‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Star Reveals Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

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James Pickens Jr., known for his long-running role on “Grey’s Anatomy,” recently announced he has prostate cancer. He told Black Health Matters that cancer runs in his family.

He shared some difficult news, explaining that prostate cancer runs in his family. His father and several of his uncles had the disease, so he wasn’t shocked by his own diagnosis. “I would have been surprised if I hadn’t gotten it,” he admitted.

Even though the illness runs in his family, Pickens says he’s never witnessed anyone dying from it. He mentioned a 90-year-old first cousin who has the illness, as does his son and a couple of his uncles, but as far as he knows, none of them have died from it.

I have to say, James Pickens Jr. is a truly familiar face on television! Most people will instantly recognize him as Dr. Richard Webber from “Grey’s Anatomy” – he’s been with that show since the very beginning, all 22 seasons! But his work doesn’t stop there. He’s popped up in a lot of other popular series over the years, including shows like “The Conners,” “Roseanne,” and even a stint on “The X-Files.” It’s clear he’s a seasoned pro with a really impressive resume.

He discovered he had prostate cancer after a standard PSA test. Further tests, including an MRI, revealed a tumor, which a biopsy confirmed. Thankfully, the cancer hadn’t spread and was quickly removed. “We found it very early, and that’s why they recommended immediate removal,” Pickens explained.

He shared that his cancer is a rare type, prompting doctors to be extra cautious. He explained, “They wanted to be very thorough and make absolutely sure they hadn’t missed anything. The fact that it was detected so early was unusual, as they hadn’t encountered a case like his before.”

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2025-11-16 13:15