Jaime Pressly has paid a heartfelt tribute to her father following his death from Parkinson's disease. The 48-year-old actress, best known for her role in My Name Is Earl, detailed her father James Liston Pressly's 'long and difficult' battle with the incurable, degenerative condition in a poignant social media post on Tuesday.
A Poignant Tribute
'Today is a sad day. My brother Jim and I lost our dad to Parkinson’s. His battle was long and difficult, and while we are happy he’s finally at peace and out of pain, our hearts are broken,' Pressly wrote. She fondly remembered her father's sense of humor, saying, 'He was the man who gave us our sense of humor. Nobody could tell a joke better than him. His timing was impeccable. He taught us to fish, hunt, and always said “if you’re good to your people they’ll be good to you.”'
Pressly described her father as 'a gentleman with a kind heart and warm smile who never met a stranger. Therefore, my brother and I have never met one either.' She added, 'Dad, thank you for every bit of it and for always loving us unconditionally without judgment no matter what. I will love and miss you always. You were truly one of a kind.'
Condolences from Fellow Celebrities
Pressly's celebrity friends quickly took to Instagram to offer their condolences. Singer Michael Bublé wrote, 'So sorry Jaime. So much love from our fam to yours in these very difficult times.' Actress Shanna Moakler typed, 'Godspeed Jaime, my deepest thoughts and prayers to you and your family. Stay strong.' Actor Mario Lopez added, 'God Bless Jaime.'
A Storied Career
Pressly is a veteran actress best known for her portrayal of Joy Turner on the NBC sitcom My Name Is Earl, which aired from 2005 to 2009. Her performance earned her the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2007, along with multiple Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations.
She also made a mark on the big screen, particularly in teen comedies such as Can't Hardly Wait (1998), Inferno (1999), Joe Dirt (2001), Not Another Teen Movie (2001), The Karate Dog (2004), and I Love You, Man (2009). More recently, she starred as Jill Kendall on the CBS sitcom Mom from 2014 to 2021, alongside Allison Janney and Anna Faris. For her work on Mom, Pressly earned a Critics' Choice Television Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2021.
Personal Challenges and Family
Pressly's career faced a setback in January 2011 when she was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) in Santa Monica, California. She later pleaded no contest and received three years of informal probation. Just two weeks after the arrest, she filed for divorce from entertainment lawyer Simran Singh, whom she had married in September 2009 after a brief engagement.
Pressly is a mother of three. She gave birth to twin sons in October 2017 with longtime boyfriend Hamzi Hijazi, and she also has an 18-year-old son named Dez from a previous relationship with Eric Calvo.
Understanding Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement. According to the NHS, the three main symptoms are tremors, slowness of movement, and muscle stiffness. Other symptoms include balance problems, loss of smell, nerve pain, excessive sweating, and dizziness. In advanced stages, it can cause difficulties with swallowing, leading to malnutrition and dehydration.
The exact cause is unknown, but a combination of genetic and environmental factors is believed to play a role. While there is no cure, treatments such as medication, therapy, and surgery can help manage symptoms. Around 145,000 people in the UK live with Parkinson's, according to Parkinson's UK.
