you are while always having the time to be there, love and support me unconditionally is truly remarkable.. To be all that you are while always having the time to be there, love and support me unconditionally is truly remarkable. Ian Alexander Jr is Regina Kings only child. In honor of her 50th birthday in 2021, Ian paid homage to his mom by dedicating an Instagram post to her. To be all that you are while always having the time to be there, love and support me unconditionally is truly remarkable. Actor and director Regina Kings son, Ian Alexander Jr., has died by suicide, her representative confirmed to CNN Saturday. "January 19th is Ian's Worthday. Ian Alexander Jr., the only child of award-winning actor Regina King, died by suicide at the age of 26, a representative for the family said Saturday as support flooded in from social media . Did you encounter any technical issues? King previously told PEOPLE that he was "an amazing young man.". A clip circulating on Twitter shows Regina King onstage at the Emmy Awards, addressing her date--her son Ian Alexander, Jr. "My son, Ian," King says, gesturing at her son. "Our. They even had matching tattoos reading "unconditional love" in Aramaic, the AP reported. The post featured photos of Ian surrounded cigarettes with them in his hands, his mouth, and thrown in the air. The pair also has matching tattoos, which read "unconditional love" in Aramaic his on his shoulder and hers on her arm. He is such a bright light who cared so deeply about the happiness of others. Regina King and her family will need the biggest hugs at some point, tweeted Pam Grier. Sophie Reardon is a News Editor at CBS News. King, an actress and director, confirmed Alexander Jr's death in a statement last week. To be all that you are while always having the time to be there, love and support me unconditionally is truly remarkable.. Our family asks for respectful consideration during this private time, a statement from King provided by her representative said. Days before his death, Ian, 26, posted to Instagram about an upcoming event at Bardot this month. So pullup this month!! God please watch over them, wrote Kid Cudi. Our family asks for respectful consideration during this private time.". King, 51, and her son who died by suicide at age 26 got. His 26th birthday was Wednesday. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. To be all that you are while always having the time to be there, love and support me unconditionally is truly remarkable.". As we still process his physical absence, we celebrate his presence," King, 52, wrote in the caption of an "He is such a bright light who cared so deeply about the happiness of others. Born just four days after her own birthday, the mother and son . Regina said, "Our family is devastated at the deepest level by the loss of Ian. Several celebs have rallied around the actor in her time of grief, including Rosanna Arquette, Kid Cudi and Pam Grier. Following in his father's musical footsteps, Ian was a deejay. King on Instagram Thursday shared video of a lantern glowing in the sky on what would have been Alexanders 27th birthday. Our family asks for respectful consideration during this private time. January 19th is Ians Worthday, she captioned the video. And, in a separate post, Alexander Jr said: I dont think Instagram is healthy for me.. Regina King and Ian appeared on New Years Eve show. Alexander was the only son of King and her ex-husband Ian Alexander. But to have you as my mother is the greatest gift I could ask for. So, that is the greatest part about me. Regina King's 26-year-old son, Ian Alexander Jr., has died, a spokesperson for the actor confirmed Saturday morning. He is such a bright light who cared so deeply about the happiness of others. Ian was a DJ and singer-songwriter who performed under the name Desdun and posted on Instagram just three days ago about an upcoming event at Bardot this month. The Oscar-winning actress, 51, confirmed her only child's death in a statement on Friday in which she branded Ian a "bright light who cared so deeply about the happiness of others.". Regina King's son, Ian Alexander Jr., died on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, TODAY has confirmed. Our family is devastated at the deepest level by the loss of Ian. Several of Kings friends and industry colleagues shared their love and support. May you be find light & peace, wrote another. During a 2019 Golden Globes appearance, he branded the actress a super mom.. Sending love light and prayers to Regina King and her family, Rosanna Arquette chimed in. Alexander Jr. was a DJ who went by desdun. Editors Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to connect with a trained counselor or visit the Lifeline site. She doesnt really let bad work days or anything come back and ruin the time that we have. Ian could be seen throughout the remainder of the interview smiling and drinking while mother Regina discusses career highlights. The whole marvel universe aint got sh-- on you, your the real superhero! It's really awesome to have a mother who I can enjoy spending time with.". When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. He was a DJ and singer-songwriter who performed under the name Desdun. Regina King and her late son, Ian Alexander Jr., marked their love for each other with matching tattoos years before his death. IE 11 is not supported. The son of actor and director Regina King, Ian Alexander Jr., has died by suicide, her representative confirmed to NBC News Saturday. My heart breaks for you all. Regina King says she's "still" processing her son Ian Alexander Jr.'s death nearly one year later.. Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser! You may say you do, but if you dont have a child, you dont know what that is. In an Instagram post just days before taking his own life, Ian predicted that his music career was about to take off. A million streams and Ill quit smoking. Dozens of Twitter users replied using broken hearts and praying emojis. appreciated. King's post garnered support from a number of celebrities, including Octavia Spencer, Sarah Paulson, Justin Theroux, Ava DuVernay, Tracee Ellis Ross and more. The whole marvel universe ain't got s*** on you, your the real superhero! She doesn't really let bad workdays or anything come back and ruin the time that we have. But hold my hands above a pile of oranges as if to warm my skin before a fire.- Roisin Kelly. Aside from acting, Regina King has also directed several episodes of various television shows, including Scandal andThis Is Us. "Our family is devastated at the deepest . Send me email updates and offers from TMZ and its Affiliates. Our family is devastated at the deepest level by the loss of Ian. ", RIP to Ian Alexander Jr and prayers to Regina King!! When Regina turned 50 in 2021, Ian posted this on Instagram "Happy birthday to my co, so extremely proud of you and inspired by your love, artistry and gangsta. The whole marvel universe ain't got s--- on you, your the real superhero! News, he said: She doesnt really let bad work days or anything come back and ruin the time that we have. US Surgeon General says 13 is too young to join social media. Regina King's only son has tragically died. But when you experience it, it is the most fulfilling ever. He said, 'lets choose three [designs] each and not tell each other which ones they are and whichever one is matching, thats the one were going to get tattooed and we both chose unconditional love.. "He is such a bright light who cared so deeply about the happiness of others. Regina King's son, Ian Alexander Jr., stole hearts when he accompanied her to the 2019 Golden Globe Awards and called her a "super mom" in front of the cameras. In 2011, a few years after separating from Ians father, Regina toldEssence: I get emotional because my son is an amazing young man, and it took me to be a mother for me to realize how incredible of a woman she (my mother) is. His most recent single, "Green Eyes," was released on Jan. 7. Getty Images for dcp. "January 19th is Ian's Worthday. Days before his death, Ian, 26, posted to Instagram about an upcoming event at Bardot this month. Being a mom to Ian.. Link Copied! Since Alexander's death, King has remained out of the public's eye, making this post the first time she's spoken publicly about her family's loss. Many hearts are heavy right now as people think of actress Regina King and her family following the loss of her son, Ian Alexander Jr. News of the 26-year-old's passing came from King early . Ian Alexander Jr. was King's only child, whom she shared with her ex-husband, record producer Ian Alexander Sr. Regina King's son Ian Alexander Jr. has died by suicide, PEOPLE confirms. I think of you often. A Warner Bros. In an episode of PBS' Finding Your Roots, actress Regina King discovered "unimaginable" details about her grandfather's life. But to have you as my mother is the greatest gift I could ask for. TV star Regina King's son, Ian Alexander Jr, tragically died by a reported suicide just days before launching his music career. King and her son spent New Year's Eve together - weeks before his death. "You don't know what unconditional love is. It's really awesome to have a mother who I can enjoy spending time with. He is such a bright light who cared so deeply about the happiness of others. The actress posted an Instagram video of an orange sky lantern drifting through the air on Friday, marking her first social media upload since the 26-year-old's suicide in January 2022. ", Ian once said of Regina, "She's just a super mom. "He is such a bright light who cared so deeply about the happiness of others." By Associated Press Jan 22, 2022, 12:30pm PDT Leanne Italie "But when you experience it, it is the most fulfilling ever. LoveBScott was the first to report the news of Ian's death. ", Marc Lamont Hill wrote, "Sending all of my love and condolences to Regina King. REGINA King's son Ian Alexander Jr's final tweets revealed his mental health fears - days before he took his own life. In 2010, Regina directed the music video for Jaheims Finding My Way Back. They appeared to be in good spirits, toasting one another, during a largefamilyparty. Regina King is remembering her late son, Ian. He shared a picture where Spongebobs appear to be running and screaming while flames burn around them. Ian died at age 26. Praying for Regina King, Bernice posted. His spirit is the thread that connects us.. Our family asks for respectful consideration during this private time. [3] In 