Steven W. Bailey Breaks Silence, Shares Rare Medical Diagnosis

On Friday, January 2, Steven W. Bailey, best known for his role on Grey’s Anatomy a 54-year-old actor took to his X account to reveal that he has been diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular disorder known as congenital myasthenia syndrome (CMS).

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You may know me from Grey’s Anatomy as Joe the bartender — or from appearances on Modern Family, You, Chicago Fire, or some other appearance.

I would like to share something important with you about my life and my career.

🧵👇

— Steven W. Bailey (@theStevenBailey) January 3, 2026

A character Joe of the medical drama, Bailey played very well across season 1 to 7 shared that he had “spent years” staying silent about a diagnosis that has “shaped his life and work.”

CMS is a kind of a rare hereditary condition which is caused by generation difference that results in muscle weakness, worsening a person’s physical ability.

While elaborating his condition, Bailey wrote, “the point is: my muscles aren’t clearly receiving all my brain’s orders to do all the swell things muscles are meant to do.”

The Virtual Man actor shared that as his condition advances, he has increasingly relied on a powered wheelchair, which is beginning to affect him professionally as well.

Toward the end of the post, Bailey said he hopes to portray characters “who live their lives with a chair,” highlighting the need for greater representation in film and television.

Moreover in the conclusion of the post Bailey said “he hopes to portray characters “who live their lives with a chair,” highlighting the need for greater representation in film and television.

“Same guy. Same actor. Same artist. Now with wheels,” Steven W. Bailey concluded.

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