What To Know
- Steven W. Bailey, recognized for his function as Joe the bartender on Gray’s Anatomy, revealed he has been identified with a uncommon dysfunction.
- Bailey shared that CMS causes muscle fatigue and mobility points, main him to more and more use a powered wheelchair.
- He introduced he’s embracing his situation publicly and plans to pursue appearing roles that replicate his expertise as a wheelchair consumer.
Steven W. Bailey, finest recognized for enjoying Joe the bartender in Gray’s Anatomy, revealed a well being prognosis that may influence what his subsequent roles would possibly seem like.
On Friday, January 2, the 54-year-old actor — who has additionally appeared in reveals like Chicago Fireplace, Fashionable Household, Shameless, Scandal, and extra — took to X to share an open letter to followers.
Bailey went on to share that he was identified with a uncommon genetic neuromuscular dysfunction referred to as congenital myasthenia syndrome (CMS).
“Out of profession warning, diagnostic uncertainty, and being personal about such issues usually, I’ve been hiding my battle with this illness for over 5 years,” he defined. “It’s time to cease hiding.”
He famous that CMS “disrupts the communication between the mind and the muscle on the ‘nerve/muscle junction’… or no matter docs name it.” Moreover, he detailed, “There are billions of those junction dodads in a physique, and an rising variety of mine appear to be on the blink. Troublesome, little buggers.”
Because of this, Bailey stated his fingers, arms, and legs “tire faster than they need to,” and that CMS can “trigger my muscular tissues to quickly tighten and shut down.” This has additionally posed issues with strolling.
“I’m lucky that I’m presently nonetheless capable of stroll the canine across the block, navigate my dwelling, pop into the shop for a fast few objects, and the like on my toes,” he shared. “However the fact is, as my illness progresses, I’ve been utilizing a powered wheelchair increasingly more to get round.”
You might know me from Gray’s Anatomy as Joe the bartender — or from appearances on Fashionable Household, You, Chicago Fireplace, or another look.
I want to share one thing necessary with you about my life and my profession.
🧵👇
— Steven W. Bailey (@theStevenBailey) January 3, 2026
In his sequence of posts, Bailey described himself as an ambulatory wheelchair consumer, explaining, “I ambulate some, then I sit, I ‘wheelchair’ about, ambulate, sit, after which, you recognize, ambulate.”
He added, “This duality can result in some humorous interactions. Like me utilizing my wheelchair in a division retailer, whereas nonetheless having the ‘tall man’ behavior of standing as much as assist somebody get one thing off the highest shelf. Life may be odd.”
To wrap up his replace, Bailey detailed how CMS will have an effect on him as an actor, shifting ahead.
“I can nonetheless rise to my toes to object to the choose, derail a city assembly, or yell at a cop for being a free cannon,” he wrote. “However, virtually talking, shifting ahead, it’s time for my work, like in my life, to begin skewing extra wheelchair, if you’ll. Handed that point.”
Bailey declared that he was “accomplished hiding” and “prepared for the following chapter of my life and profession” with “wheels firmly beneath me.”
“I’m hopeful that there’s nonetheless room for me on this trade that I really like. I sit up for performing as characters who stay their lives with a chair, making a extra consultant world in movie and tv,” he shared.
Bailey concluded, “And now that I consider it, I don’t must leap to my toes to object to that choose I discussed earlier. They’ll hear me. And I can derail any city assembly from my chair — no drawback. And so far as free cannons go — properly, you get the purpose. Frankly, I’m excited. Identical man. Identical actor. Identical artist. Now with wheels. — Steven W. Bailey.”
