Gray’s Anatomy star James Pickens Jr., who has been on the present for 20 years, is now the epitome of the well-known phrase, “life imitates artwork,” however for an unlucky motive. Like his character on the present, the 71-year-old actor revealed that he was recognized with prostate most cancers.
“We caught it actually early, and they also thought that might be one of the best path to take,” Pickens Jr. defined throughout an interview with BlackHealthMatters.com in November 2025. “I do have a uncommon variant that you simply don’t see fairly often. They wished to err on the facet of warning and regulate it. It was uncommon sufficient that they wished to make it possible for they have been crossing all of the T’s and dotting all their I’s. However they hadn’t seen one which was detected as early as mine.”
Beneath, be taught extra about Pickens Jr.’s well being in actuality versus that of his on-screen character.
Who Is James Pickens Jr.’s Gray’s Anatomy Character?
Pickens Jr. performs the position of Dr. Richard Webber, whose most cancers analysis was unveiled through the season 22 midseason finale. His particular kind of most cancers was not instantly revealed.
Does James Pickens Jr. Actually Have Most cancers?
Sure, Pickens Jr. revealed his prostate most cancers was recognized early throughout a November 2025 interview with BlackHealthMatters.com.
“It’s not the sort of information anybody desires to listen to, however to be trustworthy, prostate most cancers has run via my household,” the actor defined. “My father had it. He had quite a lot of brothers; a number of of them had it. I’d have been shocked if I hadn’t gotten it. I’ve bought a 90-year-old first cousin, who’s nonetheless alive, truly; he had it. His son has it. A few his brothers had it. Nobody, so far as I do know, has succumbed to it.”
The Cleveland, Ohio, native obtained his analysis in 2024. Throughout his interview, he recalled going again to the physician and, “when my PSA numbers got here again, my main stated, ‘Yeah, you already know what? It’s ticked up some extra. I wish to ship you again to the urologist.”
“The urologist checked out him and stated,” Yeah, there’s one thing right here. Let’s do an MRI,’ which we did, and it revealed, as he referred to as it, one thing suspicious,” Pickens Jr. stated.
He later underwent a robotic prostatectomy — and has since confirmed he’s cancer-free.
What Is Prostate Most cancers?
Prostate most cancers is when cells inside the male reproductive gland, the prostate, develop uncontrolled. Pickens Jr. emphasised that early detection of a tumor is crucial in battling the illness.
“I began getting my annual bodily 34 years in the past. And I began my PSA testing after I was 41; I’m 73 now,” he stated. “My urologist stated. ‘Since you have been so diligent in that piece of your well being, it was to your benefit. We have been in a position to catch it so early since you have been being examined.”
Is James Pickens Jr. Leaving Gray’s Anatomy?
Followers have grown involved that Pickens Jr.’s real-life well being battle would possibly sign an exit from Gray’s Anatomy. Nevertheless, since he has been managing his analysis since 2024, caught the most cancers early, and is now cancer-free, there’s presently no indication that he plans to depart the long-running collection.
