‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star James Pickens Jr. diagnosed with prostate cancer
James Pickens Jr. has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The longtime “Grey’s Anatomy” star made the reveal, just as his onscreen character is dealing with a similar health scare on the show.
“It’s not the kind of news anyone wants to hear, but to be honest, prostate cancer has run through my family,” the 73-year-old actor told Black Health Matters.
“My father had it. He had a lot of brothers; several of them had it. I would have been surprised if I hadn’t gotten it.”
He continued, “I’ve got a 90-year-old first cousin, who’s still alive, actually, [and] he had it. His son has it, a couple of his brothers had it. No one, as far as I know, has succumbed to it.”
Pickens has starred as Dr. Richard Webber in all 22 seasons of the ABC series. At the end of Thursday’s fall finale episode, Richard told Dr. Miranda Bailey (played by Chandra Wilson) he was diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer.
Pickens was diagnosed earlier this year.
“I started getting my annual physical 34 years ago, and I started my PSA testing when I was 41. I’m 73 now,” he told the outlet.
