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"And then we jump ahead a number of years and it’s Frank who’s been brought low by this disease and there’s nothing they can do about it.” What causes ALS, and is there a cure?ĪLS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord. “We thought it was really interesting to think, ‘Look, Bill is older and Frank can literally run circles around him, he’s healthier,'" he added. "We didn’t necessarily want to specify for the audience, it was either MS or early ALS but it was a degenerative neuromuscular disorder," said Mazin. Frank actually has ALS or multiple sclerosis.Īfter all that speculation, The Last Of Us co-creator Craig Mazin cleared things up on the official podcast for the show. This might explain why Frank was seen taking pills, painting with slow movements, and needing assistance getting in and out of bed. Parkinson's can't be cured, but medications can help. All of these were symptoms Frank seemed to display in the episode, which makes sense why people thought it might be the disease affecting him. The disorder affects the nervous system and can lead to symptoms such as hand tremors, slowed movement, stiffness, poor posture and balance, speech and writing changes, and difficulties with blinking or smiling, per the Mayo Clinic. Initially, people were convinced Frank had Parkinson's Disease. Lots of viewers thought Frank had Parkinson's Disease. On the show, Frank is played by The White Lotus actor Murray Bartlett.
Later, Bill and Frank end up getting married. He finds himself in Bill's abandoned town and ultimately decides to stay.
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Who is Frank?įrank is introduced as a solo traveler trying to get to Boston.
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Luckily, one of the co-creators of the show weighed in for some clarity. Naturally, these poignant scenes of the couple's final moments together have to lots of questions and guesses about what his condition could've been. He has trouble standing up and walking, and Bill has begun to serve as his caretaker. Several scenes show Frank in a wheelchair, seemingly paralyzed with limited mobility in his hands. But, towards the end, it becomes clear that Frank has an illness that affects his movement. The majority of the episode gives viewers a fully fleshed-out and tear-worthy version of Bill and Frank's love story.
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