A prominent theater actor who developed into a well-known supporting player on television, Evan Handler’s life and career were almost cut short when he was diagnosed with a supposedly incurable form of leukemia in 1985. But instead of succumbing to the disease, Handler drew upon his youthful exuberance and stubbornness to combat his cancer, though he faced myriad challenges that included shoddy care from health professionals in addition to an already low chance of survival. After four years of his life spent beating the disease with chemotherapy and a risky bone marrow transplant, Handler
Began career as an intern at the now defunct, Chelsea Theatre Center in NYC
First professional leading role in the off-Broadway production, "Strider: The Story of a Horse"; left the show before it moved to Broadway in order to accept a spot in the actor training program at The Juilliard School
1981
Made feature film debut in the military school drama, “Taps”
1983
Played Eugene in Neil Simon’s “Brighton Beach Memoirs”
1985
Was Matthew Broderick’s understudy in Broadway's “Biloxi Blues”; had to drop out after he was diagnosed with cancer
