George Lopez's health struggles explored as comedian’s talk show appearance sparks concern

Comedian George Lopez’s recent appearance at The Jennifer Hudson Show has left his fans and followers stunned. In a video that has been shared multiple times on social media platforms, netizens are discussing his appearance, while others are comparing him to Cheech Marin, Albert Einstein, and Frederick Douglass.

“What in the Alberto Einstein is going on here!?” A fan commented on X.

“What happened to dude? He was normal looking 5 years ago.” Another user said.

“Oh wow, it's George Lopez. He definitely has a new look though nice it works for him. Nice dance moves too lol” One user wrote, surprised by his dance moves.

Lopez has been open about his past health issues, including kidney disease and neuropathy. His health has been a topic of discussion since he felt ill during a New Year's Eve performance in 2022. He reportedly had to leave the stage after performing for 30 to 45 minutes.

He was 43 when he got diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, according to a 2021 report in Brain and Life. So, what happened to George Lopez which has led to his deteriorating health in recent years? Here are the details.

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Exploring George Lopez’s health struggles in the past

George Lopez has never shied away from discussing his health issues in public. In a December 2021 issue of Brain and Life, the 63-year-old comedian used humor to spread awareness among his fans.

Lopez who is of Mexican American descent shared,

“Culturally, where I grew up health was not a priority. I had to learn to advocate for myself.”

His kidney issues were discovered when he was 18, he said,

“When I was 18, I had to get a physical for baseball, and the doctor noticed that my blood pressure was high.”

He added that he passed him and never mentioned that high blood pressure can be a sign of kidney disease.

The report stated that in 2004, he was diagnosed with advanced kidney disease, which was possibly due to a genetic condition. He experienced fatigue and severe back pain, which he initially dismissed as stress. By the time he sought medical help, his kidneys were not functioning properly.

He later learned that his chronic pain was likely due to uremic neuropathy, which was triggered due to his failing kidneys. A year later after his diagnosis when he needed a transplant, his then-wife Ann Serrano Lopez, stepped forward to help him by donating a kidney in 2005, as per TV Guide. However, in 2010 the couple went their separate ways after 17 years of marriage. They share a daughter named Mayan.

Right before her surgery, she gave George a letter and a rosary, as a report in WebMD indicated.

"I wrote that I was doing this out of love, and that I had faith in the operation," Lopez’s wife recalled. "To me, this was about us, about our daughter, Mayan. But George, he comes from a very dysfunctional family, a horrific childhood. It was hard for him to accept that someone would give him the gift of life."

The report in Brain and Life added that following his transplant he remained a strong advocate for kidney health awareness. He launched the George Lopez Foundation to help “underprivileged children, adults, and military families.”

In the year 2022, Lopez had a scary encounter when he fell ill during the middle of his show at Muckleshoot Casino Resort in Auburn, Washington. It was New Year’s Eve. Several reports indicated that he was sweating and asked for a glass of water, he then apologized to the crowd and left the stage.

Despite his health struggles, George Lopez has continued with his performances in the past years which include television, film, stand-up comedy, and late-night television.