Ian Alexander: 5 Things About Regina King’s Son Dead By Suicide At Just 26

Regina King is dedicating her upcoming movie, Shirley, to her late son Ian Alexander Jr., who died by suicide on the age of 26 in 2022. In an upcoming Good Morning America appearance, the Miss Congeniality 2 star described how grief has modified her life since her son’s tragic demise.

“Grief is a journey. I perceive that,” Regina identified within the March 2024 interview. “Grief is love that has no place to go. And that all of us deal with it in a different way. I do know that it’s essential to me to honor Ian within the totality of who he’s, discuss him within the current, as a result of he’s all the time with me and the enjoyment and happiness that he gave all of us.”

Regina additionally acknowledged the guilt she nonetheless struggles with as a guardian. She continued, “When a guardian loses a baby, you continue to surprise, ‘What may I’ve achieved in order that wouldn’t have occurred?’ I do know that I share this grief with everybody, however nobody else is Ian’s mother, you already know? Solely me. So it’s mine. And the disappointment won’t ever go away. It would all the time be with me.”

In January 2022, the Oscar winner introduced in an announcement that Ian had died by suicide.

“Our household is devastated on the deepest degree by the lack of Ian,” the Oscar winner, 51, stated in an announcement, per PEOPLE. “He’s such a vibrant gentle who cared so deeply in regards to the happiness of others. Our household asks for respectful consideration throughout this personal time. Thanks.”

Hold studying to seek out out extra about Ian, under.

Ian Was Regina’s Solely Baby

Ian Jr. was born on January 19, 1996 to Regina and document producer Ian Alexander. Regina and Ian Sr. married a yr later and divorced in 2007. Regina later admitted that elevating her solely baby as a single guardian wasn’t all the time straightforward, however nicely value it. “You don’t know what unconditional love is. It’s possible you’ll say you do, however should you don’t have a baby, you don’t know what that’s,” she advised Individuals. “Once you expertise it, it’s probably the most fulfilling [thing] ever.”

He Adopted in His Father’s Footsteps

Like his father, Ian would pursue a profession in music, utilizing his abilities as a DJ. In a publish to his Instagram simply three days earlier than the unhappy information of his demise was introduced, Ian advised his followers he could be performing in a Los Angeles membership within the following week. “It’s been a minute however now we again on the soar off,” he wrote alongside a promotional picture of himself for the upcoming gig.

Ian Was Happy with His Mom

Ian clearly beloved his mom, as he typically took to social media to specific his emotions for her. Final January, he shared an cute picture of the pair on Instagram for Regina’s birthday writing, “Completely happy birthday to my co, so extraordinarily pleased with you and impressed by your love, artistry, and gangsta! To have the ability to watch you are taking this lifetime by its neck and make it yours is one thing i’ll without end be thankful for. However to have you ever as my mom is the best reward I may ask for. Love you mother! At the present time and on a regular basis YO DAY!!

Ian and Regina Received Matching Tattoos

The particular mom/son bond between Regina and Ian was nowhere extra apparent than of their matching tattoos. Regina had “unconditional love” written in Aramaic on her arm, whereas Ian sported it on his shoulder. “We have been taking Kabbalah lessons,” Regina defined of the tattoos on The View in 2017. “He stated, let’s select three [designs] every and never inform one another which of them they’re and whichever one is matching, that’s the one we’re going to get tattooed — and we each selected unconditional love.”

Ian Walked the Pink Carpets With Regina

Regina and Ian have been a staple on the pink carpet, as she has been nominated for quite a few awards through the years, which introduced her an Oscar, a Golden Globe and 4 Emmys. On the 2019 Golden Globes, Ian gushed about his mother when he was interviewed on the pink carpet. “She’s only a tremendous mother,” he advised E!. “She doesn’t actually let unhealthy work days or something come again and spoil the time that we now have. It’s actually superior to have a mom who I can get pleasure from spending time with.”

For those who or somebody you already know is in emotional misery or contemplating suicide, name the Nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).