Grey’s Anatomy Actor Steven W. Bailey Shares Rare Neuromuscular Disorder Diagnosis
Steven W. Bailey is detailing his ongoing health battle.
The Grey’s Anatomy actor, who played Joe, the owner of the doctors’ go-to bar on the first several seasons of the Shonda Rhimes series, shared he was diagnosed with congenital myasthenia syndrome, a genetic disorder causing muscular weakness.
“Out of career caution, diagnostic uncertainty, and being private about such things in general, I have been hiding my battle with this disease for over five years. Time to stop,” Steven, 54, wrote in a Jan. 2 thread on X. “CMS is a genetic disease that disrupts the communication between the brain and the muscle at the ‘nerve/muscle junction’… or whatever doctors call it.”
Steven went on to call the diagnosis, which has limited his muscular ability, “a drag.”
“My hands, arms and legs tire quicker than they should, which makes them weaker than, well… anticipated,” he explained. “Sustained repetitive movements are particularly difficult and can cause my muscles to temporarily tighten and shut down.”
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As his disease has progressed, Steven—who also played Noah Elliot in Scandal—admitted that it is becoming increasingly difficult for him to even walk.
“I am fortunate that I am currently still able to walk the dog around the block, navigate my home, pop into the store for a quick few items, and the like on my feet,” he continued. “But the truth is, as my disease progresses, I have been using a powered wheelchair more and more to get around.”
And although Steven noted he can still get by acting in roles that require walking, he shared it is getting to the time where he needs to look for roles that are “skewing more wheelchair.”
Grey’s Anatomy Steven W. Bailey
