Aaron Lazar’s – Broadway actor Aaron Lazar, diagnosed with slow-progressing ALS in January 2022, is still fighting the disease as his family’s GoFundMe—launched by his father Paul Lazar and brother Chad Lazar—has raised more than $315,000 as of Wednesday, July 1, 2026. The ca
For Aaron Lazar, the battle with ALS has grown bigger than the diagnosis itself—it’s become a daily calculation of care, equipment, and time.
The Broadway actor was diagnosed with slow-progressing ALS in January 2022. As he continues living with the disease. his family has launched a GoFundMe campaign aimed at covering the mounting cost of his medical care. The fundraiser. launched by his father. Paul Lazar. and his brother. Chad Lazar. had raised more than $315. 000 as of Wednesday. July 1. 2026.
ALS is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, according to the Mayo Clinic. The illness leads to muscle weakness and other symptoms that worsen over time.
In the GoFundMe campaign. the family says Lazar now requires round-the-clock care after losing the use of his legs. arms and hands. He also relies on a BiPAP machine to help him breathe. The campaign puts the cost of full-time caregiving, medical equipment and specialized therapies at exceeding $300,000 annually.
The fundraiser says donations will go toward Lazar’s medical care so he can focus on spending time with his two sons and continuing what he calls “The Impossible Dream,” a reference to the song from Man of La Mancha.
Lazar has described the mental pull of ALS with an image that doesn’t let go. “In the nightmare of ALS, I’ve learned to dream again,” he said. He also told People that the disease itself feels like something suffocating: “The disease itself is like a tractor beam to death. It just feels like a negative, collective consciousness around it is bleak and hopeless.”.
“And so I had to rise above that,” he continued. “And it started with understanding how I have to think about it and then how I feel about it and then what I believe about it. Basically. courage became hope and hope became faith and faith became belief and belief became practice and practice became experience and experience became knowing. That’s how I got there,” he told People.
Even as the physical progression of ALS has been devastating, Lazar’s words point to a different kind of focus. He said, “I don’t want to miss those moments. I’m an actor. I’m supposed to be really good at being in the moment, but ALS taught me how to really do that.”
He has also leaned into what he’s gained. “And while the physical progression of ALS is terrible. I’m healthier and happier than I’ve ever been. ” he said. “I’ve embraced self-love in a way I never have before. I can honestly say I’m a better partner, father, actor, friend and overall person than I’ve ever been.”.
The numbers behind the campaign are stark, but they’re also deeply personal. The GoFundMe is tethered to what Lazar is still trying to protect: time with his sons, and the practice of keeping a dream alive even as ALS takes more control of the body.
Lazar began performing at the age of 9. Born on June 21, 1976, he is an actor, singer and entrepreneur known for his work on Broadway, television and film. He grew up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University. He later attended the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he earned an MFA in musical theater.
His career includes work in numerous productions as well as television and film projects, including Filthy Rich and The Wolf of Wall Street. He married model LeAnn Garris in 2004. The couple welcomed two sons before divorcing in 2018.
Lazar publicly disclosed his ALS in January 2024—two years after he was first diagnosed—turning his own timeline of struggle into a public one. Now. with the GoFundMe reaching beyond $315. 000 by July 1. 2026. his family is raising the resources Lazar needs to keep moving through each day with support. care. and a belief he insists he earned the hard way.
Aaron Lazar ALS GoFundMe Paul Lazar Chad Lazar BiPAP machine Broadway Man of La Mancha The Impossible Dream Cherry Hill Duke University University of Cincinnati
That’s insane… $315k already. Hope he gets better for real.
I don’t really get why ALS costs so much if there’s “insurance” and stuff. Like, is it just not covered? Feels messed up either way.
So he lost use of legs and arms/hands and needs round-the-clock care… isn’t that like the point where hospice should be involved? Not trying to be rude, just genuinely confused how this works.
Broadway actor + ALS + GoFundMe… I saw a video somewhere and everyone was saying it’s basically “pay to live” which sounds dramatic but the numbers are crazy. Also the “tractor beam to death” line got me, like dang.