These days, it seems like everything is turning up Tyler James Williams. Recently, the actor took home a Golden Globe award for his starring role in the hit comedy "Abbott Elementary". The star has come a long way since his "Everybody Hates Chris" days. Not to mention, he’s starred in a handful of other TV sitcoms. He’s clearly on the way to becoming one of Hollywood’s noteworthy stars.
While things are going well for the actor careerwise, his personal life has hit quite a few speed bumps. Unfortunately, the 30-year-old was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in his twenties.
According to research, the chronic digestive disease has “affected half a million people in the US for the past 50 years.” The most common symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, fatigue, bloating, blood in the stool, and even mouth sores.
Even worse, reports say that individuals can experience symptoms in their teens. Though, most people are diagnosed with the disease between the ages of 20 and 30.
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Fortunately, Williams’ remained strong throughout the challenging time in his life. More importantly, he learned a very valuable lesson about life. The child-star actor has stated that he needs to stay strong. “Longevity is a big part of the game.” Clearly, the "Abbott Elementary" star is making sure he takes care of his body.
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The Actor Pushed Himself Too Hard
In our 20s, life seems bright and full of a promising future. At 24 years old, doctors diagnosed Williams with Crohn's disease. At the time, he avoided high school roles and pursued more adult projects. This led Williams to start weight training.
According to an article published in Men’s Health Magazine, the actor hired personal trainers and force-fed himself. However, the star’s plan to bulk up went South after he started experiencing the first couple of signs of the inflammatory bowel disease, including abdominal pain.
“It just crashed. Everything shut down,” the actor told Men’s Health. Furthermore, an X-ray revealed that the star had an inflamed bowel filled with scar tissue. The actor pushed his body past its limit, which nearly ended his life.
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“The last thought I had was holy Sh-t, this could be it. If this it it, I'm not happy. I worked a lot. I did a lot of things. I didn't enjoy any of this. This can't be it," he said.
Unfortunately, Williams had to undergo emergency surgery in 2017 that removed 6 inches of his small intestines. The star’s surgery almost seemed like a success, though more complications followed soon after.
The Actor Had To Overcome A New Obstacle
After all was said and done, the star became malnourished and underweight, having dropped to 105 lbs. Even worse, he lost the ability to walk.
Research shows that “65% to 75% of people with Crohn’s Disease are usually underweight and severely malnutritioned.” Making matters worse, flare-ups and worsening symptoms can last anywhere from days to weeks and even months.
According to Williams, the star had flare-ups weekly to daily since the age of 19. Clearly, the star suffered a long time. Though, like almost all things in life, nothing bad lasts forever.
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Tyler James Williams Vows To Take Better Care Of His Body
Fortunately, there was light at the end of the tunnel for the "Abbott Elementary" star. According to a video he made for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, it took him years to find the correct diagnosis. The act of doing so was his first step towards healing his body. Despite the fact that the chronic disease can’t be cured, there’s a wealth of treatment options available for people.
Additionally, diet and nutrition play a huge role in avoiding flare-ups. Both Tyler James Williams and his younger brother Tyrel, who experienced his first flare-up in 2020, focused on experimenting with foods they could eat that wouldn’t trigger a reaction.
In particular, Williams had to eliminate coffee, alcohol and red meat from his diet. While the star notes that changing his diet was challenging, he’s worked hard to take better care of himself and his body.
Williams told Men's Health that he had to learn to have a better relationship with his body.
“The important thing for me, and those like me, to remember is that longevity is a big part of the game. If you can’t stay strong and be healthy, there really is no point.” Despite his health complications, the actor continues to take care of his body.
