Busy Phillips' ex-husband played an important role in the early detection of her tumor. The duo went to therapy together before their split.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleDawson's Creek fame Busy Philipps has recently opened up about a tough phase of her life. Beyond her life as a Hollywood actress, the 47-year-old has been battling health issues. She shared that she secretly underwent two brain surgeries in early 2026 to remove a rare, malignant brain tumor. Notably, Philips' ex-husband, Marc Silverstein, played an important role in the early detection of her ailment. It made her fans revisit their relationship and their split.
Busy Philipps' candid revelation about her medical condition sparked fan interest in her life beyond the silver screen, particularly her separation from ex-husband Marc Silverstein. Marc revealed in 2022 that he split from Philipps a year ago. However, the duo tried their level best to save their 15-year marriage before ultimately deciding to end things. On Jennie Garth's I Choose Me podcast, Philipps opened up about their split.
The actress shared that her relationship with her ex "had an evolution" as they took therapy together, intending to save their marriage. Although their purpose wasn't fulfilled, she was glad the therapy helped them strengthen their bond and understand each other better. The sessions made the parents of two realize what their life could have been like if they didn't split. Her exact words were:
"He and I had an evolution of our relationship, and we worked in therapy for a really long time before we actually separated to try to just see what was possible and what our relationship could look like."
Busy Philipps mentioned that her relationship with Marc Silverstein "shifted and evolved and it looks different" from when they were together. As per her, both of them wished only the best for each other. She stated, "what I want for him, I know he wants for me, which is ultimately, we want each other to be happy and fulfilled." Philipps and Marc reportedly maintained an amicable bond even after their split, and he also supported her during her tumor diagnosis.
Busy Philipps got her malignant brain tumor removed weeks before she was set to start filming her new CBS show Cupertino. She recently sat for an interview with PEOPLE and shared unknown details about her ailment. She claimed that she became interested in getting a full-body MRI scan after coming across information about it on Instagram. Her appointment was scheduled for February 12, 2026, which was a really emotional and hectic time for the actress.
Around the time of Philipps' appointment, the news about her friend and Dawson's Creek co-star James Van Der Beek's passing surfaced. Additionally, she had several prior commitments to fulfil, including a meeting for a potential role. The timing of it all made her consider cancelling the appointment. But thankfully, her ex-husband and close friend, Marc Silverstein, told her that maybe the best thing she could do for her late friend, James was to go for that MRI scan. Quoting him, she stated:
"He's like, 'Maybe it's the best thing you could do for your friend this morning. Go get that scan.'"
After getting the MRI scan, Philipps learnt that she had a lesion on her brain, and follow-up scans ultimately revealed her tumor diagnosis. Recalling Marc's reaction to her diagnosis, she stated:
"The texts to my ex-husband are comical. While I was on the phone with Dr Donlan, I texted Marc, 'OMG I have a brain tumor.' And he wrote back, 'Busy, what? What are you saying? What are you talking about?' I was like, 'It looks fine. It's probably benign. I don't know.'"
What are your thoughts on Busy Phillips' ex-husband's role in her early detection of tumor? Let us know.
Also Read: Tim Curry Dies After Battling Health Issues, Suffered Stroke In 2012, Had An Emergency Brain Surgery