Celebrities Who’ve Had Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Celebrities Who’ve Had Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Leukemia is a group of blood cancers that affect the bone marrow and the cells it produces. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of myeloid leukemia that develops quickly in myeloid cells — the precursors of granulocytes and monocytes — and is typically treated as an aggressive, acute disease. Although AML is less common than some other cancers overall, it’s the most frequently diagnosed type of leukemia in adults.

Below, we highlight 11 celebrities — from actors to musicians and athletes — who were diagnosed with AML or helped raise awareness about the disease, and how their experiences have mattered for patients and research. Read on to learn about their journeys and ways to get involved.

Which celebrities have had AML?

1. Evan Handler

Actor Evan Handler — known for roles in Sex and the City and Californication — was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia early in his career at age 24. He’s spoken about his experience in interviews and in his 2008 memoir, It’s Only Temporary, using his platform to bring attention to the emotional side of living with leukemia and the years-long recovery many people face.

In an interview on The Takeaway, Handler said his diagnosis didn’t stop the family from finding humor in life — a reminder that the human experience continues alongside illness.

2. Ken Watanabe

Japanese actor Ken Watanabe was first diagnosed with AML in 1989 while filming Heaven and Earth. He underwent chemotherapy and recovered, though he experienced a relapse in 1994 and required further treatment. Watanabe has spoken about focusing on laughter and conversation rather than constant worry during illness.

He told interviewers that even while sick, people want to talk, laugh, and think about other things — a perspective that has helped him, as an actor, continue working through years of ups and downs.

3. Nora Ephron

Writer and filmmaker Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally…) was diagnosed with AML in 2006. She kept her diagnosis private for years and later died from complications in 2012. Her son discussed why she preferred to shield that part of her life from public view, highlighting the personal choices patients make around disclosure and privacy.

4. Rich Cronin

LFO frontman Rich Cronin was diagnosed with AML in 2005 and initially responded to chemotherapy, but experienced relapses in 2007 and 2010. He died in 2010 at age 36. Cronin founded the Rich Cronin Hope Foundation for Leukemia to support education and research, leaving a legacy that helped others navigate treatment and financial challenges.

Bandmate Brad Fischetti remembered him as a fighter who beat leukemia twice, underscoring how treatment success and setbacks can both be part of a person’s journey.

5. Rishi Kapoor

Bollywood star Rishi Kapoor, whose career began with Mera Naam Joker (1970), was diagnosed with AML in 2018 and received treatment in New York. He told India Today that his cancer had gone into remission at one point, but he later died in April 2020 due to complications related to the illness.

6. Timothy Ray Brown

Timothy Ray Brown — the “Berlin Patient” — was treated for AML in 2007. His case is notable because the stem cell transplant he received also led to long-term remission of his HIV, a medical milestone. Brown later faced a recurrence of leukemia and died in 2020, but his experience remains an important example of how stem cell treatment can impact both myeloid leukemia and other diseases.

7. Mary Travers

Folk singer Mary Travers (Peter, Paul and Mary) was diagnosed with AML in 2004, received chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant in 2005, and died in 2009 at age 72 from treatment-related complications. In interviews she emphasized humor and courage as coping tools during her illness.

8. Royana Black

Broadway performer Royana Black — who debuted in Brighton Beach Memoirs as a child — died suddenly from AML complications on July 14, 2020. Public details about her illness are limited, but her family’s statements emphasize her energy and spirit.

9. Ron Taylor

Australian underwater cinematographer and conservationist Ron Taylor — known for work on films like Jaws and Orca — was diagnosed with AML and died of complications in 2012, about two years after his initial diagnosis. Friends praised his humanitarian spirit and innovative contributions to marine filmmaking.

10. Terry Nutkins

U.K. television presenter Terry Nutkins — known for Animal Magic and The Really Wild Show — was diagnosed with leukemia and died on September 6, 2012, roughly nine months after his diagnosis. He largely kept his illness private, and his career was defined by a lifelong passion for wildlife and public education.

11. Bob Feller

Baseball legend Bob Feller — “Bullet Bob,” a Hall of Fame pitcher for the Cleveland Indians — was diagnosed with AML in August 2010 at age 91 and died a few months later on December 15, 2010. Though he didn’t speak publicly about his diagnosis, obituaries described him as “one of a kind… an American original.”

Raising awareness and funding for AML research

Some celebrities quietly managed their diagnoses, while others used public platforms to raise awareness, support research, and help people navigate treatment and financial hurdles. Evan Handler continues to speak about his experience, and Rich Cronin established a foundation to fund education and research for leukemia care.

If you’d like to get involved in AML awareness, advocacy, or support for people undergoing treatment, consider these reputable organizations and concrete actions:

• Funding. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) funds research into blood cancers and offers patient resources and information on treatments such as chemotherapy and bone marrow/stem cell transplants. Learn more about donating or supporting LLS here.
• Awareness. CancerCare runs education and support programs and highlights Acute Myeloid Leukemia during AML Awareness Month in June — a good opportunity to join events, volunteer, or share educational resources to help people understand diagnosis and remission possibilities. Find ways to get involved during AML Awareness Month here.
• Financial help for treatment. The PAN Foundation provides disease-specific financial assistance for underinsured patients to help cover out-of-pocket costs related to cancer care and medications. (PAN reports that it has distributed billions in assistance to patients facing high treatment costs.) See PAN’s AML assistance program here.

Actionable tips: donate to research funds, join awareness campaigns in June, volunteer with patient-support groups, or share verified resources about treatment options (chemotherapy, bone marrow or stem cell transplants) so patients and their families can more easily find help.

The Takeaway

Acute myeloid leukemia is the most commonly diagnosed leukemia in adults, even though it remains relatively rare compared with other cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, roughly 20,000 people in the United States were expected to receive an AML diagnosis in 2021; check the ACS link below for the most current statistics.

Many public figures have faced AML: actors Evan Handler and Ken Watanabe, writer-director Nora Ephron, and others on this list illustrate varied experiences with diagnosis, treatment, remission, and complications. Their stories help raise awareness about treatment options — from chemotherapy and bone marrow or stem cell transplants to supportive care — and the financial and emotional burdens patients and families often face.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with leukemia, the important thing is to work closely with doctors to understand treatment choices and available support. To learn more, get involved, or donate to research and patient programs, visit the American Cancer Society’s site.