Greg Grunberg has constructed a profession taking part in the most effective pal or likeable man subsequent door on exhibits like Heroes, Felicity and Alias. Because it occurs, Grunberg was headed to Europe to reunite along with his real-life childhood finest pal and frequent collaborator, director J.J. Abrams, for the brand new movie Ghostwriter earlier this yr when his thick head of hair began to fall out in chunks nearly in a single day. His eyelashes and brows adopted — and so did a prognosis of alopecia.
The Nationwide Alopecia Areata Basis describes alopecia as a standard autoimmune pores and skin illness that causes hair loss on the scalp, face and different areas of the physique. In accordance with Cleveland Clinic, practically 7 million folks in the USA have the situation; 20% of instances contain youngsters.
As Grunberg grapples with the day-to-day challenges of growing alopecia at 59 — from surprising negative effects to unwelcome feedback — he’s additionally taken the chance to boost consciousness in regards to the situation and join with others who’ve it. It’s second nature for the actor, who shares three grownup youngsters along with his spouse of 33 years, Elizabeth. He cofounded Discuss About It! to boost epilepsy consciousness after his oldest son’s prognosis, and has helped increase over $6 million for charity performing with superstar bands, together with the Band From TV and its present spinoff iteration, the Motion Figures.
On this interview with Yahoo’s Suzy Byrne, Grunberg — whose current credit embrace roles in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and The Fabelmans, government producing Charlie Hustle & the Matter of Pete Rose and showing as a recurring visitor star on the sport present 25 Phrases or Much less — shares in his personal phrases how shedding his hair has modified his life. Right here’s what he’s realized from it, to this point.
Regardless that I’m an actor, I’ve by no means been a useless individual, consider it or not. Nevertheless it’s a shock to look within the mirror whereas washing your face and see somebody who doesn’t appear to be you.
That’s been my actuality since alopecia arrived with out warning earlier this yr.
In October 2024, I had a full knee substitute surgical procedure. Years earlier, after I was taking part in Matt Parkman on TV’s Heroes, I twisted my knee throughout a stunt. That damage led to arthritis, which stored getting worse.
Grunberg had knee substitute surgical procedure in 2024 after an previous set damage led to arthritis. (Trae Patton/NBC/ Courtesy: Everett Assortment)
Whereas the surgical procedure was successful, it’s what doubtless triggered all of this. I consider alopecia could have been dormant in my system for years, and the stress surrounding the surgical procedure — and different issues occurring on the time — set it off.
Restoration from surgical procedure was a two-and-a-half to three-month course of with a number of bodily remedy. It wasn’t a simple time: I used to be attempting to heal earlier than the Motion Figures had been scheduled to carry out the first-ever Comedian Con: The Cruise in January. Then, the Los Angeles fires began. We had a household staying with us that was significantly impacted.
Out of nowhere, my hair began falling out in clumps. I used to be nearly to fly to Europe to shoot J.J. Abrams’s subsequent film with Samuel L. Jackson, Glen Powell and Jenna Ortega for a month. I used to be freaking out. I imply, think about you get up within the morning and your whole hair is gone.
I talked to J.J. — my finest pal on the planet — who inspired me to get forward of it, so I shaved my hair earlier than filming. My eyebrows, eyelashes and every thing else went subsequent. The hair and make-up workforce created eyebrows for me and gave me a goatee for the film. I truly love the way in which I look. J.J. was like, “Dude, you look superior. Don’t fear about it.”
Grunberg with movie director and previous pal J.J. Abrams. (Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic)
Again residence, I noticed an unimaginable physician at UCLA who makes a speciality of alopecia. She additionally has alopecia, so when she walked within the room, I stated, “OK, you perceive me.” I requested what was responsible for all this, and she or he actually threw up her arms and stated, “We don’t know, however it’s stress-related.”
I’m wholesome in each different space, knock on wooden. I frequently have bloodwork accomplished as a result of I’ve began a drugs — a JAK inhibitor — to see if it should stimulate hair regrowth. I’m unsure if it should, and I’ve realized that hair can typically develop again solely to fall out once more. At 59, with an attractive household and a cheerful marriage, I’m not attempting to impress anybody with my look.
I’ll admit I used to be a bit dishonest publicly at first. After I didn’t know what was responsible for the hair loss and was nonetheless attempting to determine it out, I posted on social media that I shaved my head for a task. However as soon as I realized the reality, I noticed it will be hypocritical to not be utterly trustworthy.
I’ve spent my maturity encouraging trustworthy conversations on Discuss About It!, which I helped begin years in the past to assist destigmatize epilepsy after my oldest son was recognized. Via my podcast, I make it my mission to assist folks communicate brazenly in regards to the challenges they’re dealing with — and that’s the place I shared my alopecia prognosis in Could.
It’s to not say this hasn’t been a life adjustment. There are issues about alopecia I by no means thought-about: Once you sweat, it goes straight into your eyes since you don’t have eyebrows or eyelashes to catch it. Shedding my nostril hair was stunning. Nostril hair acts like a built-in filter, so I don’t have that now. Additionally, I want way more sunscreen now as a result of a lot extra pores and skin is uncovered.
However I am getting used to a few of it. No haircuts or shampoo — I am saving a fortune. I haven’t got to shave daily. I began utilizing L’Oréal’s Fake Forehead pen — really useful by my sister-in-law, who additionally has alopecia — to present myself eyebrows. I put on non-prescription glasses so as to add definition to my face.
I purchased 1,000,000 hats, however realized for those who put on a hat or placed on sun shades, then you definitely’re form of saying, “I am not proudly owning this” as a substitute of “Hey, that is who I’m.” I am not gonna put on a wig. I am not gonna put on a toupee. I am not gonna get plugs. I am not gonna do any of that stuff. I am simply embracing it and shifting ahead.
So many individuals have reached out about family members with alopecia: “My 12-year-old daughter,” “My 11-year-old nephew,” “My college-aged niece” — and that places every thing in perspective. Remedy has helped too. My spouse is every thing, and it’s nice to have a pal/brother like J.J. to speak to about something, however I’ve by no means been in remedy earlier than. It is the most effective factor I’ve ever accomplished.
That doesn’t imply there aren’t uncomfortable moments. Some folks don’t have any censor, and somebody just lately stated, “Oh my God, have a look at Uncle Fester!” I’ve all the time instructed my boys, if someone opens the door, step by it. So I checked out her and stated, “Wow, that is a delicate remark. I’ve alopecia.”
Simply yesterday at a restaurant, these women stored wanting over. I do not know in the event that they thought I used to be sick or in the event that they haven’t seen somebody with out eyebrows earlier than or if my voice was acquainted, however they didn’t acknowledge me. Earlier than I misplaced my hair, in all places I went, folks would cease me — to thank me or say hello — which is so good, however generally I simply wish to disappear. Properly, guess what? Now I’ve disappeared.
Seeing images of myself is one other factor. Anybody with alopecia will get this: At a party or no matter, I’ve change into the man who’s taking the photographs as a substitute of being in them. I am nonetheless adjusting.
I preserve shifting ahead, although. Jokingly, I’ve referred to as my showrunner and filmmaker associates to say, “Guess what, I’ve obtained a brand new look.” Everybody tells me I can play a villain now, and I’m like, “Why cannot the bald man be a pleasant man? What about dad roles, soccer coaches and burned-out legal professionals?” It is opening up a complete new space.
However I’ve realized this: The world reacts to you the way in which you react to your self. If I am smiling, speaking about it and being open, that is how everybody will settle for it. And that’s what I plan to maintain doing.
This interview has been edited for size and readability.
