Broadway Veteran Announces ALS Diagnosis : “A Divine Opportunity Disguised as an Impossible Situation”

Broadway actor Aaron Lazar recently announced that he has been diagnosed with ALS. He made the announcement on the Carefully Taught Podcast with host Matthew Teague Miller.

Lazar has performed in the original runs of shows such as The Light in the Piazza and Mamma Mia as well as the revivals of Les Misérables and A Little Night Music. He told Miller “I was diagnosed almost two years ago, I’ve been dealing with the symptoms of that even longer.”

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a neurodegenerative illness that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.

In January, the Golden West Chapter of the ALS Association will honor Lazar with the Essey Spotlight Award for his commitment to raising ALS awareness around the globe.

Lazar is making it his mission to help others. He’s given a TED talk called “The Impossible Dream”. He’s giving the talk in front of multiple audiences, including a group of neurosurgeons in CA. The talk centers around Lazar’s journey to becoming an actor and “how I didn’t know what impossible was until I was diagnosed with ALS.” Lyrics from the Man of La Mancha song are woven through it the talk.

While many might feel otherwise about a diagnosis like this, Lazar is ready for the fights. “I see this as a divine opportunity disguised as an impossible situation,” Lazar said.