Veteran actor James Earl Jones has revealed for the first time that he has been living with type 2 diabetes for over 20 years—a diagnosis that caught him completely off guard.
In an exclusive interview with AOL, Jones, now 85, recalled how he discovered his condition in the mid-1990s. At the time, he was attending a diet and exercise program to lose weight. It was there, during a gym session, that he unexpectedly fell asleep on a bench.
“A doctor saw me and said, ‘That’s not normal,’” Jones shared. “I took the test, and there it was—type 2 diabetes. It hit me like a thunderbolt.”
Jones had been in the midst of a highly productive decade. He appeared in around 70 projects in the 1990s alone, showing no signs of slowing down. With such a demanding schedule, he admits he may have overlooked the warning signs of the disease.
The diagnosis came as a shock, despite several risk factors. Jones is African American, was older at the time, and had a family history of the condition. He also served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and had always considered himself physically strong.
“I thought I was invincible. That’s how the Army teaches you to think,” he said. “So there was a lot of denial. I’m still figuring out how to live with it.”
More than 29 million Americans live with type 2 diabetes, and experts say stigma often surrounds the diagnosis. According to Dr. John Anderson, former president of the American Diabetes Association, many people wrongly believe the disease is entirely caused by poor lifestyle choices. While diet and exercise do play a role, factors like age and ethnicity are also significant.
Anderson noted that it’s difficult for people—especially those in their 40s and 50s—to change long-established habits.
“Food can be emotional. You reward yourself with a treat after a hard day,” he said. “Changing that mindset is very hard.”
For Jones, the shift required tough sacrifices. He had to give up favorites like strawberry shortcake. He credits his wife and son for helping him stay on track.
“My son is a watchdog. He’ll smell the sugar on my breath. My wife counts the cookies,” Jones said. “Sometimes I try to sneak things—it’s human nature—but they catch me.”
To manage his blood sugar, Jones takes Invokana, a medication from Janssen Pharmaceuticals. He stresses, however, that no single treatment works for everyone. That’s part of why he is partnering with Janssen to promote a website offering personalized tools for people with type 2 diabetes. Every quiz taken on the site triggers a donation to the American Diabetes Association, with additional donations made when users share results on social media.
Although he has lived with diabetes for two decades, Jones kept it private until now. He says he finally felt it was time to speak out.
“I’ve been working steadily for 60 or 70 years and never had a moment to commit to something like this,” he said. “I’ve accepted that I’ll always be a diabetic. But I also know I can live a full life.”
That life includes acting—something Jones isn’t ready to give up. With nearly 200 film and voice roles under his belt, he plans to keep working.
“Actors can keep going as long as they don’t knock over the furniture and remember their lines,” he said with a laugh. “I think I want to try comedy next. At my age, if you’re going to make a fool of yourself, do it in comedy. I’m ready.”
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