Broadway actor Aaron Lazar, who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2022, is facing significant medical expenses as his condition progresses. Lazar, 50, has lost the use of his legs, arms, and hands and requires a BIPAP machine to breathe and constant care. His loved ones have initiated a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his annual medical bills, estimated at $300,000.

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to a gradual loss of muscle control. There is currently no cure for the disease, which is fatal.

Lazar's condition has confined him to a wheelchair. The fundraiser aims to provide stability and comfort for him and his two teenage sons, Julian, 16, and Adrian, 14, by alleviating the financial burden of his extensive medical needs and caregiving.

He is now confined to a wheelchair after losing the use of his legs, arms and hands - with his loved ones launching a fundraiser to cover the costs of his $300,000 a year medical bills

Lazar's acting credits include roles in "The Wolf of Wall Street," "J. Edgar," "The Good Wife," "Quantico," and stage productions of "Les Misérables" and "The Last Ship." His professional paths crossed with the late actor Eric Dane, who died in February at age 53 after his own battle with ALS. Lazar and Dane's connection deepened on the set of the Amazon Prime series "Countdown" in 2025, where they discovered their shared diagnosis.

His and Dane's paths crossed on the set of Amazon Prime series Countdown in 2025 - with the pair instantly connecting over their shared condition - Dane pictured June 2025

Lazar described meeting Dane in 2025, noting that he could sense something was different when they first met. "When I met Eric and he shook my hand, I could see and feel something was off. I asked him what was going on. Eric said to me, ‘I think I have what you have,’” Lazar recalled.

He added that he was concerned about his ability to dress for his role due to his condition, but the production team was prepared, having already worked with Dane.

Lazar's GoFundMe has garnered nearly $300,000. He is engaged to Nawal Bengholam and, in 2024, spoke about his approach to living with the disease. "Once the diagnosis came, I made the decision: 'I'm not living whatever life I have left afraid,'" he stated. "Don't get me wrong; I'm passionately fighting for my life, I'm just not fighting the disease. I've learned to surrender to ALS in a way that lets me appreciate the moments between life's peaks and valleys. Because I don't want to miss them."