Actor and comedian Rondell Sheridan announced that he is battling a severe case of pancreatitis that left him hospitalized.
Known for his role as Victor Baxter on Disney Channel’s “That’s So Raven,” Sheridan informed fans in an Instagram post on May 6 that he fell ill while on the road.
Sheridan said he went to the hospital on April 10, and doctors initially thought “it was gastric.” After briefly returning home, he went back to the hospital just two days later and was diagnosed with pancreatitis.
“Tons of tests. I was in the hospital for nine days. I got released, and I thought I was on the road to recovery,” the actor, 66, shared from the hospital bed. “My pancreas is inflamed, and there’s not much you can do about it but just wait for the inflammation to go down.”
He continued, “I didn’t realize that I was going to be, and will be, out of work for quite some time.”
Donations pour in for veteran actor
A GoFundMe created on behalf of Sheridan says the actor hasn’t been able to work since mid-April and “will not be able to return to work for the foreseeable future.”
The fundraiser is requesting donations to help with medical expenses and other bills. It has raised $53,000. A $7,000 donation came from an account with the display name Kenan Thompson, possibly belonging to the “Saturday Night Live” star who crossed paths with Sheridan on “Kenan & Kel.”
“If we can all come together to help him financially for his medical and monthly bills while his body heals, I know this will be one giant stress we can collectively take off his shoulders, so that he can focus on resting, recovering, and healing,” reads the description of the online fundraiser.
Sheridan continued his iconic television dad role as Victor Baxter on “That’s So Raven” spin-offs, “Cory in the House,” and “Raven’s Home.”
What is pancreatitis? Other celebrities publicly shared their experience
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, an organ which aids in digestion and regulates the way the body processes sugar. According to the Cleveland Clinic, common symptoms are abdominal pain, fast heart rate, nausea, and vomiting.
Other celebrities such as Travis Barker, Ashton Kutcher, and George Clooney have opened up about their battle with the condition. US Weekly and PEOPLE reported that MTV’s “Floribama Shore” star Kirk Medas died amid hospitalization for necrotizing pancreatitis last week at the age of 33.
Contributing: Kim Willis, USA TODAY
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected].
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