James Pickens Jr., one of the longest-serving cast members of Grey’s Anatomy, has revealed that he was recently treated for prostate cancer, a diagnosis that mirrors a storyline for his character, Dr. Richard Webber, in the medical drama’s season 22 midseason finale. The actor said he chose to speak publicly to encourage men, particularly Black men and those with a family history, to take screening seriously.
Pickens explained that prostate cancer “has run through” his family, affecting his father, several uncles and cousins. Because of that history, he began annual physicals and PSA blood tests in his early forties. During a check-up in January, his doctor noticed that his PSA level had risen compared with previous results and referred him to a urologist. An MRI revealed a suspicious area, a biopsy confirmed a tumor, and further imaging showed the cancer was confined to the prostate.
He underwent a robotic radical prostatectomy performed by two urologists. Pickens said his physicians described his case as a rare variant of the disease, detected unusually early, and that they opted to proceed cautiously and monitor him closely after surgery. He has credited his early and regular testing with allowing doctors to act before the cancer spread, relaying his urologist’s view that his diligence gave him a clear advantage.
The actor has played Richard Webber since Grey’s Anatomy began in 2005 and recently delivered an on-air message in the show about the importance of prostate checks. Off screen, he has partnered with health organization Black Health Matters on a public service announcement stressing that one in eight men will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis and that the risk is higher for Black men. In the video, he urges those with elevated risk, including men with a strong family history, to talk to a doctor about screening from age 40.
Medical groups have been sounding alarms over prostate cancer trends and racial disparities. A recent American Cancer Society analysis reported that U.S. prostate cancer incidence, after years of decline, has begun rising again, with the sharpest increases in advanced-stage disease. The same report found that Black men face roughly twice the prostate cancer death rate of white men, while advocacy organizations estimate that about one in six Black men will be diagnosed in their lifetime. Public health experts say better access to testing, culturally sensitive outreach and clear information about risks are essential to closing that gap, giving added weight to Pickens’ decision to discuss his experience.
