Boaz Dov Wong lived for only a few hours, but his name is known today because of his father, actor BD Wong. In 2000, Boaz was born with his twin brother, Jackson Foo, much too early. Boaz did not survive. Jackson did. Their story later became a book, and it has helped many readers understand what it feels like to become a parent in the hardest way.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Boaz Dov Wong |
| Born | 2000, United States (sources give different months) |
| Died | Shortly after birth, about 90 minutes later according to Wikipedia |
| Father | BD Wong, American actor |
| Other parent | Richie Jackson, talent agent and producer (BD Wong’s partner at the time) |
| Twin brother | Jackson Foo Wong |
| Way of birth | Surrogate mother, using BD Wong’s sperm and an egg from Richie Jackson’s sister |
| Known for | Being the twin son of BD Wong and the baby in the memoir Following Foo |
| Nationality | American |
Who Is Boaz’s Father?
To understand Boaz, it helps to know a little about his father. BD Wong was born Bradley Darryl Wong in San Francisco in 1960. He became famous on Broadway and won a Tony Award for his role in M. Butterfly. Many people also know him as Dr. Henry Wu in the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World films, and as Dr. George Huang on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
In the late 1980s, BD Wong began a long relationship with talent agent Richie Jackson. They stayed together from 1988 to 2004. During those years, they decided they wanted to become parents.
How the Family Planned to Have Children
According to a review of the book in Kirkus, the couple started researching their options in the late 1990s. They wanted a child who would share both their Chinese and Jewish family backgrounds. They found a surrogate mother through a California agency. A surrogate is a woman who carries a baby for other people.
The plan was as follows:
- BD Wong gave the sperm.
- Richie Jackson’s sister gave the egg.
- The surrogate mother, named Shauna in the book, carried the babies.
Several embryos were placed, and the pregnancy led to twin boys. The parents were excited. But the pregnancy did not go as planned.
The Birth of Boaz and Jackson
The surrogate went into labor early. The babies were due in August, but according to Kirkus, they were born in May 2000. Other sources describe the birth as two to three months early, and the exact numbers differ a little from one source to another. What every source agrees on is that the twins arrived far too soon.
BD Wong was working on the West Coast at the time. He rushed to the hospital with the surrogate mother. In the hours that followed, he became a father, and he also became a father who had to say goodbye.
Here are the facts most sources share:
- Boaz Dov was very small. The Seattle Times reported that he weighed 2 pounds 5 ounces.
- Jackson Foo was a little bigger. The same report said he weighed 8 ounces more, which is about 2 pounds 13 ounces. Another review lists his weight as 2 pounds 14 ounces.
- Boaz died soon after he was born. Wikipedia says it happened about 90 minutes after birth. Kirkus says he died within hours.
What Happened to Boaz?
The twins had a rare medical problem. Publishers Weekly explains that Boaz died because of twin to twin transfusion syndrome. This is a serious condition that can happen in pregnancies with identical twins. In simple words, the babies share blood vessels in the womb, and the blood does not flow evenly between them. One baby can get too much blood, and the other can get too little. Kirkus describes Boaz as being fatally anemic, which means he did not have enough healthy blood.
It is important to say that this was a medical event. It was no one’s fault. The babies were born far too early, and Boaz’s body was too weak to continue.
Jackson Foo Fights to Survive
While the family mourned Boaz, they also had to focus on his brother. Jackson Foo was placed in the neonatal intensive care unit, often called the NICU. This is a special hospital unit for very small or sick newborns.
According to NPR, Jackson spent about three months in the NICU. BD Wong spent that time by his son’s side. The Seattle Times wrote that Wong became close with the doctors, nurses, and other health workers. They shared his sadness over Boaz and worked hard to keep Jackson alive.
In the end, Jackson went home. By 2003, the Seattle Times described him as a healthy, active three-year-old living with his fathers in New York.
The Book: Following Foo
BD Wong shared this story in a memoir called Following Foo: The Electronic Adventures of the Chestnut Man. It was published in 2003 by HarperEntertainment. “Chestnut Man” was a nickname for Jackson.
