Better Call Saul’s Russell Andrews Shares ALS Diagnosis

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Russell Andrews is opening up about his private health battle. 

Bob Odenkirk, the actor known for his role in Better Call Saul, has announced he has been diagnosed with ALS, a disease also called Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Russell shared on CNN’s The Story Is on May 16th that he is living with ALS and received his diagnosis late last year.

Despite the difficulties of his diagnosis, the 64-year-old explained that the support he and his fiancé, Erica Tazel, have received from the ALS Network has been incredibly meaningful as he lives with this progressive disease.

Russell shared that while the past year has been difficult, he’s been deeply touched by the support he’s received. He described the people around him as a newfound, incredibly caring ‘family’ who have ensured he’s had everything he needed, allowing him to be where he is today.

Russell said his symptoms started during the COVID pandemic, and he first thought he was having a stroke because it was a very stressful period.

He explained that after not working for three years, followed by the consecutive actors’ strikes, he began experiencing occasional muscle spasms, which he initially thought were pinched nerves in his neck.

But the Insecure actor’s symptoms got more severe. 

He explained that he couldn’t perform his usual daily tasks. He was clumsy, often dropping things like cups and glasses, especially at night. He also felt strange sensations, like tingling or something moving up and down his arm, which he believed were nerve-related.

His fiancé, now his caregiver, also observed the impact of the illness on Russell.

Erica remembered that it took him a surprisingly long time to clean the pool. She noticed small things about his movements and started to feel something wasn’t right. ‘I just knew something was off,’ she said.

Soon after meeting with his doctor, Russell was diagnosed with ALS. 

He said the doctor told him she wanted him to see a neurologist within fifteen minutes. He explained that things quickly progressed from there.

When Erica found out about Russell’s diagnosis, she was surprisingly calm. She explained it actually provided answers to many questions they’d been asking themselves.

She remembered a sense of acceptance, not relief, when she finally understood the situation. Looking at her husband across the room, she told him, “Now that we know what’s going on, I still want to marry you.”

For more stars who have opened up about their health battles, read on…

In May 2026, the host of the BFFs podcast had emergency surgery when doctors found a large cyst on her ovary. The cyst had twisted her internal organs and was causing her to bleed internally.

After my surgery, I was shocked to learn just how much internal bleeding I’d had – about half a liter of blood had collected in my pelvic area. It was a pretty intense recovery; I ended up with five incisions on my stomach. The surgeons were amazing, though – they used a camera inserted through my belly button to locate all the blood and address the issue. It’s definitely been a journey, but I’m focusing on healing and getting back to feeling my best.

Former Total Bellas star revealed that one of her breast implants moved after being hit in the chest by fellow WWE wrestler Piper Niven during a match in July 2025.

She reassured her sister, Bella Garcia, that they would get the issue resolved eventually. She explained to the doctor that as soon as she finished her current commitments – implying after her divorce was finalized – she would return to address the problem and ensure everything looked its best, because she anticipated future use and didn’t want it to appear neglected.

Lupita Nyong’o, known for her role in 12 Years a Slave, received a diagnosis of uterine fibroids—non-cancerous growths in or around the uterus—in 2014, the same year she won an Academy Award for her performance in the film.

She didn’t share her diagnosis until 2025, when she revealed on Instagram that she had been privately struggling with it for over ten years.

She explained that many girls are taught to accept period pain as a normal part of being a woman. This often leaves them dealing with a common issue in silence and without support.

 

In July 2025, the actress from Daisy Jones & The Six revealed she was hospitalized for a hernia. This happened because she’d been wearing pants that were too tight, which caused a gap to form in her abdominal muscles.

Someone messaged Suki on X (formerly Twitter) asking why she hadn’t been tweeting. Suki replied, jokingly suggesting she hadn’t tweeted because she injured herself six months ago by wearing very tight pants and was afraid to mention it.

I was so worried to hear that Brian Austin Green had a scary health scare! He shared back in April 2025 that he’d been recovering from surgery – apparently his appendix almost ruptured. It’s good to know he’s on the mend!

