Grey’s Anatomy delivered an explosive fall finale, ending with a tense cliffhanger that left viewers on edge. Jo Wilson is in critical condition, Dr Ndugu is forced into an emergency C-section, and Dr Richard Webber confides in Dr Miranda Bailey that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
But as fans grappled with the emotional storyline, the man behind Webber, James Pickens Jr, opened up about a parallel battle he faced off-screen.
The longtime Grey’s Anatomy actor revealed that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January 2025, making the season’s narrative arc deeply personal.
In a message featured at the end of the episode, Pickens Jr spoke about his involvement with Black Health Matters and emphasised that early detection can be lifesaving.
Speaking to Black Health Matters, the actor shared that his diagnosis did not come entirely as a surprise. “It's not the kind of news anyone wants to hear, but to be honest, prostate cancer has run through my family. My father had it. He had a lot of brothers; several of them had it,” he said. “I would have been surprised if I hadn't gotten it.”
Fortunately, the cancer was detected at an early stage. Pickens Jr underwent a radical prostatectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the prostate gland.
“We caught it really early, and so they thought that would be the best route to take. I do have a rare variant that you don't see very often. They wanted to err on the side of caution and keep an eye on it,” he explained.
Post-surgery, the actor took to Instagram to share the news fans had hoped for: he is now cancer-free. “Hi Friends, I'm blessed and grateful to be cancer-free. Thanks so much for all the love and support! Get checked!” he wrote.
James Pickens Jr has portrayed Dr Richard Webber for 22 years, becoming one of the show’s emotional anchors. “I've been really blessed to play this character for as long as I have,” he told The Hollywood Reporter.
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Reflecting on Webber’s journey, he added, “I've watched this character evolve over 21 seasons — his ups and downs, I'd like to think of him as being incredibly human through all this.”
The second half of Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 returns on January 8, 2026.
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