Some stories are short but stay with you for a long time. The story of Boaz Dov Wong is one of them. He lived for less than two hours, yet his brief life left a deep and lasting mark on his family.
Boaz was one of the twin sons of actor BD Wong. His twin brother, Jackson, survived. And the way this family faced both joy and loss on the same day is truly touching.
In this article, we’ll gently walk through the story of Boaz Dov Wong. We’ll look at his birth, his family, the rare condition he faced, and the loving words his father shared. It’s a story about love, family, and hope.
Who Was Boaz Dov Wong?
Boaz Dov Wong was one of the twin sons of Broadway actor BD Wong and his former partner, Richie Jackson. He was born on May 28, 2000, alongside his twin brother, Jackson Foo Wong.
Sadly, Boaz lived only about 90 minutes after his birth. His life was very short. Because of this, his story isn’t a long life tale. Instead, it’s about his birth, his twin, and the family who loved him.
His name carries special meaning. The “BD” in Boaz Dov was passed down from his grandfather, Bill D. So even his name held a family bond. It connected three generations in a quiet, loving way.
Today, people often search for Boaz Dov Wong after learning about his famous father. His story may be brief, but it continues to move those who hear it. And that’s why it’s worth telling with care.
Meet His Father, BD Wong
To understand Boaz’s story, it helps to know his father. BD Wong is a well-known American actor. His full name is Bradley Darryl Wong, and he’s respected on both Broadway and television.
BD Wong has had a long and admired career. He won big awards for his stage work, and many fans know him from TV shows like Law & Order: SVU, Oz, and Mr. Robot. He’s a talented and thoughtful performer.
Beyond acting, BD is known for being open and honest about his life. He has spoken kindly about being a gay father and about raising his family. This openness is part of why his personal story reaches so many people.
Because BD Wong is famous, his family’s story became public too. When people learn about him, they often discover the story of his twin sons, including Boaz Dov Wong. His fame keeps Boaz’s memory alive for new readers.
The Story of the Twin Boys
In the year 2000, BD Wong and his partner Richie Jackson decided to start a family. They chose surrogacy to make it happen. It was a hopeful and exciting time for the couple.
The plan was special. A surrogate carried the babies, using BD’s sperm and an egg from Richie’s sister. This way, both fathers shared a deep connection to their children. It was a loving path to becoming parents.
Then came the happy news: they were expecting twin boys. Over Memorial weekend that year, their surrogate went into labor. Soon, BD and Richie became fathers to two sons, Boaz Dov Wong and Jackson Foo Wong.
Boaz was born first, on May 28, 2000. His brother Jackson arrived just 15 minutes later. In that moment, the family’s long-held hopes had finally come true. Two tiny boys had entered the world.
A Rare Medical Condition
Sadly, the twins faced a serious health problem from the very start. They had a rare condition called twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. It can happen when twins share one placenta in the womb.
Let’s explain it simply. Inside the womb, twins can share the blood supply from the placenta. With this condition, the sharing becomes unequal. One twin gives away too much blood, while the other receives too much. Both twins are put at risk.
In this case, Boaz was the donor twin. That means he was the one giving blood to his brother. This is a big reason his tiny body was under so much strain. It’s a heartbreaking part of their shared beginning.
The condition also led to an early arrival. The boys were born about three months premature. Being so early made everything harder for them. Their little bodies simply hadn’t had enough time to fully grow and get strong.
The Loss of Boaz Dov Wong
The day of the twins’ birth held both joy and sorrow. Boaz Dov Wong was born first, but his time was painfully short. He passed away only about 90 minutes after he was born.
For any parent, this kind of loss is beyond hard. Yet BD and Richie had little time to pause. While they grieved for Boaz, their other son, Jackson, was fighting hard to survive. Joy and heartbreak arrived together.
It’s a lot for one family to hold at once. On the same day, they said hello and goodbye to one son, while praying for the other. That mix of feelings shows just how tender and fragile that moment was.
Even though his life was brief, Boaz’s story didn’t simply end there. In the eyes of his family, his short time still carried deep meaning. And that meaning would grow clearer as his brother’s story unfolded.
The Gift Boaz Gave His Brother
Here’s the part of the story that touches so many hearts. BD Wong doesn’t only speak of loss when he talks about Boaz. He speaks of a gift. And that word changes everything.
Because of the twins’ condition, Boaz had shared his blood with his brother in the womb. In his father’s eyes, this helped give Jackson a chance at life. So Boaz Dov Wong wasn’t just a baby they lost. He was a brother who gave.
BD once described quiet moments he calls “a Boaz moment.” He explained it kindly. He said, “That means I’m daydreaming, thinking about ‘what if.’ It’s not that painful; it’s more wistful, more curious about the possibilities.”
