'Scrubs' actor Sam Lloyd receives devastating cancer diagnosis
Sam Lloyd is loved.
The actor, known for playing lawyer Ted on Scrubs between 2001 and 2009, as well as stepping into roles on Desperate Housewives, Night Court, Seinfeld and many other shows over the past three decades, was diagnosed with cancer in January.
He sought medical treatment on Jan. 17 after having experienced headaches and weight loss, and a medical scan revealed a tumor. Doctors went in to operate and found that, because of its location, the tumor couldn’t be removed safely. They also found that the cancer originated in his lungs and had also spread to his liver, spine and jaw.
Now, friends of the actor, former Scrubs producer Tim Hobert and his wife, Jill Tracy, are asking for donations through a GoFundMe campaign to help Lloyd’s family defray medical costs. The idea is for Lloyd to be able to focus on getting healthy and spending time with his family.
“By all accounts, 2019 was off to a roaring start for our dear friend, Sam Lloyd,” read a message on the page. “He and his wife, Vanessa, had recently welcomed their first child, a beautiful baby boy named Weston to the world. The musical that Sam had been working on for over a decade had just been accepted into a prestigious theatre accelerator program. There was so much to be grateful for…”
Hobert and Tracy said Lloyd, 55, has nevertheless been able to laugh at this difficult time. On Super Bowl Sunday, he and his visitors at the hospital where he’s being cared for cheered loudly — apparently, a little too loudly for one nurse — for the New England Patriots. After a nurse came and asked them to keep it down, Lloyd joked, “What are they gonna do? Kill me?”
“Sam is, simply put, a sweet, kind, and generous soul,” according to the “Help Sam Lloyd Beat Cancer,” campaign. “Through his music and acting, and most of all his friendship, he has blessed all of our lives immeasurably. Throughout his wonderful life, including his more than 30 years in Los Angeles, Sam has perfected the fine art of friendship. So many of those friends have reached out, wanting to know how they can help support him and his family during this difficult time.”
More than 300 people had donated a total of more than $21,500 as of Tuesday morning. One of them was Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence, who tweeted about the campaign and asked others to join him. His plea was retweeted by Lloyd’s Scrubs co-stars Donald Faison and John C. McGinley.
Comments on the post showed support for Lloyd beyond his inner circle. Plenty of Scrubs fans sent their good vibes, too. They thanked Lloyd for the laughs and noted that the hospital comedy had helped them weather tough times in their own lives.
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