Dana Carvey expresses gratitude for the overwhelming support he and his wife, Paula Zwagerman, have received following the unexpected passing of their 32-year-old son, Dex. In a heartfelt Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) post on Saturday, the 68-year-old comedian began by saying, “This is just to say thank you.”
Carvey went on to convey how moved they were by the outpouring of love, compassion, and personal anecdotes shared by people who knew Dex. The multitude of beautiful messages touched them deeply, beyond what words could convey. In light of their grief, he announced his decision to take a hiatus from both work and social media to navigate life as a family of three.
“I will be taking a break from work and social media — trying to figure out what life looks like now that we are a family of 3,” Carvey wrote. “We will heal the best we can and carry on. Our darling Dex would have wanted it that way.” The message was signed off with, “Much Love, Dana.”
Dana and Dex Carvey (Credits: NBC News)
Carvey and Zwagerman had revealed Dex’s passing on Instagram on Thursday, attributing it to an accidental drug overdose that occurred on Wednesday. They celebrated Dex’s multifaceted talents in music, art, filmmaking, and comedy, emphasizing his zest for life and his ability to make everything enjoyable.
In a poignant tribute, Carvey shared photos of Dex, expressing disdain for tabloids and emphasizing that Dex was “his boy.” Another snapshot depicted the father-son duo working together on a project, a cherished memory for Carvey.
Friends and fellow comedians, including Jim Gaffigan and Kevin Nealon, offered supportive comments on the posts. Gaffigan praised the focus on sharing Dex’s story, while Nealon, Carvey’s former Saturday Night Live co-star, blessed Dex in a heartfelt comment.
Following in his father’s comedic footsteps, Dex ventured into comedy and showbiz, opening for Carvey’s Netflix special in 2016 and appearing in projects such as “Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser” and the TV miniseries “The Funster” in 2015 and 2013, respectively.
