Regina King’s Son, Ian, Has Died at Age 26: “He Is Such a Bright Light”

Regina King’s son and only child, Ian Alexander Jr., has died by suicide at age 26, People reported. “Our family is devastated at the deepest level by the loss of Ian,” the Oscar-winning actor said in a statement issued to the outlet. “He is such a bright light who cared so deeply about the happiness of others. Our family asks for respectful consideration during this private time. Thank you.”

King previously opened up about the joys and challenges of being a single parent. They often graced the red carpet together and even had matching tattoos, which read “unconditional love” in Aramaic. “You don’t know what unconditional love is. You may say you do, but if you don’t have a child, you don’t know what that is,” King told People. “When you experience it, it’s the most fulfilling [thing] ever.”

When King turned 50 last year, Alexander took to social media to celebrate his mother’s milestone birthday. “Happy birthday to my co, so extremely proud of you and inspired by your love, artistry, and gangsta! To be able to watch you take this lifetime by its neck and make it yours is something i will forever be grateful for,” he captioned an Instagram post of them sharing a hug.

“But to have you as my mother is the greatest gift I could ask for,” he continued. “To be all that you are while always having the time to be there, love and support me unconditionally is truly remarkable. The whole marvel universe ain’t got s— on you, your the real superhero! Love you mom! This day and everyday YO DAY!!”