We finally have some answers on what really killed Doug Blasdell. The openly gay Work Out trained died in January, but reports simply said the 44-year old gym bunny died unexpectedly. Now, nearly five months since Blasdell’s shocking death, his best-friend and fellow Work Out star, Brian Peeler.
It seems Blasdell didn’t die as unexpectedly as we believed. Peeler tells AfterElton‘s Matthew Weiss:
He had lymphoma cancer and he was doing chemo. They caught it in the early stages. It was the same thing that his mother and his father had died from. I think they caught [his] in stage one or stage two. So he was doing chemo to combat it.
Though doctors caught the disease early, the chemo depleted Blasdell’s immune system.
A few days after undergoing treatment, Blasdell caught salmonella, which he erroneously treated as the flu, which led to severe dehydration. Peeler continues:
Blasdell grew severely dehydrated and his kidneys failed. His kidneys failed. They put him on a respirator… [He got] a staph infection from the dialysis in his neck which ultimately kills his liver and his pancreas. His kidneys are already failing. And his gall bladder is so full of junk. His body was too weak to fight anymore. From the chemo, everything. He didn’t have any fight left, and his body couldn’t recover.
A sad end to a life devoted to strength training. Read the rest of the distressing interview over at AfterElton.
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Michael
I believe Brian Peeler said it best….Doug was an Angel….and touched
many lives in a positive, loving way. I didn’t know him personally but
whenever I watched “Work Out” in his scenes…I felt his love and spiritual
nature.
I feel like a lost a person close to me and heck I only saw him on tv.
I pray and hope that his loved ones will know that Doug is loved and
his life and light and love live on in those he touched with his heart.
Even those of us who didn’t know him personally.
aa
INteresting story about Doug, we are good friends with Rebecca and her relationship with Jackie is fake, check out my website for the whole story laragmag.com
Bunny Dracula
I am really saddened by Doug’s death and somewhat schocked by it, as well. He was the personification of the healthy male and for him to waste away so suddenly puts a bit of unwanted perspective upon what is truly important.
Although I only knew him from watching “Workout”, I immediately fell head-over-heels for him; the soulful look in his eyes, the sweet-sexy gravelly voice. More than just some lunkheaded body, I think he exhibited a depth of character that is uncommon in most television personalities, or in most “regular” people, for that matter. This is exhibited in the way he related to his fellow crewmembers, to his ex-partner, Cheo, even by his fluidity of movement. I have to tell you, boy, when he blew those candles out on what ended up being his last birthday cake, he took my breath away, sappy as that sounds. Had I been Jesse, I would have totally gone home with him.
Doug, I wish I could have known you in person, but I’m glaad I got to know you in spirit.
When
Fernando
I went to high school with Doug, his sister was in my class year, and his mom cut my hair. I’m saddened that this entire family line is gone. His sister was tragically killed in an auto accident a few years ago. Doug was a great guy in high school, good athlete, good dancer, and always had girls swooning.
I do triathlons for Team In Training and we raise money for research into blood cancers like lymphoma. I’m going to dedicate my training and triathlon at Pacific Grove in Doug’s honor.
Terri
DOUG WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL PERSON….ALTHOUGH I NEVER KNEW HIM…I FELT CONENCTED TO HIM AND DEEPLY SADDENED WHEN HE PASSED. I AM A LESBIAN FROM OHI…AND LOVE WORK OUT…IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME WITH DOUG. GOD BLESS HIM AND HIS FAMILY…MAY THEY ALL NOW BE REUNITED!!
Paul
Doug Blasdell was a great guy!!!! I did not personally know the guy but he is a good person in many aspects! the manner from which he expressed care and love towards others was such a positive experience not only for me but many others. he will be missed by many and his legacy will forver be cherish=)
Daphne
I loved Doug – his spirit, his love..he had the sweetest personality. I am an ovarian cancer survivor and I know about the immune system breaking down. I have been rushed to the hospital to be put on the IV to assist me. My best sweetheart who goes with me is my friend Jessie, who has been known to yell in the ER “You had better treat her like the queen that I am!” With my heart being so tired after this, my cardiologist suggested last year that I try gastric bypass to get off all heart meds. It has worked and I am now starting to work out again after almost 8 years. I am also going to be there for Jessie, who is having the surgery. Doug is one of those people who just makes you want to look better, feel better, be better. We love you sweetie, please hover around us and see how you have inspired us!
Sloan Bland
Not one to watch these kinds of shows…BUT I tuned in on a night with Doug and I was hooked. Now we’re talking a grandmother of 5.
So much has been said so kindly about this person and though I only knew him by watching the show, he went to a person’s heart. It literally came through the screen. My heart ached when I got the announcement of his passing and I pray for him and his blessed family everyday. Dough was a person that came to this earth to teach, to love and to be loved. And for one brief moment he touched so many through that TUBE, but it was worth it. And I hope that all of those on this show never lose site of the fact that they had a blessing given to them and to use it to keep themselves grounded. It’s rare in this life to have had such a gift as Doug.
Virginia
I was saddened to hear of Doug’s death. I knew from the start that doug was the one I would want if I was training there. He besides being “HOT” had the personality of a caring person. They truly lost someone special.
Rebecca is so fake you can see it a mile away. Brain I did not like in the beginning but he grows on you and it shows he has grown as a person and his feelings for Doug were real.
I like Zen she just fun.
Virginia
Alabama