James Pickens Jr., who has played Dr. Richard Webber on Grey’s Anatomy for over 20 seasons and 450 episodes, is opening up about a deeply personal health battle — one that unexpectedly lined up with his character’s storyline.
Just days after the season 22 midseason finale revealed that Dr. Webber has cancer, Pickens shared that he, too, was diagnosed with prostate cancer. The 73-year-old actor disclosed the news in a candid interview with Black Health Matters, emphasizing that early detection quite literally saved his life.
“Prostate cancer has run through my family.”
Pickens shared that the disease has touched multiple generations of men in his family — his father, uncles, cousins, and even their sons.
“It’s not the kind of news anyone wants to hear, but to be honest, prostate cancer has run through my family. I would have been surprised if I hadn’t gotten it,” he said.
Despite such an extensive history, Pickens also noted that, as far as he knows, none of his relatives have died from the disease — a testament to vigilance, regular testing, and catching it early.
Early detection caught it before it spread
Because of that family history, Pickens has always prioritized his yearly physicals and began PSA testing at 41 years old — nearly a decade earlier than many men begin.
That consistency made all the difference.
In January, his primary care doctor noticed his PSA levels had ticked up again and referred him to a urologist.
An MRI showed “something suspicious,” and a biopsy confirmed a tumor. A PET scan later revealed the cancer had not spread beyond the prostate.
Pickens ultimately chose to undergo a radical prostatectomy, performed robotically.
“We caught it really early, and so they thought that would be the best route to take,” he said, noting that he has a rare variant of prostate cancer that doctors wanted to monitor closely.
He emphasized that diligence—especially as a Black man—saved his life.
A storyline that suddenly hit home
In the Nov. 13 midseason finale of Grey’s Anatomy, Dr. Webber quietly reveals he has cancer — a moment that resonated even more once Pickens shared his real-life diagnosis.
The actor later appeared in a PSA with Black Health Matters, spreading awareness about early detection, particularly for Black men, who face significantly higher risks.
“One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. For Black men, the risk is even higher,” he says in the PSA.
“Today, I am living proof that early detection works.”
Encouraging Black men to get tested
Pickens said part of why he went public was to break the silence and fear around men’s health—especially within the Black community.
“We know the history of how African American men view the medical community,” he said. “Our trepidation about being tested, even getting a routine physical. I want to help change that.”
He urged Black men, and men with a family history, to begin screenings at age 40.
After the episode aired, Pickens also posted to Instagram, telling supporters:
“I’m blessed and grateful to be cancer-free. Get checked.”