KATHLEEN Turner has sparked concern as she was seen using a cane at a movie premiere.
The Romancing the Stone star has had a slew of health problems throughout her life.
Kathleen, 69, wore an all-black ensemble to the Wildcat premiere in New York City on April 11.
The screening took place at the Angelika Film Center.
The actress smiled in front of a backdrop and held onto a cane.
She wore a long black dress with a matching jacket over it.
Kathleen kept her balance in black sneakers and accessorized with an over-the-shoulder purse.
She wore her short brown hair down around her shoulders.
Despite using a cane, Kathleen appeared to be in good spirits as she smiled for the cameras.
The actress does not appear to have a role in the film, but instead came to support it.
ABOUT THE FILM
Ethan Hawke is directing his first film in five years titled Wildcat.
His daughter, Maya, will star in it, along with Rafael Casal, Philip Ettinger, Cooper Hoffman, Steve Zahn, and Laura Linney.
Wildcat is a biopic on the writer, Flannery O’Connor, and the struggle she had publishing her first novel.
It is set have a limited release on May 3, with a wider release to follow.
‘I COULDN’T WALK’
Kathleen was at the top of her career in 1984 when she starred in Romancing the Stone, opposite Michael Douglas.
However, a few short years after, her health started to decline.
She was a leading lady in the 1990s until rheumatoid arthritis slowed her down.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that affects the joints and organs.
While filming Serial Mom in 1993, Kathleen began developing inexplicable pains and fevers.
She also experienced extremely swollen feet to the point where she couldn’t fit into any of her shoes.
But, then it got much worse.
“I couldn’t walk,” Kathleen told The Guardian in 2023.
“I couldn’t hold a glass. 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.”
“People don’t understand because it’s not life-threatening. It will not kill me, but it kills your life,” she said.
CUTTING BACK
Kathleen started cutting back on her roles, only looking for minor ones.
She found small roles on Friends as Chandler Bing’s dad, as well as voice over roles, and a few movies.
The actress has continued her work and her latest role was in the 2023 show, White House Plumbers.
Kathleen didn’t want her illness to derail her career.
“Yeah, but I wouldn’t accept it. I am a very stubborn woman. I got back to full strength, as full as I would ever be again,” she said.
“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!’”
Kathleen takes steroids and pain medication to help her, but they come with side effects, such as weight gain.
