‘Grey’s Anatomy’ actor Steven W. Bailey reveals neuromuscular disorder has left him using wheelchair

Grey’s Anatomy actor Steven W. Bailey has revealed a neuromuscular disorder has left him requiring a wheelchair.

On Friday (January 2), Bailey – known for playing the bartender Joe in the long-running ABC medical drama – shared the news that he had been diagnosed with Congenital Myasthenia Syndrome (CMS) in a series of posts on his X account.

“I would like to share something important with you about my life and my career,” he wrote. “I’ve spent years being cautious, private, and quiet about something that has been shaping my life and my work. That time is over.”

“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.”

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

Bailey, who has also appeared in Buffy, Angel and NCIS, continued: “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. 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? 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. It’s a drag.”

He explained that the condition makes his limbs “tire quicker than they should”, leaving him with “issues with walking”.

Referring to his increasing reliance on a wheelchair, he added: “I ambulate some, then I sit, I ‘wheelchair’ about, ambulate, sit, and then, you know, ambulate.”

Same guy.
Same actor.
Same artist.
Now with wheels.

— Steven W. Bailey

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

“Professionally, this is changing me as an actor. Much like walking my dog around the block, or helping at the store, I 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. 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.”

Bailey concluded: “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. … Same guy. Same actor. Same artist. Now with wheels.”

Last year, Bailey’s Grey’s Anatomy co-star Eric Dane revealed he had been diagnosed with ALS disease. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter,” he said.

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