Ostomies in Film & TV

Ostomate representation in media is few and far between, with many appearances missing the mark in faithful and realistic representations of life with an ostomy. 

Appearances like Mandy Moore in Grey’s Anatomy and Aaron “Double A” Anderson of Silicon Valley miss the mark by perpetuating preexisting beliefs and biases associated with life with an ostomy.


That being said, ostomy representation can indeed be authentically done without sugar coating the objective reality of ostomate life. Here is our collection of ostomate representation on the big screen, done right.

White Boy Rick (2018)

Starring Matthew McConaughey and Richie Merritt, White Boy Rick follows Rick Wershe Jr. (Richie Merritt), an undercover FBI informant turned drug-trafficker amid the War on Drugs in the 1980s. Rick Wershe Jr. is revealed to be living with an ostomy and throughout the movie, there are a handful of scenes thoughtfully showing the daily life of an ostomate. 
 
Screenwriter Andy Weiss cited the desire to include ostomy scenes as to “show young kids and adults that you can go through this and still be ok.” 

RuPaul's Drag Race - S13 (Tamisha Iman)

Tamisha Iman is a celebrated drag queen most famously known as a contestant on season 13 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. After surviving colon cancer, Iman competed on RuPaul’s at age 49 while wearing an ostomy bag. Despite the physical challenges and adjustments required, she performed alongside her peers without seeking special treatment, showcasing immense strength and resilience.

NFL (Rolf Benirschke – Place Kicker)

Rolf Benirschke is a former NFL kicker who played for the chargers for little under a decade. After his Ostomy surgery to treat ulcerative colitis, Rolf feared that his professional career might have come to an end. Against all odds, Rolf’s path to recovery led to seven more seasons in the NFL. Rolf is a vocal advocate for education in the ostomate community. Rolf is a firm believer that ostomy surgery can help many to take back personal agency and to live a more fulfilling and pain-free life.

NFL (Jerry Kramer – Guard/Kicker)

Jerry Kramer is a former NFL player. Kramer underwent 22 surgeries including a colostomy during his 11-season career. He is best remembered as an offensive lineman and kicker for the Green Bay Packers where he played a pivotal role in helping them win Superbowl I and II in addition to 5 NFL championships pre-merger. He was selected 5 times All-pro and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

STUCK (2024)

STUCK (2024) is a short film produced by Torontonian author and screenwriter, Raimo Strangis. Inspired by his own experiences as an ostomate, Strangis tells the story of an aspiring rockstar navigating life with an ostomy. With the added support from Ostomy Canada Society, STUCK has become a shining example of how to spread positive ostomy education and awareness. Here's what Raimo had to say: 
 
“It’s easy to look back now and say, I should have just had the surgery sooner, I could have kept playing music. But when you’re in the moment, faced with a life-altering surgery, the fear, shock, and hopelessness is blinding. With no examples or stories of people going through the same struggles, I felt alone. This is where I knew an important story needed to be told.”