Jamie-Lynn Sigler Joins Grey’s Anatomy as a Doctor Living with Multiple Sclerosis
Jamie-Lynn Sigler is making her television comeback after a three-year hiatus to portray a Grey’s Anatomy physician diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
“If you had told me 20 years ago that I would take on a role in one of my favorite shows, being open about my MS and allowing it to fuel a narrative, I would have found that hard to believe,” she shared via Instagram on Thursday, December 11. “For those out there… your journey isn’t finished yet.”
Deadline reported that Sigler, 44, will join the cast in the episode airing on January 15, 2026. She will play urologist Dr. Laura Kaplan, who lives with multiple sclerosis. Kaplan is summoned to Grey Sloan by Dr. Catherine Fox (Debbie Allen) to provide counsel to Dr. Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.), who disclosed his cancer diagnosis during the season 22 fall finale.
According to the publication, the character was specifically designed for Sigler. She had previously opened up about her MS journey in 2016, nearly 15 years post-diagnosis.
“I already had a prominent career. Acceptance was challenging,” she reflected, expressing her desire to advocate for others. “Often, when people face any chronic illness, it can feel immensely isolating; you might feel alone, as if no one truly grasps your experience.”
She added: “I wanted to be someone who says, ‘I understand, I feel you, I hear you, I undergo the same struggles you face, and I get it.’”
Sigler’s casting follows closely after Grey’s alum Eric Dane guest-starred on NBC’s Brilliant Minds as a firefighter living with ALS, a condition he also faces in his real life. (He is set to resume his role as Cal in Euphoria and to feature in the upcoming series Kabul.)
“I have been diagnosed with ALS,” Dane stated in an April announcement. “I am thankful to have my loving family beside me as we navigate this new chapter. I feel fortunate to continue my work and am eager to be back on the set of Euphoria next week. I politely request privacy for my family and me during this period.”
Dane, 53, recounted noticing symptoms of the illness that impairs muscle control and affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
“I first noticed weakness in my right hand. At the time, I brushed it off, thinking perhaps I was just fatigued from texting too much,” Dane shared with Good Morning America in June. “As weeks passed, I noticed it worsening. I consulted a hand specialist, who referred me to another hand specialist, and ultimately to a neurologist, who remarked, ‘This is beyond my expertise.’”
Recently, Dane expressed that he intends to seek roles that reflect his real-life illness.
“Physically, my acting capabilities are somewhat limited, but my mind and speech remain intact. I am open to taking on any role. However, moving forward, it will need to focus on ALS,” he remarked during a recent virtual panel discussion with the advocacy group I AM ALS.
He concluded: “It will be quite challenging for me to take on any other role without addressing the obvious. That’s perfectly fine with me. I’m grateful that I still have the opportunity to work in any capacity.”
