Credit: Alamy
Louis Theroux Shares Sad Health Update: ‘Nature Has Played A Cruel Trick On Me’
Louis Theroux has shared a devastating health update, claiming nature has played a ‘cruel trick’ on him.
Theroux, 55, is an award-winning British-American journalist famous for hosting documentaries with controversial guests, including his most recent Netflix debut, Inside the Manosphere.
But despite his critically acclaimed work, he’s had to navigate through unfortunate health struggles in his 50s.
Louis’ rise to fame
Throughout his career, Theroux has become known for his calm, friendly demeanor with the world‘s most controversial guests, including the likes of Jimmy Saville and Neo-Nazi leader, Tom Metzger.
His relatable nature has allowed him to ask the daring questions that others wouldn’t.
But although he seems like a normal person from humble beginnings, his childhood wasn’t exactly on the bread line.
He grew up in the 70s with live-in nannies. As the son of American writer Paul Theroux (‘The Great Railway Bazaar’) and Oxford-educated Anne Castle, Louis grew up in a highly academic household.
He then went on to attend one of the country’s most elite boarding schools, Westminster, before following in his mom’s footsteps and graduating from Oxford University in 1991.
At the age of 23, he finally got his big break in TV when he was, per the Guardian, ‘surprisingly’ chosen by Michael Moore to be a correspondent on his show, TV Nation, which involved him “(stumbling) around the wilds of America meeting extremists of various stripes: klansmen, cult members, s**ual adventurers.”
He developed a knack for interviewing divisive guests, and went on to make the BAFTA-winning series, Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends and When Louis Met… along with award-winning specials, such as The Most Hated Family in America and Miami Mega Jail.
His most recent documentary
Louis’ Netflix debut, Inside the Manosphere, has become an iconic addition to his long-list of controversial documentaries.
The program followed male influencers who are fighting against the ‘matrix’ and believe men should ‘dominate’ women, with some claiming they ‘understand’ what women want better than women do themselves.
Along with their ‘red pill’ content and relationship tips, they also provide ‘inspirational’ financial advice, promising to ‘help’ boys become ‘real men.’
In an interview with The Guardian, he called it: “The final boss subject in the video game of my career”, as the program draws on themes he’s well-versed in exploring, including the adult film industry, cam girls (nowadays best known as OFs girls), and the far right.
The documentary has gained strong reactions from around the world, with one Reddit user describing the watching experience as: “Terrifying. And as I’m raising a son on my own, very, very important to be aware of.”
But not everyone has taken kindly to the angle Louis took. Especially the male influencers showcased in the documentary.
One of the interviewees, Myron, produced a seven-hour-long stream titled Inside the Therouxsphere of Lies, in which he ranted about ‘Louis the liar,’ calling the documentary a ‘bunch of woke garbage.’
Overall, the documentary provoked conversations about the escalating influence of manosphere creators, which was exactly what the makers set out to do.
Louis Theroux’s heartbreaking health update
Some keen-eyed viewers of the Netflix documentary may have noticed a change in Louis’ hairline.
Back in 2022, the 55-year-old shared in a candid social media post that he’s struggling with the autoimmune alopecia barbae.
Theroux wrote: “Nature has played a cruel trick on me. Thanks to my alopecia barbae (‘of the beard’) I can now only grow a weird little Hitler moustache. This is what I look like after three days of not shaving.
“I have given up on my beard ever growing back to its luxuriant former glory but is too much to ask for it to ALL fall out instead of having a tiny remnant in a potentially offensive configuration?
“And now a bald patch has appeared on the back of my head making me wonder if my proper hair-hair might be next to go. In two years or less, I may be bald! [sigh].”
Signs and symptoms to look out for
Alopecia barbae is a specific form of alopecia which affects the beard. Healthline says it usually begins with a small circular bald spot.
The exact cause is unknown, however, psychological and physical stresses are often linked.
Genetics can also play a part, as it’s more common in those related to someone with alopecia, asthma or allergies.
Theroux first suspected that he had alopecia barbae at the beginning of 2022, and has been learning to navigate the illness for several years.
In his latest update, the journalist wrote: “Latest from Alopecia-land. I’ve cut the hair short because I realised the longer it was, the worse it looked. But it’s patchy AF, and I’m basically preparing the way for a full head shave sometime in the next 12 months.”
He joked about it further in his Instagram post, saying: “Big glasses a la (Stanley) Tucci, big muscles a la Dwayne Johnson, plus a year-round tan. That’s the formula.
“I’ve included a last photo from 1994 that I stumbled on yesterday as a reminder that the hair was always a problem. which I will have to worry about less and less as it disappears. It’s like when your house burns down. “At least I don’t have to hoover!”
Theroux also revealed he had shaved his eyebrows off in 2023.
In an Instagram post, he shared his new look in photos with the caption: “Can you tell what’s different?
“I figure no eyebrows is better than patchy eyebrows,” followed by the hashtags alopecia, no brows, and no brows no problems.
People took to the comments on his posts to show their support of his bravery in raising awareness of the condition.
One was Adventurer Bear Grylls, who himself was the subject of one of Theroux’s documentaries. He commented: “We are much more than just our silly eyebrows… you’re a true champ.”
Other users commented: “I have alopecia – sending lots of love. Still rocking it without the brows.”
Another said: “You are you.. with or without your hair. Your alopecia is NOT what you are known for.”
The charity Alopecia UK also commented saying, “Great to see some lovely supportive comments from some fab individuals in the alopecia community. Whatever you decide to do @officiallouistheroux, you will still be the same brilliant journalist, documentarian, broadcaster, and author.”
Louis Theroux’s latest health update
In an uplifting Instagram reel, with the title ‘Alopecia update – my weird hair!’, Louis addressed his fans today.
“A year ago, almost to the week, I posted about my alopecia,” he stated in the caption.
He continued: “Starting in 2021 my beard started falling out, then my eyebrows, then patches appeared in my hair. So here we are five years later, and after hitting bottom in 2025 me and my scalp have been enjoying some bounce-back! Regrowth in several major areas!”
He then admitted being just as surprised as everyone else: ” I don’t know what to put it down to. I don’t take any medication. Nor am I careful with my diet.”
Instagram users quickly ran to the comments to try and figure out what happened.
Someone wrote: “Your hair is growing back due to all of the aura points you collected making that documentary!!!”
Another user agreed: “Because the documentary u did has helped the girlies everywhere and that’s why u have good luck now!”
A lot of people thanked Louis for being so open about his alopecia struggles and raising awareness.
“Anyway, I’m very grateful,” he concluded, “I like having hair.”
Related Article: Charlie Kirk’s Wife Erika Makes Heartbreaking Baby Confession
Related Article: Jesy Nelson Issues Tragic Health Update On Twin Daughters: ‘I Am Grieving’
Want more stuff like this?
Get the best viral stories straight into your inbox!
