Scrubs star Sam Lloyd was in a coma for two months before he passed away.
An agent for the actor confirmed that the 56-year-old died on 30 April, 16 months after he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.
It has now been revealed that Lloyd fell into a coma for nearly two months after multiple brain surgeries, when his targeted therapy drug lost its effectiveness.
On a GoFundMe for Sam, his friend Tim Hobert wrote: ‘Our dear sweet Sammy has passed away.
‘On April 30th at a respiratory facility in Los Angeles with his beautiful wife, Vanessa, at his side and his sister, Laurel, FaceTiming from New Hampshire, Samuel Lloyd Jr. left this earth and was reunited with his dad (Samuel Lloyd Sr.), his mom (Marianna McGuffin), and his brother (Jackson Lloyd).
‘Sam’s fight began on January 17, 2019 when he was diagnosed with lung cancer that metastasized to his brain, liver, spine, and jaw. Things did not look good. After an outpouring of love from Sam’s friends and people from all over the world, Sam was put on a new targeted therapy drug and had an amazing resurgence. For 13 months Sam lived life to the fullest, treasuring every moment. He saw his son, Weston, turn 1, he was able to hold his mom’s hand as she took her last breath, and as Sam always loved to say, “he made music along the way.”’
Tim continued: ‘At the end of 2019, Sam found out that the targeted therapy drug which had given him such a miraculous second chance had lost its effectiveness. Determined to live, and with so much to live for, Sam fought hard, enduring multiple brain surgeries, and endless tests and procedures. In spite of all these things, Sam always mustered up the strength to say “I love you” to Vanessa, Weston, and his many close friends who came to visit him.
‘Eventually the fight became more intense and Sam slipped into a coma for nearly 2 months. Vanessa never stopped believing that Sam would rebound and be reunited with her and Weston and all the people who love Sam so much. She stayed by his side day in and day out – even figuring out ways to visit him during the covid restrictions.
‘But alas it was time for Sam to leave this world. A world that he made a better place every day of his life.
‘Rest in peace sweet, sweet Sammy boy. We loved you more than words can tell.’
Two months ago, Tim had updated followers of the fundraiser on Sam’s fight, explaining that in February he had been admitted to hospital with swelling on the brain after his therapy lost effectiveness.
After surgery to remove a tumour was successful, there were further complications and he required a second emergency brain surgery.
Tim wrote: ‘In the 13 months since Sam’s original diagnosis, with help from you guys (incredible people from all over the world), he has made the most of the time that he has been given. He was able to go back to his home state of Vermont and play his annual gig with his Beatles band, The Butties. He was able to do guest spots on Modern Family and American Housewife that allowed him to qualify for the Screen Actors Guild insurance policy.
‘He was able to spend time with dear friends, help his mother in the last stages of her life, and sing for her at her funeral, and most importantly, he was able to spend time with his wife, Vanessa, and celebrate Weston’s first birthday!’
The fundraiser has so far raised $170,998 (£136,811), after aiming for $100,000 (£80,000).
Lloyd’s Scrubs co-stars including Zach Braff and Sarah Chalke have shared their tributes to the actor on social media, saying ‘he could not have been a kinder man’.
The actor was best known for playing lawyer Ted Buckland in Scrubs, and he also reprised the role in Cougar Town.
Lloyd also starred in Seinfeld and Desperate Housewives, and sang in his Beatles tribute band The Butties and a capella group The Blanks, who made a number of appearances in Scrubs.
