The Walking Dead star Erik Jensen’s GoFundMe fundraiser has surpassed $100,000 in donations, just 24 hours after his cancer diagnosis was announced.
The actor, writer and director has been diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer, a disease in which cells in the colon or rectum grow out of control – and this comes over a year after he survived a brain aneurysm.
Erik’s wife, Jessica Blank, announced his diagnosis in a GoFundMe set-up to help pay for Jensen’s treatment and other related expenses.
His family are seeking $300,000 and remain optimistic Jensen, 53, will overcome the ordeal, however they shared concerns they may lose their SAG-AFTRA health insurance amid the ongoing strike.
Jensen’s resume includes the role of Dr. Steven Edwards on season five of The Walking Dead, in addition to parts on Mr. Robot and For Life.
Smashing targets: The Walking Dead star Erik Jensen’s GoFundMe fundraiser has surpassed $100,000 in donations, just 24 hours after his cancer diagnosis was announced
Hopeful: Erik’s wife, Jessica Blank (Pictured: centre) announced his diagnosis in a GoFundMe set-up, with the family seeking $300,000 to help pay for Jensen’s treatment and other related expenses
Currently, at the time of writing, the actor’s GoFundMe has received $118,801 from 811 supporters, including several top donations of $5000 and $3000 from anonymous sponsors.
In addition to paying for Jensen’s medical expenses, the family hope to raise enough funds to keep their home and to ‘maintain some sort of stability’ for Sadie.
His GoFundMe reads: ‘As many of you know, Erik is a deeply devoted father to 13-year-old Sadie, who’s the light of his life; an incredible husband to Jessica, his partner in art and life for the last 23 years; and a profoundly hardworking, generous artist who has spent decades committed to creating work in service of healing, justice, and making the world a better place.
‘He is one of the most hardworking, loving, truthful and devoted people we know. He needs to help his daughter grow up. He needs to stick around for the beautiful community he and Jess have built. And he has a lot more art to make in the world.
‘The cancer has metastasized to his liver, but Erik is young and strong (cutting a film during chemo, working full-time as a director and writer throughout) and his doctors have a shot at shrinking the tumors enough to do two very major surgeries and get them all out.
‘He is incredibly resilient and strong; Erik is a survivor. We know he can make it through this, come out the other side, and continue to make great work and support his community for years to come.
‘But Erik and his family are in for the fight of their lives, and they need your support.
‘Erik and Jess have devoted their lives to making art that hopes to make the world better in whatever way they can. They are full-time freelance artists and live without the cushion that long-term commercial work can provide.
Huge support: The actor’s GoFundMe has received $118,801 from 811 supporters, including several top donations of $5000 and $3000 from anonymous sponsors
Hit series star: Jensen – who has Stage IV colorectal cancer – played Dr. Steven Edwards on season five of The Walking Dead, in addition to parts on Mr. Robot and For Life (Pictured: in 2019)
‘The lack of streaming residuals has affected Erik’s family profoundly in the past few years, as it has affected so many middle class working actors.
‘Erik’s aneurysm, the double strikes and now this diagnosis have put their family in an extremely precarious financial position and they need a lot of help to make it through the next year, pay for treatment to fight his cancer, keep their home, and maintain some sort of stability for Sadie.’
Jensen’s diagnosis comes over a year after he overcome another health emergency – a brain aneurysm.
The actor was at home when the crisis occurred, but he survived and just four weeks later, was back on the Broadway stage as Bruno Bischofberger in The Collaboration.
‘I all of a sudden said, “I have a headache,” he told Broadway News earlier year. ‘I had a seizure and I passed out cold.’
Of the specific aneurysm he endured, he said: ’50 percent of the people who get it die outright.’
While most survivors end up struggling with their cognitive or physical abilities, Jensen suffered none of that after undergoing surgery.