Brian shared in an Instagram video that he recently experienced stomach pain which led him to the emergency room. He explained that his appendix had a hole in it – it hadn’t fully burst, but was very close to doing so.

He added, “I’m on the road to recovery. It’s not an easy process. This is my first major surgery.”

During a soccer game against Seattle Reign on September 14th at Lumen Field in Seattle, a midfielder from Racing Louisville collapsed after only a few minutes of play.

According to Reuters, the U.S. Women’s National Team player was seen slowly sitting down on the field with a teammate supporting her, before suddenly collapsing. Trainers were immediately called to assess her condition.

Savannah received immediate medical attention on the field and was taken to a nearby hospital for more tests, according to a statement from the National Women’s Soccer League. They reported that she is currently in stable condition and is alert.

Adam Devine revealed that injuries from a childhood accident – he was hit by a cement truck at age 11 – continue to cause him problems now.

“It’s been incredibly difficult,” Devine shared on the In Depth With Graham Bensinger podcast in 2025. “I’ve been experiencing spasms all over my body, and doctors actually told me last year that my condition was life-threatening.”

He explained that his pain is intermittent, saying, “My body has some quirks and isn’t quite working perfectly.”

A former contestant on The Bachelor went to the hospital because of severe back pain. He said he was in so much pain he had to crawl to get help, and the pain worsened during a recent RV trip with a friend.

He described a strange tingling sensation that still lingered in his knees and toes as of a March 2025 podcast episode of Trading Secrets. To give some context, he explained that just a few weeks or a month prior, he was able to squat 295 pounds. Now, he couldn’t even do a squat, or even stand on one leg without falling, comparing the feeling to having had a stroke.

But with the help of a back specialist and some steroids, he added, “We’re on the mend.”

As many of you know, I share a lot of my life, and I wanted to let you know that my ex-husband, Matt, recently had a heart attack back in March. It was a really scary time, but thankfully, he pulled through and is doing much better now. It just reminds you to cherish every moment!

In March 2025, the actor from 30 Rock experienced a medical issue at a New York Knicks game and had to be taken out of Madison Square Garden in a wheelchair.

The comedian later posted on social media to explain he’d actually been sick with food poisoning, but was starting to feel better.

In February 2025, the former Even Stevens star revealed she was shot in the face during a birthday celebration for her husband, Brendan Rooney. They were on a trip to go clay pigeon shooting when the incident occurred.

In an Instagram post, she explained that she was accidentally shot in the face by someone else at a party. They fired a weapon unsafely, and she was hit five times, with one bullet narrowly missing her right eye. Brendan Rooney quickly helped her, evaluating her injuries and immediately taking her to the hospital.

The Kim Possible actor explained that a small piece of something got stuck behind their eye. Doctors have advised against surgery to remove it right now, and they’ll be keeping a close watch on the situation, as their vision is currently normal.

The actress expressed immense gratitude for surviving a frightening experience. She shared her deep love for her daughters, husband, family, and friends, emphasizing how quickly life can change. She urged everyone to cherish their loved ones and hug them whenever possible, as life is precious and unpredictable.

Amy Schumer is grateful for the internet, surprisingly, because it helped her discover a health issue. After noticing she looked “puffier” and receiving critical comments online, doctors began commenting on interviews, suggesting she might have Cushing syndrome – a condition often caused by high cortisol levels or steroid injections. This prompted Schumer to realize she’d been getting steroid injections after a breast reduction and C-section. She wouldn’t have known about the condition without the online scrutiny. Thankfully, doctors determined her case of Cushing syndrome would resolve on its own, and she’s now relieved to be healthy. She shared this positive outcome in a February 2024 newsletter, calling it the greatest news she could have hoped for.

During a game in December 2024, an AHL player was accidentally cut in the face by another player’s skate and needed 25 stitches to close the wound. After his son made a full recovery, New Jersey Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald shared with ESPN how relieved they were, saying, “We feel very lucky, and I wouldn’t want any parent to go through that.”

