The iconic Australian comedian Russell Gilbert is alive at the age of 64, but he is facing significant health challenges. Despite his ongoing struggles, Gilbert’s legacy in the entertainment world endures while he remains a beloved figure among fans.
Concerns about Russell Gilbert’s health have persisted since 2015 after two major personal tragedies.
Gilbert was heartbroken by the sudden demise of his longtime partner, Rochelle Nolan.
Shortly after, he suffered a stroke during surgery to treat a brain aneurysm. These events severely impacted his life and career, leading to his current struggle with recovery and limited public presence.
Stroke left Russell Gilbert with severe impairments, which is why he couldn’t even attend his soulmate’s funeral!
Russell Gilbert’s life took a dramatic turn on September 10, 2015, when his partner, Rochelle Nolan, tragically took her own life. The end of the 19-year-long relationship left an irreplaceable void in his life.
Gilbert suffered a stroke just two weeks later during surgery for a brain aneurysm, significantly affecting his ability to speak and perform. The stroke made it difficult for him to return to his career in comedy and television.
Speaking about the effect of the stroke on Gilbert, his sister Ellie said, “It is a jigsaw puzzle. He has to rewire his brain to go from A to Z again. At the moment, it’s going from A to J and back to B. He’s got a long way to go.“
Gilbert had hit rock bottom and even failed to attend his partner’s funeral. Speaking to Herald Sun, Gilbert said, “I get very frustrated, confused, and emotional most days, and I struggle accepting the loss of my beautiful partner, Rochelle.“
In 2016, Gilbert’s friend Mick Molly organized a gala comedy event alongside other comedy stars to raise funds for his ongoing rehabilitation and care.
Gilbert expressed his gratitude and said, “Thank you so much. It’s amazing. I’ve been working really hard and getting better.” However, he has yet to make a comeback despite claims that he will.
His struggle with health issues has kept him mostly out of the public eye. Despite his absence from the stage, the legacy of Russell Gilbert in comedy is still strong and alive.
Additional Information
- Born on October 17, 1959, in Footscray, Victoria, Russell Gilbert, 65, began his career in the 80s, performing stand-up comedy in various clubs across Melbourne.
- After a big break with The Comedy Company, Gilbert’s role on Hey Hey It’s Saturday solidified his status as a comedic genius.
- Russell Gilbert has an Instagram account with 2.8k followers, which has not been active since September 2015. Before that, Gilbert seemed to have been actively posting on this account.
- Rochelle Nolan had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a central nervous system disease, before she was found dead in a room at Crown Casino.
