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Hollywood film actor Aaron Lazar has given a devastating update on his battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS.
Lazar, 50, an acclaimed Broadway actor and former co-star of the late Eric Dane, who died aged 53 in February after fighting ALS, was diagnosed with the condition in 2022.
He is now confined to a wheelchair after losing the use of his legs, arms and hands - with his loved ones launching a fundraiser to cover the costs of his $300,000 a year medical bills.
A description on his GoFundMe reads, 'Aaron's ability to generate income for his family is severely limited. He needs help to stay in the fight.
'Aaron Lazar has inspired audiences as a singer and actor. But to those who love him most, Aaron is a devoted father to his two teenage sons, a loving son and brother, and a loyal friend.
'Since January of 2022, Aaron has been in the fight of his life against ALS, a terminal neurological disease that progressively steals a person's ability to walk, speak, eat, use their hands, and breathe on their own.
Hollywood film actor Aaron Lazar has given a devastating update on his battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS - pictured February 2024
Lazar, 50, an acclaimed Broadway actor and former co-star of the late Eric Dane , who died aged 53 in February after fighting ALS, was diagnosed with the condition in 2022 - he is seen with his two sons Julian, 16, and Adrian, 14
His and Dane's paths crossed on the set of Amazon Prime series Countdown in 2025 - with the pair instantly connecting over their shared condition - Dane pictured June 2025
'There is currently no cure for ALS. Most people would see this diagnosis and its burdens as the end of a dream. Yet Aaron has chosen a different path, dedicating himself to what he calls "The Impossible Dream," his commitment to living with hope, determination, faith, and love.
'Aaron has lost the use of his legs, arms, and hands. He requires a BIPAP machine to breathe and a full-time caregiver at his side to help him throughout the day and night.
'With his increased needs, the cost of full-time caregiving, medical equipment, and specialized therapies has grown to more than $300,000 every year. Aaron's ability to generate income for his family is severely limited. He needs help to stay in the fight.
'Together, we can help provide Aaron and his children with stability, comfort, and peace of mind while ensuring these enormous financial burdens do not stand in the way of his journey.
'Every donation directly supports Aaron's medical care, allowing him to focus on what matters most: spending meaningful time with his children and the people he loves, and empowering Aaron to continue his brave, hopeful fight.'
ALS is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to loss of muscle control and paralysis as it gets worse over time, per the Mayo Clinic.
There is no cure for ALS and the disease is fatal, but it progresses at different speeds in patients.
He is now confined to a wheelchair after losing the use of his legs, arms and hands - with his loved ones launching a fundraiser to cover the costs of his $300,000 a year medical bills
Lazar is seen as Reverend Paul Thomas in Filthy Rich in 2020 - two years before his diagnosis
Lazar has starred in The Wolf Of Wall Street and J Edgar on the big screen; The Good Wife and Quantico on the small screen, and in Les Misérables and Sting's The Last Ship on stage.
His and Dane's paths crossed on the set of Amazon Prime series Countdown in 2025 - with the pair instantly connecting over their shared condition.
He told Variety in 2025, 'When I met Eric and he shook my hand, I could see and feel something was off. I asked him what was going on. Eric said to me, ‘I think I have what you have.’”
'I was in a wheelchair and I was so nervous they weren’t going to be able to dress me in my suits. But it turns out they knew exactly what to do because they had already been working with Eric and what he had been going through.'
Lazar's GoFundMe has already raised almost $300,000 with the money also used to help support his sons Julian, 16, and Adrian, 14.
Lazar, who is engaged to Nawal Bengholam told People in 2024, 'Once the diagnosis came, I made the decision: 'I'm not living whatever life I have left afraid.'
'Don't get me wrong; I'm passionately fighting for my life, I'm just not fighting the disease. I've learned to surrender to ALS in a way that lets me appreciate the moments between life's peaks and valleys. Because I don't want to miss them.'
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): Details of fatal disease there is no cure for
What is it?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurogenerative disorder which impacts the nerve cells in the spinal cord and the brain, according to the Mayo Clinic. It gets progressively worse and causes significant muscle control loss in people who have it.
Treatment
There is no cure for ALS and the disease is fatal, but it progresses at different speeds in patients.
Symptoms
The first signs of ALS are twitching of the muscles, weaknesses of the limbs and problems with swallowing and speaking. Progressively, it deteriorates muscle control and impacts an individual's ability to breathe, move, speak and eat.
ALS symptoms correspond with where nerve cells deteriorate in each person, and could lead to issues walking, tripping, and weakness of the knees, ankles and hands.
It can also lead to problems with muscle cramps and twitching in areas including one's tongue, arms and shoulders. People with ALS have experienced untimely spells of laughter, tears and yawns, as well as changes to one's thinking process or behavior, according to the clinic.
Risk factors
Among the risk factors researchers have established for ALS include genetics, as about 10 percent of people diagnosed with it were passed down a gene from a relative, which is called hereditary ALS, according to the clinic. Kids of people who have hereditary ALS have a 50 percent chance of having the gene.
Age is also a factor as the risk of getting the disease trends up toward the age of 75, with the most common range of people who have it between 60 and 85. In terms of gender, men are diagnosed with a higher rate of ALS prior to the age of 65, according to the clinic.
Other factors that have been linked to ALS include smoking and exposure to toxic substances. The clinic reported that military personnel have been diagnosed with ALS at a higher rate.
Causes
There is no known cause of ALS, according to the Mayo Clinic, and heredity plays a factor in a small number of cases.
Lou Gehrig was one of baseball's preeminent stars while playing for the Yankees between 1923 and 1939. Known as 'The Iron Horse,' he played in 2,130 consecutive games before ALS forced him to retire. The record was broken by Cal Ripken Jr. in 1995
Lou Gehrig's Disease
As well as being known as ALS, it is frequently referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Lou Gehrig was a stalwart first baseman for the New York Yankees between 1923 and 1939. He was famous for his strength and durability, earning the nickname 'The Iron Horse' with a record-setting streak of 2,130 consecutive games.
In a July 4, 1939 speech on Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day at Yankee Stadium, the ballplayer famously said, 'For the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.'
His popularity and fame transcended the sport of baseball. He died two years after his diagnosis on June 2, 1941.
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