Grey’s Anatomy star James Pickens Jr., best known for his long-running role as Dr. Richard Webber, recently revealed that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, but thanks to early detection and successful treatment, he’s now on the road to recovery.
In a candid interview with Black Health Matters, Pickens opened up about his diagnosis and why he wasn’t completely surprised to hear the news.
“It’s not the kind of news anyone wants to hear, but to be honest, prostate cancer has run through my family,” he shared. “My father had it. He had a lot of brothers; several of them had it. I would have been surprised if I hadn’t gotten it.”
Fortunately, the actor noted that no one in his family has died from the disease. “I’ve got a 90-year-old first cousin, who’s still alive, actually; he had it. His son has it. A couple of his brothers had it. No one, as far as I know, has succumbed to it.”
After undergoing a routine PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test, doctors discovered something unusual. Further testing revealed a tumor, but it was caught early and had not spread. Pickens underwent surgery to have it removed.
“We caught it really early,” he said. “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. It was rare enough that they wanted to make sure that they were crossing all the T’s and dotting all their I’s. But they hadn’t seen one that was detected as early as mine.”
I’m sure you all may start to see this going around so I just want to inform folks my dad is well. He’s already undergone surgery and it was successful but he is very appreciative of the support. Now it’s just about monitoring, but he is doing great! https://t.co/xbarp0r3Ew
— Gavyn (@GavynXP) November 15, 2025
Following the public reveal, Pickens’ daughter, Gavyn Pickens, took to social media to reassure fans that her father is doing well after surgery.
“I’m sure you all may start to see this going around, so I just want to inform folks my dad is well,” she wrote on X. “He’s already undergone surgery, and it was successful, but he is very appreciative of the support. Now it’s just about monitoring, but he is doing great!”
Pickens’ story is a reminder of the importance of routine screenings and early detection, especially for men over 50, and particularly for Black men, who face a higher risk of prostate cancer.
Photo Credit: Disney
