What happened to Steven W. Bailey? Actor explains why he often has to use a wheelchair

American actor Steven W. Bailey, well-known for portraying Joe, owner of Joe’s bar, on Grey’s Anatomy, announced that he was suffering from Congenital Myasthenia Syndrome. It’s been five years since he had the condition. On January 3, he shared a lengthy X thread, which he said was an open letter for his followers. He wrote:

“Friends, Relations, Fans, Fellow Actors, Casting Professionals, Directors, Producers, et al- I hope you and yours are well and not too overburdened with life’s troubles as the new year approaches. Ah, troubles… We all have them, right?”

Steven W. Bailey then revealed:

“Say, speaking of troubles, it’s the darndest thing, but it turns out I have a rather rare genetic neuromuscular disorder. Weird, right? It’s called Congenital Myasthenia Syndrome, or CMS. Not to be confused with the more common autoimmune disease, Myasthenia Gravis that you have probably heard of.”

Steven W. Bailey wrote that he did not initially reveal the disease because he was afraid that it might affect his career, and there was also some uncertainty over the diagnosis. He said it was time he stopped keeping it a secret. Explaining what the disease is, he wrote:

“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.”

Steven W. Bailey mentioned that his muscles were not getting the signals from the brain properly. As a result, his limbs became tired more frequently, and they became weaker. He mentioned:

“Sustained repetitive movements are particularly difficult and can cause my muscles to temporarily tighten and shut down.”

What did Steven W. Bailey mention about using an ambulatory wheelchair?

Steven W. Bailey shared that his situation sometimes helped him avoid chores like washing dishes and folding clothes, but it also came with problems. He explained that walking could be difficult, even though he was still able to do simple things like walking his dog around the block, moving around his house, and going to a nearby store on his own. He wrote:

“But the truth is, as my disease progresses, I have been using a powered wheelchair more and more to get around. I am what is referred to as an ambulatory wheelchair user. I ambulate some, then I sit, I “wheelchair” about, ambulate, sit, and then, you know, ambulate.”

Steven W. Bailey

@theStevenBailey

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.

Steven W. Bailey further explained:

“This duality can lead to some humorous interactions. Like me using my wheelchair in a department store, while still having the “tall guy” habit of standing up to help someone get something off the top shelf. Live can be odd. 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.”

As per his open letter, he was hopeful that despite his condition, he would get roles in the industry. For instance, he suggested that he could be a good fit for characters who are somewhat bound to chairs. Steven W. Bailey said he was still the same guy and the same person as before.

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