2019, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world. It was the first time that theWatchmenactress hosted the long-running NBC show. All Rights Reserved. Ian Alexander Jr. is the only son of Academy Award-winning actress Regina King and her ex-husband . It affects all genders, races and ages. Of course orange is your favorite colorIts the fire and the calm. Actors Regina King and Michael Madsen both tragically lost their sons under shocking circumstances, within days of one another. Ava DuVernay commented on the post with a quote, Ill choose for myself next time who Ill reach out and take as mine, in the way I might stand at a fruit stall having decided to ignore the apples, the mangoes and the kiwis. He had just recently released a song called "Green Eyes," which King posted about on her Instagram last week. Ian Alexander Jr, the only child of the Oscar-winning actor and director Regina King, has died. He is based in New York City and his favorite film is Pretty Woman.. Alexander Jr died by suicide just three days after turning 26, a representative for King confirmed on Saturday. ", And just a couple of months before he died, Ian posted a throwback pic of him, his mom and a friend, with the caption "My joys . "When you experience it, it's the most fulfilling [thing] ever. Despite her growing success as an actor and director, King said at the time that Ian was her biggest source of pride. The actress and director posted a loving tribute Thursday to her son, Ian Alexander Jr., who died . You may say you do, but if you dont have a child, you dont know what that is. Regina King became the first-ever Black woman director to have a film selected by the festival. To be all that you are while always having the time to be there, love and support me unconditionally is truly remarkable. "Our family is devastated at the deepest level by the loss of Ian," the . To have you as my mother is the greatest gift I could ask for, he wrote in an Instagram post. Ian Alexander Jr. and Regina King, wearing Gucci, attend the 2019 LACMA Art + Film Gala Presented By Gucci at LACMA on November 02, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. There are many free and confidential programs in the US aimed to help those who are struggling with their mental health. You dont know what unconditional love is. ", But the 52-year-oldcontinued her post by writing,"My absolute favorite thing about myself is being .Regina the mother of Ian the GodKing.". An actor who rose to fame onThe Cosby Show, Malcolm and fellow 80s-sitcom star Regina had been friends for years before they took their relationship to the next level. Naomie Harris and Regina King attend the Filming Italy 2022 red carpet on June 10, 2022 in Santa Margherita di Pula, Italy For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. You dont know what unconditional love is. Praying for Gods comfort and peace., While another commented: Just to watch the love your mom has for you is emotional. He was also a celebrity chef who told Flaunt Magazine in May 2021 that he hoped to develop his private dinner parties into a restaurant. ", Marc Lamont Hill echoed that "Sending all of my love and condolences to Regina King. Regina King 's son Ian Alexander Jr. has died by suicide, PEOPLE confirms. "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Garcelle Beauvais tweeted, "My heart breaks for you@ReginaKing Ian was sweet & kind. Thank you.". My grandfather actually gave me away at my . So, that is the greatest part about me. This day and everyday YO DAY!! He was a DJ who performed under the name desdun, as well as a celebrity chef. My heart goes out to her.. Regina King has paid tribute to her late son, Ian Alexander Jr., nearly one year after his death. Being a mom to Ian., To get help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). To be able to watch you take this lifetime by its neck and make it yours is something i will forever be grateful for. The boy is all grown up now, and he inherited Regina's passion for the arts. Thank you.". He wrote: Its been a minute but now we back at the jump off. Regina King was born in Los Angeles, California, to Gloria, a special education teacher, and Thomas King, an electrician. I love you.. The only child of the Oscar-winning actor, she. IE 11 is not supported. He performed as Desdun, according to his Instagram page. Happy birthday to my co, so extremely proud of you and inspired by your love, artistry, and gangsta! "Maaaan ListenI got this jam on repeat!" ", Yes! He wrote a heartfelt tribute to his mother on her 50th birthday last year. Regina King on Turning 50: 'I'm Much More Interesting Now', Regina King Honors Late Son Ian Alexander Jr., 1 Year After His Death: 'My Guiding Light', Regina King Steps onto the Red Carpet in First Public Appearance Since Her Son's Tragic Death, Regina King Once Spoke About What Her Late Son Ian Alexander Jr. Regina King's 26-year-old son, Ian Alexander Jr., has died, a spokesperson for the actor confirmed Saturday morning. Regina King welcomed her son with her ex-husband, music executive Ian Alexander Sr., on Jan. 19, 1996. The award-winning actress asked for privacy in the hours after news broke that her son had tragically died. 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