Regina King is grieving the death of her son Ian Alexander, Jr. 

The actress and director said her “family is devastated at the deepest level” in a statement to USA TODAY confirming her 26-year-old son’s death. 

“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 said. 

Although the actress did not confirm her son’s cause of death, NBC News and People report Alexander died by suicide.

Alexander is King’s only child, whom she shared with ex-husband Ian Alexander Sr..

He told E! News at the 2019 Golden Globes: “She’s just a super mom. She doesn’t really let bad work days or anything come back and ruin the time that we have. It’s really awesome to have a mother who I can enjoy spending time with.”

The pair had matching tattoos reading “unconditional love” in Aramaic.

“We were taking Kabbalah classes,” King said on The View in 2017. “He said, let’s choose three designs each and not tell each other which ones they are and whichever one is matching, that’s the one we’re going to get tattooed — and we both chose unconditional love.”

For his mother’s 50th birthday last year, Alexander posted a tribute on Instagram that read in part: “To be able to watch you take this lifetime by its neck and make it yours is something i (sic) will forever be grateful for. But to have you as my mother is the greatest gift I could ask for.”

On Instagram a week ago, King shared a clip of her son’s latest track, “Green Eyes,” urging her followers to check it out. In an interview with People, she once called her son “an amazing young man” and spoke of the love between mother and child.

“That mama bear thing where I’ll do anything for my child, I’m one of those moms,” King said at the time. “I’ll give my right arm – and that’s my writing arm – for my child’s safety, and so my child can advance and reach higher than I’ve ever reached.”

Many celebrities shared their condolences on social media to the Oscar-winning actress. “I truly and sorry this happened to her and her loved ones. Praying God continues to be their comfort and peace during this hard time. “, Carol “Coco” Diggs, Industry Highlighter Magazine editor. her and her loved ones find comfort and peace,”