Grey’s Anatomy alum Steven W. Bailey got candid about his struggles with a rare incurable muscle disease – after going public with the diagnosis last week.
The 54-year-old actor – who had played bar owner Joe on the hit medical series – discovered in 2020 that he had congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS).
During a conversation with Good Morning America on Friday, the star opened up about his battle with the rare genetic neuromuscular disorder as well as the initial symptoms he had.
‘I tried to turn my hand with a screwdriver and my entire arm just went into a lockdown situation,’ he recalled during the episode.
Bailey continued, ‘There’s a lot of private moments of everything kind of falling apart and then, you know, you kind of have to bolster yourself back up and try to stay positive.’
Along with weakness in the muscles, another symptom that patients with CMS struggle with is fatigue – causing the actor to have to use a wheelchair to assist him with certain activities.
Grey’s Anatomy alum Steven W. Bailey, 54, got candid about his struggles with a rare incurable muscle disease – after going public with the diagnosis last week; seen above on the medical drama series
‘I tried to turn my hand with a screwdriver and my entire arm just went into a lockdown situation,’ he recalled during the episode
Despite the health battle, Bailey expressed on GMA that he still intends to continue to pursue his passion for acting in the entertainment industry.
He explained that he can ‘still’ work but will ‘just get tired quicker and I might need to move around the set on a wheelchair just to save my energy for the scene itself.’
The star further emphasized the ‘opportunity’ to bring awareness to those who use wheelchairs and also portray those individuals more on the screen.
‘I think that there’s a real opportunity to show people on screen who are like me, ambulatory wheelchair users.’
Bailey continued, ‘I think it’d be a real interesting exploration of a character, to have somebody who’s dealing with an issue like that onscreen.’
Last week, the actor announced that he had been diagnosed with the rare muscle disease on a thread through his X account.
Congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) occurs when a person’s ‘nerve and muscle cells don’t communicate as expected,’ such as that ‘physical activity leads to muscle weakness,’ according to Cleveland Clinic.
He had also been suffering in secret because of various concerns including ‘career caution.’
He explained that he can ‘still’ work but will ‘just get tired quicker and I might need to move around the set on a wheelchair just to save my energy for the scene itself’
Last week, the actor announced that he had been diagnosed with the rare muscle disease on a thread through his X account
He had been suffering in secret because of various concerns including ‘career caution’
However, he has found himself alternating between walking and using an electric wheelchair to the point that ‘practically speaking, moving forward, it’s time for my work, like in my life, to start skewing more wheelchair, if you will.’
Bailey expressed hopes that showbiz would still have ‘room for me,’ reminding readers he was the ‘Same guy. Same actor. Same artist. Now with wheels.’
He elucidated why he kept his illness under wraps for so long, writing: ‘Out of career caution, diagnostic uncertainty, and being private about such things in general, I have been hiding my battle with this disease for over five years. Time to stop.’
Bailey explained: ‘CMS is a genetic disease that disrupts the communication between the brain and the muscle at the “nerve/muscle junction”… or whatever doctors call it.’
He added: ‘There are billions of these junction dodads in a body, and an increasing number of mine seem to be on the blink. Troublesome, little buggers- right?’
Because his ‘muscles aren’t clearly receiving all my brain’s orders to do all the swell things muscles are meant to do,’ he has to contend with the fact his ‘hands, arms and legs tire quicker than they should, which makes them weaker than, well… anticipated.’
Furthermore, he has found that ‘Sustained repetitive movements are particularly difficult and can cause my muscles to temporarily tighten and shut down.’
He joked that his symptoms have exempted him from ‘the chores of doing the dishes and folding laundry in my household,’ but noted he also has ‘issues with walking.’
He joked that his symptoms have exempted him from ‘the chores of doing the dishes and folding laundry in my household,’ but noted he also has ‘issues with walking’
Bailey can still engage in basic activities on his feet, such as walking his dog around the block or stepping out for groceries, but he has also ‘been using a powered wheelchair more and more to get around.’
As for his career, he ‘can still perform on my feet, limitedly. I can ambulate my way through simple “walks and talks” with no problem.
‘I can still rise to my feet to object to the judge, derail a town meeting, or yell at a cop for being a loose cannon.’
He further acknowledged: ‘But, practically speaking, moving forward, it’s time for my work, like in my life, to start skewing more wheelchair, if you will. Passed that time, really.’
Now, however, he is ‘done hiding’ and ‘ready for the next chapter in my life and career,’ with his ‘wheels beneath me’ as he forges ahead.
‘I am hopeful that there is still room for me in this industry that I love. I look forward to performing as characters who live their lives with a chair, creating a more representative world in film and television,’ he wrote.
Bailey is known for playing the character of Joe on Grey’s Anatomy throughout the span of 33 episodes from 2005-2010 (seen above)
But he began his career back in 90s and had minor roles in shows such as Nash Bridges, Angel, Buffy The Vampire Slayer and All That
Bailey is known for playing the character of Joe on Grey’s Anatomy throughout the span of 33 episodes from 2005-2010.
But he began his career back in 90s and had minor roles in shows such as Nash Bridges, Angel, Buffy The Vampire Slayer and All That.
Following his time on the medical drama series, he continued to appear in other television shows such as Bunheads, Shameless, NCIS: Los Angeles, Bones, Modern Family and You.
Bailey’s most recent credit was the 2025 biographical film Swiped which also starred Lily James and Dan Stevens.
