Greg Grunberg has constructed a profession taking part in the perfect buddy or likeable man subsequent door on reveals like Heroes, Felicity and Alias. Because it occurs, Grunberg was headed to Europe to reunite along with his real-life childhood finest buddy and frequent collaborator, director J.J. Abrams, for the brand new movie Ghostwriter earlier this 12 months 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 response to Cleveland Clinic, practically 7 million individuals 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 sudden unintended effects to unwelcome feedback — he’s additionally taken the chance to boost consciousness concerning 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 Speak About It! to boost epilepsy consciousness after his oldest son’s prognosis, and has helped elevate 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 latest 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 dropping his hair has modified his life. Right here’s what he’s discovered from it, up to now.
Although I’m an actor, I’ve by no means been a useless individual, consider it or not. But it surely’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 12 months.
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 saved 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 a hit, it’s what doubtless triggered all of this. I consider alopecia might have been dormant in my system for years, and the stress surrounding the surgical procedure — and different issues happening on the time — set it off.
Restoration from surgical procedure was a two-and-a-half to three-month course of with plenty of bodily remedy. It wasn’t a straightforward 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 buddy on the earth — who inspired me to get forward of it, so I shaved my hair earlier than filming. My eyebrows, eyelashes and every part else went subsequent. The hair and make-up staff created eyebrows for me and gave me a goatee for the film. I really 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 buddy J.J. Abrams. (Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic)
Again house, I noticed an unbelievable physician at UCLA who makes a speciality of alopecia. She additionally has alopecia, so when she walked within the room, I mentioned, “OK, you perceive me.” I requested what should be blamed for all this, and he or she actually threw up her palms and mentioned, “We don’t know, nevertheless it’s stress-related.”
I’m wholesome in each different space, knock on wooden. I frequently have bloodwork achieved as a result of I’ve began a medicine — a JAK inhibitor — to see if it can stimulate hair regrowth. I’m undecided if it can, and I’ve discovered that hair can usually develop again solely to fall out once more. At 59, with a wonderful 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 should be blamed 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 discovered the reality, I noticed it could be hypocritical to not be fully sincere.
I’ve spent my maturity encouraging sincere conversations on Speak About It!, which I helped begin years in the past to assist destigmatize epilepsy after my oldest son was identified. By my podcast, I make it my mission to assist individuals converse overtly concerning the challenges they’re going through — 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 of: While you sweat, it goes instantly into your eyes since you don’t have eyebrows or eyelashes to catch it. Dropping my nostril hair was surprising. Nostril hair acts like a built-in filter, so I don’t have that now. Additionally, I would like rather 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 each day. I began utilizing L’Oréal’s Fake Forehead pen — really helpful 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 one million hats, however realized when you put on a hat or placed on sun shades, then you definitely’re type of saying, “I am not proudly owning this” as an alternative 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 part in perspective. Remedy has helped too. My spouse is every part, and it’s nice to have a buddy/brother like J.J. to speak to about something, however I’ve by no means been in remedy earlier than. It is the perfect factor I’ve ever achieved.
That doesn’t imply there aren’t uncomfortable moments. Some individuals don’t have any censor, and somebody not too long ago mentioned, “Oh my God, take a look at Uncle Fester!” I’ve all the time informed my boys, if any person opens the door, step by it. So I checked out her and mentioned, “Wow, that is a delicate remark. I’ve alopecia.”
Simply yesterday at a restaurant, these women saved trying 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, all over the place I went, individuals would cease me — to thank me or say hello — which is so good, however generally I simply need to disappear. Nicely, guess what? Now I’ve disappeared.
Seeing pictures of myself is one other factor. Anybody with alopecia will get this: At a party or no matter, I’ve turn into the man who’s taking the images as an alternative of being in them. I am nonetheless adjusting.
I maintain shifting ahead, although. Jokingly, I’ve referred to as my showrunner and filmmaker associates to say, “Guess what, I’ve acquired 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 attorneys?” It is opening up a complete new space.
However I’ve discovered 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.
