ALS Diagnoses: Stars Share Their Battles

Actor Russell Andrews disclosed his ALS diagnosis in May 2026, detailing his initial symptoms and the support he has received. His announcement follows similar public revelations from other notable figures.

In April 2025, Eric Dane shared his ALS diagnosis, expressing gratitude for his family's support. Sadly, he passed away in February 2026 after a courageous battle.

Broadway actor Aaron Lazar revealed his ALS diagnosis in January 2024. He subsequently released an album to benefit the ALS Network, featuring numerous well-known artists. Rebecca Luker, who also died of ALS in 2020, was featured on the album.

Former NFL player Eric Stevens was diagnosed at 29 and, with his wife Amanda, founded AXE ALS to fund research. Musician John Driskell Hopkins shared his slow-progressing ALS diagnosis in 2022. The Oak Ridge Boys' Joe Bonsall announced his retirement due to a neuromuscular disorder in January 2024, passing away in July 2024 from ALS complications.

Singer Roberta Flack was diagnosed with ALS in 2022, with her spokesperson stating her spirit remained strong despite the diagnosis. She passed away in February 2025.

Kenneth Mitchell publicly shared his 2018 ALS diagnosis in 2020, passing away in February 2024 at age 49. SpongeBob SquarePants creator Stephen Hillenburg was diagnosed in March 2017 and died the following year at 57.

Broadway actress Rebecca Luker revealed her ALS diagnosis in February 2020 and passed away just 10 months later. Punk rock musician Kim Shattuck died in October 2021 after a two-year struggle with ALS.

Physicist Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with ALS at age 21, going on to make groundbreaking contributions to cosmology before his death on March 14, 2018.