A Palm Springs man who passed away in the hospital after an apparent stabbing had previously gained recognition from his appearances on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and various reality shows and telenovelas.
Eduardo Xol, 58, featured in 65 episodes of the ABC series from 2005 to 2012, as indicated by IMDB. He is credited as a designer for the show and made appearances as himself in a number of other productions during that time. Earlier in his career, Xol was seen in telenovelas such as “Acapulco, cuerpo y alma” and “La jaula de oro.”
His family expressed their grief in a statement to The Desert Sun, stating, “We are heartbroken at the tragic loss of our beloved Eduardo Xol. As his family, we know that his kindness has touched the lives of so many. We ask for that kindness to be returned now by allowing our privacy to be respected as we process our grief. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made in Eduardo’s name to the Lupus Foundation of America, as he spent so much of his life in the service of others.”
TMZ reported on Xol’s connection to the entertainment industry, revealing that his mother confirmed his passing to the site.
Richard Perez-Feria, the former editor-in-chief of People en Español, shared his sorrow on Instagram, stating, “It’s nearly incomprehensible that I’m writing this post as a goodbye to someone who has been so present, so important in my life. When I first learned that Eduardo Xol had passed, I went numb. It didn’t square with my thousands of experiences with him.” He described Xol as a “talented, beautiful, passionate friend, brother, son, and partner.”
According to the Riverside County coroner, Xol died at 12:19 p.m. on Friday at Desert Regional Medical Center. He sustained his injuries at 5:41 a.m. on September 10, coinciding with the time the Palm Springs Police Department received a report about an injured individual.
Upon responding to a call from the 400 block of East Arenas Road, officers found a man in an apartment with severe injuries, who claimed he had been stabbed but did not disclose the identity of the attacker, as stated in a police news release.
Richard Joseph Gonzales, 34, of Cathedral City, was later arrested after he contacted police alleging he had been assaulted the night before. Gonzales was initially booked into the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio on suspicion of attempted murder. Following Xol’s death, authorities have requested that a murder charge be filed against him. He is currently being held without bail.