Dana Carvey Takes a Leave of Absence to Navigate Life in the Aftermath of Son Dex’s Tragic Passing

Dana Carvey with an inset of his son Dex Carvey. INSTAR; Getty Images

After the tragic loss of his son Dex, Dana Carvey is choosing to step back from his professional commitments and social media presence. In an Instagram post shared on November 18, the 68-year-old comedian expressed his intention to take a break to navigate this new phase of life as a family of three. Carvey added that he and his family will strive to heal as best as they can and continue moving forward.

He added, "It is how our beloved Dex would have wished it." On Thursday, November 16, the former Saturday Night Live star, along with his wife Paula Zwagerman, shared the heartbreaking news of their oldest son Dex's passing at the age of 32. (Carvey and Zwagerman, who are both 62, also have a younger son named Thomas, who is 30.)

Carvey and Zwagerman expressed their heartbreak in a joint social media statement, announcing the tragic loss of their beloved son, Dex, to an accidental drug overdose. They highlighted Dex's talents and passion for various arts including music, art, filmmaking, and comedy. They added that Dex's infectious love for life spread to those around him, making everything an enjoyable experience. Additionally, they emphasized Dex's love for his family, friends, and girlfriend, Kaylee, describing him as a beautiful person. Carvey and Zwagerman concluded their statement by expressing that they will forever cherish Dex's handmade birthday cards and deeply miss him.

Courtesy of Dana Carvey/Instagram

Following Dex's passing, Carvey took to Instagram to share a series of images featuring "[his] boy." Reflecting on their collaboration, the comedian expressed, "Working together with Dex was an absolute delight." This heartfelt tribute was accompanied by a single snapshot, posted on Thursday.

Carvey’s former SNL costars, including Molly Shannon, Kenan Thompson, and Chris Kattan, expressed their condolences in the comments section of his Instagram posts. On Saturday, Carvey expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you for your love, personal stories, and compassion. My wife and I have been truly overwhelmed. The beautiful messages from those who knew Dex have touched us more than words can express."

Dex, following in his brother Thomas' footsteps, had been pursuing a career in comedy like their father Carvey. He made appearances in his dad's 2013 miniseries "The Funster" and the 2015 film "Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser". Dex also had the privilege of being the opening act for Carvey's 2016 Netflix special, "Straight While Male". Additionally, Dex established a live performance venue called Third Wheel Comedy in Hollywood. Unfortunately, Dex passed away before completing an upcoming project with B-Sides Comic.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).