Dana Carvey Opens Up for the First Time Since Son’s Death in November, Says He's Still 'On the Pain Train'
Carvey's son Dex died of an "accidental overdose" at age 32 in November
Dana Carvey is opening up for the first time following his son Dex’s sudden death.
Carvey, 68, made his return to his and David Spade’s podcast, Fly on the Wall, on Wednesday and he thanked his fans for the “outpouring” of love and support he received in the wake of his “family’s loss.”
Dex was found dead at his home in November, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. He died from “an accidental drug overdose,” per a statement shared on Instagram by Carvey and his wife, Paula Zwagerman. He was 32.
“I thought about this over the holidays and decided to come back to the podcast because I think, you know, it’s a long day when you’re not working and you get in your head,” Carvey shared of his decision to come back to the podcast. “And I think it’s going to be a great break. And I think it’s really cool to laugh.”
Spade, 59, agreed that “it’s nice to do the show again” with his partner. “We laugh a lot together when we’re together. I like leaving you messages and trying to make you laugh because just, things in life happen but we can move on.”
Carvey said that while it’s “very sweet” that people have been trying to get in touch with him, there’s nothing that anyone else can do for him and his family. “It’s me and my wife and our son’s private journey,” he explained, referring to their younger son, Thomas, 31.
“We’re all together,” he continued of the family. “And we do a lot of fun things. We hike, we go to church. You just want to make sure you keep moving.”
The Saturday Night Live alum added that returning to the podcast and “riffing” with his longtime friend “is going to be very healthy for me as I recover.”
“‘Cause I’m kind of on the pain train with about millions of other people on this planet. And you don’t know how long you’re going to be on it or when it will stop or when it will get better,” Carvey admitted. “But in the meantime, all of this kind of stuff is very healthy."
Related: Kevin Nealon Pays Tribute to Dana Carvey's Late Son Dex: 'He Was Unforgettable'
Carvey and his wife announced Dex’s death on Instagram one day after the fact.
“Last night we suffered a terrible tragedy,” the post began.
“Dex packed a lot into those 32 years. He was extremely talented at so many things--music, art, film making, comedy--and pursued all of them passionately,” the couple said of their son. “It's not an exaggeration to say that Dex loved life.”
“And when you were with him, you loved life too," their statement continued. "He made everything fun. But most of all, he loved his family, his friends and his girlfriend, Kaylee. Dex was a beautiful person. His handmade birthday cards are a treasure. We will miss him forever.”
The couple also added a message of solidarity for “anyone struggling with addiction or who loves someone struggling with addiction,” as they said, “You are in our hearts and prayers.”
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In the aftermath of Dex’s death, Carvey said he and his wife were “overwhelmed" by the love, compassion and personal stories that people have shared with them.
"We received so many beautiful messages from people who knew Dex. These touched us more than we could ever express in words," he wrote, before revealing his decision to step away from work and social media while he and his family grieve their loss.
"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," he wrote. "We will heal the best we can and carry on. Our darling Dex would have wanted it that way."
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
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