Ron Lester (August 4, 1970 - June 17, 2016) was an American actor, celebrated for his memorable roles in films like Varsity Blues, Not Another Teen Movie, and Good Burger. His journey was marked by both professional success and personal struggles, most notably his battle with obesity and his subsequent weight loss transformation.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born in Kennesaw, Georgia, Ron Lester's entry into acting was serendipitous. Initially intended as an extra in a commercial in Atlanta, Georgia, he soon found himself with a more significant role. This opportunity spurred his move to Los Angeles, where he initially pursued stand-up comedy. His debut movie role came in 1997 with Good Burger, but it was his portrayal of Billy Bob in the 1999 film Varsity Blues that catapulted him to fame. Simultaneously, he secured regular roles on two TV series, Freaks and Geeks and Popular, solidifying his presence in the entertainment industry.
The Turning Point: Addressing Health Challenges
Lester faced health challenges from a young age. By 2000, his weight had become a critical concern, prompting him to undergo a specialized surgery aimed at significant weight loss and improved health. This surgery, while ultimately successful, was not without its risks; his heart briefly stopped during the procedure, requiring immediate medical intervention.
The Duodenal Switch and Gastric Bypass
Lester made the decision to undergo an experimental gastric bypass surgery after a scene where his character was too big to fit behind a steering wheel. The first surgery, known as a Duodenal Switch, involved the removal of three fourths of Lester’s stomach. During surgery he flat lined, nearly losing his life. Six months later he had gastric bypass surgery, where doctors rerouted his intestines.
A Dramatic Transformation and its Aftermath
Following his weight loss surgery in 2000, Ron Lester experienced a remarkable transformation, losing an astonishing 348 pounds. This dramatic change, however, was not without its challenges. The rapid weight loss resulted in a significant amount of excess skin, necessitating a series of 17 plastic surgeries to remove it.
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The Psychological Impact
The actor’s transformation from 508 to 159 pounds, though, was not easy. Because of the amount of excess skin left over and a struggle with painkillers, Lester experienced another suicide attempt after his girlfriend broke up with him because of the excess skin. A phone call from his mother the morning after his second suicide attempt, telling him of an appointment with Dr. Keith Jeffers a plastic surgeon in Atlanta, changed his life.
Identity and Hollywood
Known throughout Hollywood as a young John Candy, Lester’s identity in TV and movies relied on his size. Once he transformed his body, Hollywood lost interest in him as an actor. While most of us do not rely on our looks to make a living like Lester does, our identity is tied to the way we look and Lester’s story highlights the reality that obesity is not just an appearance issue. As we lose weight, many things change. Some of these changes may be things that we enjoyed, brought us comfort, or gave us recognition. Ron Lester chose to go through all of these changes without support from people who knew what he would face. For this reason he was unprepared for the changes to come.
Personal Sacrifices and New Beginnings
In 2007, Lester's career took a backseat when his mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. He made the difficult decision to leave his recurring role on CSI: New York to care for her. After the death of his mother, the star then turned to different roles, deciding to help out with 2010’s The Fat Boy Chronicles, a story about a bullied overweight middle schooler dealing with obesity. In the film Lester paid tribute to Dr. Keith Jeffers by playing Dr. Jeffords, the doctor who examines the obese boy. Lester admitted to FYN that having the surgery had changed his life, causing him to take different roles, but was happy to help with the cause.
Finding Community and Inspiration
After coming to terms with both the welcome and unwelcome changes it made in his life, Ron Lester has more of an inspirational attitude towards life and about himself. Ron is now healthier than he was in the past. If nothing else, his story highlights the need for bariatric surgery patients to initiate and maintain contact with others who have experience with the type of surgery and can share what to expect as a result of the procedure.
Later Life and Health Complications
In his later years, Ron Lester faced serious health problems with his liver and kidneys. Following a serious golf cart accident after a movie shoot in Iowa, Lester was left with a fractured neck, two broken ribs, two vertical breaks in his right leg and a broken left arm. After hearing the news and that Lester was alone in the hospital, his friend Roger Kuykendall flew out to Iowa and offered for Lester to stay at his home in Buford, GA. To show his gratitude, Lester then offered to help Kuykendall with his barbeque business, telling FYN it was the least he could do.
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Tattoos and Future Plans
While working with Kuykendall at Huckleberry Holler during the Apple Festival, Lester was introduced to TJ McArthur, lead singer of North Georgia punk rock band Last Act Standing. McArthur told Lester of a local tattoo parlor, Heritage Tattoo. This lead to Lester’s decision to get a tattoo at Heritage. The tattoo honored his father, Leonard Lester, and his side of the family with a family crest of the Macalister clan. When asked what it was like tattooing a celebrity, Hugh Fowler, part-owner of Heritage Tattoo who tattooed Lester, says it was no different than tattooing any other person and requires the same amount of focus as any tattoo. However, when asked if Lester’s weight loss had any effect on the process, Fowler mentioned that it was tougher because Lester’s skin had stretched out so much it had lost some of its elasticity. This won’t discourage Lester from getting any more tattoos, though; just last week he announced he was the new poster child of the Tattoo Role Modelz Family of Georgia, a tattoo foundation based out of Los Angles, California. Looking to the future, Lester still has plans for his film career, mentioning a NASCAR-themed project with a working title of Racing Dreams. Yet, he doesn’t plan on letting this get in the way of what’s really important, his friends, as he plans to continue helping out Kuykendall at events, such as the Kansas City Barbeque Society Professional BBQ Cook Off, Smoking Up the Campground in Calhoun, GA to be held November 30th-December 1st.
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