The book has an unusual style. During the hospital days, Wong sent emails to friends and family to keep them updated. Many of those emails, and the replies he received, became the heart of the book. Reviewers noted that it mixes humor, fear, and hope. Publishers Weekly called it a charming parenting memoir, while Kirkus described it as very emotional.
For readers who want to learn about Boaz, this is the main source. The book shows the first hours of the twins’ lives, the loss of Boaz, and the long fight for Jackson. It also describes how two gay fathers used surrogacy to become parents. BD Wong said in an interview that being a gay man and having a child this way should not be seen as a big deal.
A short biography from an LGBT history project also notes that the book served as Wong’s official coming out as a public figure, even though he had been open about his life for many years before.
How the Family Changed After 2000
Life continued for the family, and it was not always simple.
- 2000: The twins are born. Boaz dies, and Jackson goes through months of intensive care.
- 2003: BD Wong publishes Following Foo and goes on a book tour.
- 2004: BD Wong and Richie Jackson end their relationship.
- After 2004: The two men continue to raise Jackson together. Richie Jackson’s husband, Jordan Roth, is also part of the family.
- 2018: BD Wong marries Richert Schnorr in Brooklyn, New York.
Jackson Foo Wong grew up in New York. He came out as gay at the age of 15, according to several reports. Today, he is an adult and mostly lives a private life.
Why Do People Search for Boaz Dov Wong?
Boaz did not have a public life, so there is no career or achievement to write about. People search for him for a few simple reasons:
- They know BD Wong from movies or TV and want to learn about his family.
- They found Boaz’s name in a short biography or on Wikipedia.
- They read Following Foo and want more information.
- They are curious about surrogacy, premature birth, or twin pregnancies.
Because there is so little public information, some websites invent details such as a net worth, a height, or a career. You should be careful with those pages. Boaz lived for only a short time, so those details cannot be true.
A Note About Reliable Information
When you research a topic like this, check where the facts come from. The details in this article come from sources such as Wikipedia, NPR, the Seattle Times, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and Queerty. A few small details are different from source to source, such as the birth month, the exact weight of Jackson, and the exact time Boaz lived. Where that happens, this article tells you.
Low-quality websites often copy each other and add mistakes. For example, some pages claim BD Wong has a daughter or give the wrong year for his marriage. Always compare more than one trusted source before sharing a fact.
Final Thoughts
Boaz Dov Wong lived for a very short time, but he was a real part of a family that loved him. His story shows how fragile early birth can be, and how much strength parents can find in a hard moment. Through his father’s memoir, his name is remembered with honor, and his brother Jackson carries the story forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who was Boaz Dov Wong?
He was the twin son of actor BD Wong and Richie Jackson’s family. He was born in 2000 and died shortly after birth.
2. Who are Boaz’s parents?
His father is BD Wong, who gave the sperm. Richie Jackson was BD Wong’s partner at the time, and Jackson’s sister gave the egg. A surrogate mother carried the twins.
3. Did Boaz have a brother or sister?
He had a twin brother named Jackson Foo Wong, who survived.
4. When was Boaz born?
He was born in 2000. Sources disagree on the month, and Kirkus says May.
5. How long did Boaz live?
Wikipedia says about 90 minutes. Other sources say within hours.
6. Why did Boaz die?
Publishers Weekly says it was because of twin to twin transfusion syndrome. Kirkus says he was fatally anemic. Both point to the early birth and a serious blood-flow problem between the twins.
7. Where can I read about Boaz’s story?
BD Wong tells it in his 2003 memoir, Following Foo: The Electronic Adventures of the Chestnut Man.
8. What happened to Jackson Foo Wong?
He spent about three months in intensive care, then went home. He grew up in New York and is now an adult.
9. Does Boaz have a net worth or career?
No. Boaz only lived for a short time, so any page that gives those details is not reliable.
10. Is Boaz’s story public information?
Yes, but only the parts BD Wong chose to share in his book and interviews. It is best to avoid guessing about private family details.
