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“Grey’s Anatomy” actor Steven W. Bailey revealed that he was diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular disease.
In an “open letter” sent to X, the 54-year-old actor, who played Joe, the owner of the fictional Emerald City Bar that is often closed by the main characters of the show during the first to seventh seasons, shared that he is fighting congenital myasthenic disease (CMS) after being diagnosed more than five years ago.
“I spent years being cautious, secretive, and quiet about something that was shaping my life and career,” Bailey began. “That time is over.”
“Grey’s Anatomy” actor Steven W. Bailey has opened up about being diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular disease. (Michael Desmond/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
He continued, “It’s the worst thing, but it turns out I have a rare genetic neuromuscular disorder. It’s amazing, right? It’s called Congenital Myasthenia Syndrome.”
CMS is “a group of rare genetic conditions caused by genetic mutations that lead to muscle weakness, which is difficult with physical activity,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
“Any muscle used for movement can be affected, including the muscles that control speech, chewing and swallowing, vision and blinking, breathing, and walking,” the medical center said.
Bailey went on to share why she chose to keep her condition a secret after she was first diagnosed.
Bailey revealed that he was first diagnosed with CMS more than five years ago. (Craig Sjodin/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
“Due to job security, uncertainty about diseases, and being private about such things in general, I have been hiding my battle with this disease for more than five years,” he wrote. “Time to stop.”
“CMS is a genetic disorder that disrupts communication between the brain and the muscle at the “nerve/muscle junction”… whatever the doctors call it,” Bailey explained. “There are billions of these dodads converging on the body, and an increasing number of mine seem to be blinking. It’s a nuisance, little bugs – isn’t it?”
“The point is: my muscles are not clearly receiving all the commands of my brain to do all the things that inflate the muscles that they are meant to do,” he continued. “It pulls.”
“The result is that my hands, arms and legs get tired faster than they should, which makes them weaker than, … expected,” Bailey added. “Continuous repetitive movements are very difficult and can cause my muscles to temporarily stiffen and lock up.”
While Bailey joked that her symptoms “often take me out of doing the dishes and doing the laundry in my house,” she noted that “there’s also something else going wrong.”
The actor revealed that his condition has made it difficult for him to travel long distances.
Bailey appeared in the recurring role of bar owner Joe in the first seven seasons of the show. (Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Image)
“I’m lucky enough to still be able to walk the dog around the neighborhood, walk around the house, pop into the grocery store for a few quick things, and the like on my feet,” she wrote. “The truth is, as my disease progressed, I have been using a wheelchair to get around.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of CMS usually begin at birth or in infancy, but milder forms may develop later. CMS is a lifelong condition and currently has no cure, although medications can help control symptoms.
Bailey, who has appeared in other hit TV shows including “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” “NCIS,” “Community,” “Modern Family,” “Scandal,” “Shameless,” “Chicago Fire” and “You,” shared how the progression of her disease is affecting her career.
“Technically this is changing me as an actor,” he wrote. “Like walking my dog around the block, or helping out at the store, I can still play with my feet, a little.”
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“I can go easy ‘walk the talk’ without a problem,” Bailey continued. “I can still stand up and argue with a judge, stop a town meeting, or yell at a police officer for being a cannon.”
However, Bailey explained that he decided to transition into more wheelchair-based roles as a necessary next step.
The actor explained that he will transition to many places based on a wheelchair. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
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“Simply speaking, moving forward, it’s time for my career, as in my life, to start reversing the wheelchair, if you will. It’s past that time, really,” Bailey admitted. “But now I’m here – in hiding – with a good understanding of my disease, solid wheels under me, ready for the next chapter in my life and career.”
“I hope that there is still a place for me in this field that I love. I am looking forward to acting as actors who live their lives in a chair, creating a country that is very represented in films and television,” he continued.
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“And now that I think about it, I don’t need to jump to my feet to argue with that judge I mentioned earlier. They will hear me,” he added. “And I can adjourn any town meeting from my seat – no problem. And as for the loose shooting – well, you get the point.”
“Same guy. Same actor. Same singer. Now with wheels,” he wrote at the end of his X series.
