Brian Lindstrom Died At 65, His Wife, Cheryl Had Unveiled His Health Issues Weeks Before His Passing

Well-known filmmaker, Brian Lindstrom, has recently passed away. The news was revealed by his wife and author, Cheryl Strayed, with an Instagram post on May 15, 2026. Notably, the duo tied the knot in 1999, and they were the parents of two children. Before Brian, Cheryl was married to Marco Littig from 1988 to 1995.

Cheryl’s latest social media post revealed that her husband was suffering from a rare brain disease called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Brian was dealing with his health problems for some time, and the details of the same were also shared by Strayed. Keep reading to know more!

Cheryl Strayed cancelled one of her workshops after her husband’s health issue

Cheryl Strayed confirmed in April 2026 with a statement on Instagram that Brian Lindstrom was battling a “serious, fatal illness.” Although Cheryl did not reveal other details, she said that she won’t participate in a writing workshop in Kripalu, followed by her scheduled appearance at Hunter College. Cheryl apologised for everything and added:

“I simply cannot do anything but be with my family right now and see to our broken hearts. I ask that you hold us in your thoughts, prayers, light, and love. If it seems emotionally dissonant to see me posting cheerful clips from my podcast each week, now and over the coming several weeks, it is for me too. Those interviews, which I loved doing, were recorded previously, in easier, happier times.”

While announcing the news of Brian Lindstrom’s death, Cheryl Strayed wrote that she and the children were beside him while he took his last breath. As mentioned, Cheryl revealed in the post that Brian died from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. For the unversed, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy refers to a brain disease where an individual’s walking, balance, eye movements, and swallowing are impacted. A treatment for the disease has not been found yet. It usually happens due to cell damage in some brain areas that can help control body movements and other things.

Brian Lindstrom gained recognition for his films over the years

Brian Lindstrom was active as a filmmaker for a long time. He was mostly known for the documentary, Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse, released in 2013. It focused on the case of James Chasse, who reportedly died in the custody of law enforcement officers in Portland. Apart from these, Brian was known for other films like Kicking, Mothering Inside, To Pay My Way With Stories, Writing Myself, and more.

Addressing her husband’s filmmaking skills in the Instagram post on May 15, 2026, Cheryl Strayed wrote that he told stories of people who had an X mark on themselves that was put by society. Cheryl opened up on the kind of films Brian made over the years, which focused on themes such as mental illness, substance abuse, foster care, and more. She further stated:

“He showed them to us so we’d see what he saw: that every one of us is deserving of love and respect; mercy and honor. Again and again, he went to the darkness to show us how much light is there. He was of service. He spoke truth to power. He measured his success by asking if his films made an impact—and they did. They saved programs and people; changed lives, policies, and minds. They made people feel seen, heard, and believed. They softened the world with their empathy.”

Photos credit: cherylstrayed/Instagram

What are your thoughts about the health issue that led to the death of Brian Lindstrom? Let us know.

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