Kathleen Turner, best known for her classic appearances in films like Body Heat and Romancing the Stone, has lately raised concerns about her health following a public appearance in New York City.
During her outing, the 70-year-old actress was seen using a wheelchair and walking with a cane.
Turner, who has had a long and distinguished career, was spotted in Manhattan on Tuesday in an unusual public appearance.
She was dressed casually in a black shirt, black pants, a gray sweater, and black sneakers and used a cane to exit a vehicle and enter an office building. However, when she left the facility, she was observed in a wheelchair, raising concerns about her well-being.
This sighting comes after Turner was forced to leave the stage during a performance of A Little Night Music due to illness, according to reports. The incident aroused concerns about her health, especially considering her history of serious medical troubles.
Turner has been candid about her battle with rheumatoid arthritis, a crippling autoimmune condition that damages joints and organs. She was diagnosed with the disorder in the early 1990s, at the height of her career, and it had a profound impact on her life.
Kathleen Turner’s Pain-Filled Last Days: ‘Body Heat’ Actress, 70, Using Wheelchair and Cane After Sad Years as Alcoholic https://t.co/sMQ0PQvhHl Click the image for details:
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Turner revealed how, while filming the 1994 dark comedy Serial Mom, her symptoms became impossible to ignore as her feet swollen to the point that she couldn’t fit into her shoes.
“I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t hold a glass,” Turner shared in an earlier interview, per The Guardian. “The only way I could go up and down stairs was on my butt, pushing myself. The pain is very bad because there’s no way to sit, lie, or stand that allows you to escape it.”
She added: “People don’t understand because it’s not life-threatening. It will not ᴋɪʟʟ me, but it ᴋɪʟʟ your life.”
Turner eventually turned to alcohol to ease the pain of her illness, saying: “It was incredibly stupid. I had this thing in my head where I thought: ‘I’m not taking pain pills – they are addictive and dangerous.’ But it was OK to have that second or third vodka.”
It wasn’t long until she had a moment of insight, recalling: “I thought: ‘I am wasting my entire day with my daughter, with my husband, because I’d close myself down and drink.’” Turner eventually entered into treatment in 2002 and now only drinks sometimes.
Despite the persistent discomfort and great hurdles posed by her disease, Turner has continued to work in Hollywood, albeit with drastically reduced parts. She transitioned from leading roles to supporting roles over time, which she concedes was required for her wellbeing.
Turner mentioned the difficulty of adjusting to life with rheumatoid arthritis while emphasizing her determination to endure. “Yeah, but I wouldn’t accept it. I am a very stubborn woman,” she said.
“I got back to full strength, as full as I would ever be again. They told me I would be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. Now, that was almost 30 years ago. And I look at what I’ve done in 30 years and I think: ‘Well, go to hell!’”
Despite her long-standing health issues, Turner’s fighting spirit has kept her involved in film and theater. However, her recent appearances and obvious need for mobility aids have reignited public worry about her condition.
Fans are definitely hope that the beloved actress, who has been open about her health and previous battles with alcohol misuse, would confront her challenges with the same fortitude and bravery that she has shown throughout her career.
