Regina King on How She Deals With Her Son’s Passing

Regina King has been an actress for decades and has played some notable roles. They include “Friday,” “Ray,” and “The Harder They Fall.” Sadly, she suffered a tragic loss in 2022 when her son, Ian Alexander Jr., passed away. Now, she’s opening up about how she copes with his passing. 

King spoke about this challenging topic in an August 2025 interview with Parade. “I have all of Ian’s journals. And when I’m kind of in a meditative space of connecting with him, I’ll sometimes read,” she told the outlet.

King, an Oscar-winning actress, said, “I savor the moments because I don’t want to ever finish reading his journals. One day, I’m reading, and he just had an ‘M’ drawn in there so beautifully. It kind of looks like a music note on one end.”

Regina King Says She’s Still Coming to Terms With Her Son’s Depression

King’s son passed away by suicide in January 2022. Naturally, this was a challenging time for the actress and her family, and still is. She spoke in the Parade interview about how she’s still trying to understand and come to terms with the fact that he was depressed.

She told the outlet, “From going to all the therapists and psychiatrists, he never presented that [side of him, but] we would see it. We would talk about it. His father, me, some of his friends.

“So those very, very, very close [to him] were aware of Ian’s depression and how long he struggled with it. It’s hard watching your son go through those bouts of just low. And you’re doing all of the things [you can to help],” she said.

She Has Launched a Wine in His Honor

Following the passing of her son, King took some time off from acting. She didn’t return to the work she loves so much until the release of Netflix’s “Shirley” in 2024. Now, she has launched a wine brand, MianU, in her son’s honor. Notably, the M from the label is inspired by some of the artwork in her son’s journal.

King said on Instagram, “It was Ian who first introduced me to orange wine. Its playful and complex flavors capture his taste and talent for transforming everyday moments into something exceptional. Inspired by lan’s deep love for art, flavor, and the people around him, I created a wine that celebrates the beauty of connection.”

The post continued, “@mianuwines isn’t just about wine. It’s about crafting experiences that remind us of the importance of connection, creativity, and joy. It’s a wine born out of love, driven by lan’s passion for living life fully, and designed to inspire others to do the same.

“Whether through sharing a bottle of wine, connecting over art, or simply celebrating the special moments with those we care about, MianU brings people together and honors my son’s beautiful spirit,” the post concluded.