Jim Curtis, the partner of actress Jennifer Aniston, has spoken candidly about a significant health crisis he experienced in his early twenties, which resulted in partial paralysis and chronic nerve damage. Curtis, an author, discussed his condition and his new book, "The Book of Possibility," during an on-stage conversation with Aniston at 92NY Residence on Tuesday evening. He recounted how doctors discovered lesions on his spinal cord, a diagnosis that initially caused him to fear researching the condition.
"I felt my body 'freeze and seize up without the fear of what Google had to say about this,'" Curtis said, recalling his reaction to the diagnosis. He eventually decided to confront his fears, stating, "Tomorrow, everything changes."
Curtis, who now uses a cane due to a resulting limp, shared his philosophy on navigating health challenges. "I'm not saying here that if the doctor tells you to do something, you should get up and leave," he explained. "What I'm saying is you don't have to live as the victim. You don't have to live in your suffering. It can become your power."
He also revealed that for many years, he was hesitant to be honest about the cause of his mobility issues, opting instead to fabricate stories about a motorcycle accident. "I was so shameful that I had a medical condition. I was broken in some way. I thought the motorcycle accident was at least a little macho," Curtis admitted.
Over a 25-year period, Curtis said he worked to overcome these feelings of insecurity through self-acceptance and self-love. He advocates for accepting and even loving one's condition as a path forward.
During the event's question-and-answer session, Aniston shared that Curtis had helped her overcome a significant fear of public speaking. When asked what possibility she was choosing that day, the actress responded that she was "choosing to overcome a very deep, deep fear of public speaking."
Curtis' book is scheduled for publication on September 8. He and Aniston made their relationship public on Instagram in November 2025, with Aniston posting a tribute to him on his 50th birthday.