If you started playing FFXI when you were in your mid 20's when it came out, then you would be around this guy's age (43) when he died. Time to start getting the butt scope at the doctor's office. It looks like cancer can creep up on anyone at any age. When I was in my early 20's, I though 40+ sounded so old. Now that I'm 41, it's like... oh ***. This guy died at 43. That's so young.
Indeed. He was talented and had many good years ahead of him.
There seems to be some odd discrepancies regarding his year of birth, however. Google and IMDB say 1977, Wikipedia and Biography.com say 1976,
this website says both at the time of me writing this. Probably a case of one source screwing it up and others copying it without checking.