Then he added the words that stay with people: “But Jackson is here because of what Boaz did for him. I will always be grateful to Boaz for that gift.” It’s a loving way to hold both sadness and thanks at the same time.
Jackson’s Fight to Survive
While the family grieved Boaz, his twin brother Jackson was in a serious fight of his own. He was born very tiny, weighing only about 2 pounds and 13 ounces. For such a small baby, every hour mattered.
Jackson was quickly rushed to intensive care. He stayed in the hospital for three long months. During that time, BD lived in a nearby motel, and later moved in with his parents in San Francisco to stay close to his son.
The nurses and family grew fond of little Jackson. He even earned a sweet nickname, “The Chestnut Man.” People said he looked like the wise old men who once sold chestnuts on the streets of New York. It was a warm, gentle joke during a hard time.
Slowly, Jackson grew stronger. To share the journey, BD sent friends touching and often funny emails, even celebrating small wins like Jackson’s first poop. Bit by bit, the tiny fighter pulled through. And the bond between father and son only deepened.
How the Family Carried the Loss
Losing a child leaves a lasting mark. BD Wong and Richie Jackson felt it deeply. After many years together, the couple later separated. BD honestly called it part of the “collateral damage” of losing a child.
Even so, they never stopped loving their son Jackson. They chose to co-parent him with care. Jackson lived part of the week with Richie and part with BD, moving between uptown and downtown New York. The family found a routine that worked.
BD was open about his feelings, too. He once shared that he felt sadness and even shame that his son came from what he called a “broken home.” Those honest words show how real and human his struggle was.
To process it all, BD wrote a memoir in 2003. It was called Following Foo: The Electric Adventures of the Chestnut Man, named after Jackson’s nickname. By sharing their story, the family helped others who face loss feel less alone.
The Family Today
Over time, the family grew in new and happy ways. In 2012, Richie married Broadway producer Jordan Roth. Jackson warmly calls him “Daddy Jordan.” The family kept expanding with love at its center.
In July 2016, Jackson became a big brother. Richie and Jordan welcomed a son named Levi. So the boy who once fought to survive now had a little sibling to look after. It was a joyful new chapter.
BD Wong found happiness too. In October 2018, he married Richert Schnorr, who works in digital media for the New York Public Library. Kindly, the two families stayed close and even attended each other’s weddings.
Jackson also grew into his own person. At 15, he came out as gay to his loving fathers. His story helped inspire Richie’s book, Gay Like Me: A Father Writes to His Gay Son. Jackson later graduated from New York University in 2023 and now lives a quiet, private life.
Why Boaz’s Story Still Matters
You might wonder why a life of only 90 minutes still moves so many people. The answer is simple. Boaz Dov Wong reminds us that even the shortest life can carry deep meaning.
His story is really about love. It shows how a family held onto hope during heartbreak. It shows how they chose gratitude over bitterness. And it shows how one small baby helped shape his brother’s future.
There’s comfort in his father’s words, too. By calling Boaz’s role a “gift,” BD gave the loss a gentle meaning. That view helps others who grieve find their own small pieces of peace.
In the end, Boaz is not forgotten. His name lives on through his family’s story, his father’s book, and every person touched by it. That’s a beautiful legacy for such a tiny life.
Bottom Line
The story of Boaz Dov Wong is short, but it stays with you. He lived less than two hours, yet he became a lasting part of his family’s heart. That’s a rare and touching thing.
His tale is really about love and hope. It’s about two fathers who dreamed of a family, a twin who survived, and a baby whose brief life still holds meaning today. Through it all, love led the way.
BD Wong said it best when he called Boaz a “gift.” And maybe that’s the lesson here. Even the smallest life can leave a mark that never truly fades. Boaz Dov Wong will always be remembered.
(FAQs)
Who was Boaz Dov Wong?
He was one of the twin sons of actor BD Wong and Richie Jackson. He was born on May 28, 2000, and sadly lived only about 90 minutes.
Who is Boaz Dov Wong’s father?
His father is BD Wong (Bradley Darryl Wong), a famous Broadway and TV actor known for shows like Law & Order: SVU and Mr. Robot.
Did Boaz Dov Wong have a twin?
Yes. His twin brother is Jackson Foo Wong, who survived and is now a grown adult living a private life.
Why did Boaz Dov Wong pass away?
The twins had a rare condition called twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Boaz was the donor twin and was born about three months premature.
What did BD Wong say about losing Boaz?
BD called Boaz’s role a “gift,” saying his son Jackson is here because of what Boaz did for him. He speaks of Boaz with love and gratitude.
