‘NCIS’ Actress Pauley Perrette Celebrates Being A ‘Survivor’ After Suffering A Stroke & Multiple Hardships

Jun 26, 2023

A stroke is one of the worst things that can happen to a person as there is no specific time and place when it can occur and if a person survives, there are still long-term health effects that could alter their lives forever.

This health condition does not exempt anybody, and actress Pauley Perrette is one of those who unfortunately had a stroke in the past. 

Before we take a look at how she managed to survive the shocking medical incident, which she revealed publicly in September 2022, let’s take a look at the blossoming career of the famous Hollywood star popularly known for her role in “NCIS.”

Perrette did not have the taste of fame when she was starting out as she worked as a bartender in New York City. At the time, the actress was able to meet an advertising agency director that changed her life for the better.

After they met, the actress/writer left the Big Apple to take risks and work in Los Angeles. Luckily for her, she started appearing in a few shows. One of her first projects was in an episode of the hit comedy program “Frasier” where she got a small role as a waitress.

It appears that Perrette’s hard work and effort paid off because after she appeared in countless shows as a minor cast member, she was able to land the role of Abby Sciuto in the famed investigative drama series “NCIS.” 

In addition to starring in the main series in hundreds of episodes, she also became a guest star in its other franchises, “NCIS: Los Angeles” and “NCIS: New Orleans.”

On Sept. 2, 2022, Perrette shocked the public after she uploaded a video of herself on her official Twitter account in which she revealed that she had a stroke the year prior.

“It’s the one year anniversary since I had a stroke and I’m still here,” she addressed her followers.

In the caption, the actress revealed that before she suffered from the medical problem, she also lost “so many beloved family and friends” including her father and her cousin Wayne.

The singer also shared some of the worst things that happened to her that were “harder than having a stroke,” and she questioned how many times she cheated “death.”

“I almost died from a hair dye allergy, I have food allergies. I’m a domestic violence and rape survivor,” she said, then revealed that a homeless person also once assaulted her that almost led to her death.

Despite going through a lot of hardships over the past two years before she shared the clip, Perrette said she still felt "grateful" and credited her rescue dogs as one of the things that helped her survive everything.

This was not the first time Perrette opened up about what happened to her father as she told her Twitter followers that Paul Perrette passed away due to COVID-19 in January 2021. In the short emotional video dedicated to her loving dad, the actress reflected on celebrating her first Father’s Day without the elder Perrette.

“It’s #FathersDay and also, for so many like me, (especially after #Covid19 ) it’s now #FatherlessDay Love to all y’all. Love your #Fathers while they’re still here,” she wrote in the caption.

Days after she shared the video, the actress spoke with Entertainment Tonight’s Kevin Frazier where she detailed the shocking incident and hoped that she would spread awareness.

Recalling what happened in 2021, Perrette said she woke up and didn’t feel anything on the right side of her body. Initially, she thought she “had just slept funny,” but when she realized the extent of her numbness, she immediately called her doctor who instructed her to go to an emergency room as soon as she could. At first, the “NCIS” star was hesitant to follow the advice of her doctor because she had a phone therapy appointment that day.

After she walked into the emergency room and told the staff what happened to her body, things turned quickly, and she was “on a gurney with a million things stuck in my arms and a bunch of medical people rushing me somewhere.” Perrette was eventually admitted to the stroke ward of the medical facility, and professionals checked her vitals including speech and mobility.

A stroke is indeed serious, and the beloved actress noted that there were “lingering effects” after the incident, but since she sought medical attention before things got worse, she “fared quite well.”

On the day of her interview, the star said she was “totally OK,” and she wanted to spread the word about stroke for people to be educated about its signs as it could happen to anyone regardless of age.

“By knowing signs of a stroke, we can save ourselves and others,” she added.  

What do you think of Pauley Perrette’s stroke incident? Would you have done the same thing she did when she realized that half of her body was numb? Let us know your thoughts, and make sure to pass this on to your friends and family.