Is Digger from Moonshiners sick? Everything we know about his health issues and diagnosis

Digger from Moonshiners (Image via Discovery)
Digger from Moonshiners (Image via Discovery)

Eric Manes first appeared in the Discovery Channel (USA) docudrama Moonshiners, which premiered on December 6, 2011. Moonshine is alcohol distilled illegally in the United States. Eric is one of the few legitimate moonshine distillers, carrying on the age-old tradition. Since the season 13 premiere, many fans have been concerned that Eric "Digger" Manes might leave the show due to his poor health.

At the beginning of 2024, rumors about Eric Digger Manes' health began circulating on various social media sites. Eric Digger Manes of Moonshiners is indeed ill. Not long ago this season, he candidly announced that he was suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a type of blood disease.

Eric Digger Manes is a household name in the entertainment world. He is often referred to as Digger. Digger produces many high-quality beers and wines. He also produces mountain-style moonshine in the Appalachian Mountains, which stretch across Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.


Eric Manes is optimistic about his Leukekima

Eric Manes remains sick (Image via Discover)
Eric Manes remains sick (Image via Discover)

Eric Manes keeps a low profile, rarely speaking to the media or giving interviews. Digger's silent battle with the blood disorder was revealed during the 13th season’s debut: So goes the private lives of the Moonshiners cast.

According to the National Cancer Institute, Digger has been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, which is the most common form of leukemia in adults but is still one of the rarest. Fewer than 200,000 new cases are reported each year in the US.

Stilleh is not pessimistic, however, and jokes that CLL will never be the cause of his death but will make him miserable if something else happens. He clarified that CLL is not fatal and that he is taking steps to alleviate the symptoms, giving some of his fans the right answers.

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What happened in season 13 of Moonshiners?

Events that occur in season 13 (Image via Discovery)
Events that occur in season 13 (Image via Discovery)

Season 13 of Moonshiners began in January and surprised viewers with a very different storyline: Digger Manes' diagnosis, shifting focus to the cast members' personal lives. The season showed Steven Ray leading the charge in the quest to make home distilling legal, while seasons 1-12 of the show follow the world of moonshine making and the more fragile lives that risk everything to do it in the backwoods.

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This season's battles include Tickle's quest for legalization. Mark Ramsey and Digger Manes also have a new start in the light beer business. After recovering from racing injuries, Josh Owens looks to revive his moonshine distilling business. And just when you thought you had seen it all, Digger drops the biggest bombshell of all in the final scenes of Moonshiners' debut: he now suffers from a rare blood disorder.

Despite all they had endured, Digger and Mark seemed unstoppable in their efforts to expand their operations across Tennessee while remaining underground, as moonshining is still illegal.

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Moonshiners is available for fans to stream on Discovery.

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Edited by Priscillah Mueni