Work Out trainer Doug Blasdell dies, was undergoing chemo for a brain tumor

Doug Blasdell, one of the trainers on Bravo’s Work Out, died Monday. He “was suddenly hospitalized over this weekend and died unexpectedly” on Jan. 22, AfterElton.com reports. He was 44.

Jody Watley, who was trained by Doug on the show, wrote in her blog (via Towleroad’s discussion of Doug’s death), that Doug was “undergoing chemo for a brain tumor — but he was in remission.” She adds that “after New Years … Doug had gone into a coma,” and that was followed by “one inexplicable medical complication after another.”

Bravo released a statement that offered the network’s condolences but few details:

“All of us at Bravo are deeply saddened by the terrible news of Doug Blasdell’s untimely passing. He was an inspiring trainer, an exuberant colleague who made the gym a very fun place each and every day and was extraordinarily warm in all aspects of his life. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to his many friends and colleagues at this very difficult time.”

A second season of the show went into production in November; presumably, Doug would have been involved with the production, unless his health didn’t allow it.

In an interview he did with AfterElton.com last summer, he said he was “the daddy of the show. Or the big brother. But it was fun,” and added that he thinks the show was “a beautiful thing because it really focuses on being gay and the gay community in general. The people they picked represent our community very well.”