Nightmare on Elm Street 2 Actor Confined to Bed Amid Long COVID, HIV Complications
Mark Patton, the actor best known for his groundbreaking role as Jesse Walsh in A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, is battling a combination of chronic health issues that have left him unable to work or care for himself independently, according to his family.
Patton’s niece, Ida, launched a public fundraiser to help the 1980s horror icon manage mounting medical bills and daily living expenses, as he copes with multiple conditions that have severely impacted his mobility and quality of life. You can contribute here.
The 65-year-old actor is currently suffering from:
- Severe long COVID, which has resulted in significant fatigue and mobility loss
- HIV-related complications, requiring ongoing care and monitoring
- Ménière’s disease, a chronic inner ear disorder that causes extreme vertigo, nausea, and hearing loss
“These overlapping conditions have made it impossible for Mark to work or even leave his home,” said Ida. “He’s mostly confined to bed and needs daily assistance just to manage.”
While Patton has become a beloved figure within the horror community and a pioneer of LGBTQ+ visibility in cinema, his health challenges have been largely private until now. The campaign seeks financial help to support at-home care, ongoing treatments, and basic needs like rent, groceries, and utilities.
Despite the physical toll, Patton remains emotionally resilient, bolstered by messages of love and encouragement from fans and friends around the world. “But to me, he’s simply Uncle Mark — kind, generous, funny, and full of heart,” said his niece.
In recent years, Patton has received renewed acclaim for his visibility as a gay man in horror, often appearing at fan conventions and speaking candidly about his experiences in Hollywood. His story, from screen stardom to HIV advocacy, was the subject of the 2019 documentary Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street.