In March 2022, Hailey Bieber experienced a frightening health scare while having breakfast with her husband, Justin Bieber. She suddenly developed stroke-like symptoms, initially unable to speak or control the right side of her face. Although these symptoms eventually subsided, she went to the hospital for evaluation. Tests revealed she had suffered a small blood clot to the brain, diagnosed as a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack). Further investigation at UCLA uncovered a hole in her heart, called a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Doctors determined the blood clot had traveled through this hole and to her brain, causing the TIA. Hailey has since undergone a successful procedure to close the PFO and is now doing well.

The same year Hailey faced a health issue, Justin also experienced one. In June 2022, he revealed he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which caused temporary paralysis on one side of his face. This forced him to cancel the rest of his Justice World Tour.

In a video posted to Instagram, Justin explained the condition affected the nerves in his ear and face, preventing him from blinking, smiling, or moving his nostril on the affected side. He also shared that it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to eat.

Fortunately, the paralysis eventually went away. Hailey shared on Good Morning America that Justin was recovering well and feeling much better, adding that they were grateful he was going to be okay. It had been a frightening and unexpected situation, but he was expected to make a full recovery.

Jamie Foxx recently shared details about the health scare he experienced in April 2023, which he had initially kept private. In his 2024 Netflix special, What Had Happened Was…, he explained that he suffered a severe headache one day while in Atlanta. Before he could even take an aspirin, he lost consciousness and doesn’t remember the next twenty days.

Initially, a doctor gave him a cortisone shot and sent him home, but his sister, Deidra Dixon, grew worried and took him to the hospital. There, doctors discovered he had a brain bleed that caused a stroke.

After surgery, Jamie woke up in a wheelchair on May 4th, unable to walk. He then traveled to Chicago for extensive rehabilitation and therapy. He expressed deep gratitude for the prayers he received, saying, “I needed every prayer.”

The reality TV star shared that she briefly stopped breathing while running a mile during the first challenge on the NBC show.

She shared on the show Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser that her memory of the event was fragmented. She recalled hearing a helicopter, feeling like she was floating, and then seeing her grandfather. After that, everything went dark, but then she saw light, leading her to realize she had died that day.

She explained that her organs were failing. She hadn’t known she had rhabdomyolysis, a condition where your body essentially starts to shut down.

Emilia Clarke, known for her role in Game of Thrones, revealed a harrowing health battle in a 2019 essay for The New Yorker. While filming the show, she experienced a severe headache while at the gym, which quickly escalated. She described collapsing and being violently ill, realizing something was seriously wrong with her brain.

A hospital scan revealed she had suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage – a life-threatening stroke caused by bleeding around the brain – due to a ruptured aneurysm. She immediately underwent surgery to repair it, but the pain was excruciating. During her recovery, she struggled with aphasia, leaving her unable to speak coherently.

Though the aphasia eventually passed and she was discharged after a month, a 2013 scan revealed the aneurysm had grown and required a second surgery. This surgery was unsuccessful, leading to a massive bleed and putting her life at risk. Doctors had to perform a more invasive procedure, accessing her brain directly through her skull.

Fortunately, Emilia Clarke is now fully recovered and says she is “at a hundred per cent.”

Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg’s daughter, recently shared her gratitude for her family’s support after she experienced a stroke in January 2024. She immediately contacted them, sending a text and photo, and they quickly came to her aid, as she told TopMob News’ Will Marfuggi in December 2024. While she could have been discharged after the stroke, existing health issues – including lupus and kidney problems – required a longer hospital stay. Cori is now recovering well, stating she’s doing great and has been working to regain some motor skills. She’s optimistic about her progress and overall health.

Shailene Woodley struggled with serious health issues throughout her 20s. In a September 2024 podcast interview, she revealed she experienced hearing loss, extreme fatigue, and digestive problems. Doctors offered various diagnoses, leaving her feeling confused and frustrated.

Drawing on her background in holistic medicine and herbalism, Shailene sought answers from both traditional doctors and alternative healers. This search for well-being lasted for a decade.

The physical discomfort led to deeper emotional challenges, including fear of food and struggles with body image and identity. She described a period of mental turmoil and feeling unsafe in her own body.

Fortunately, after years of addressing both her physical and mental health, Shailene is now healthy and feeling much better. She’s grateful to be able to say she’s fully recovered.

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2026-05-18 16:18