Hollywood actress Sandra Bullock has opened up about the death of her longtime partner, Bryan Randall, three years after his passing.

Randall died in August 2023 at the age of 57 following a three-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of motor neurone disease.

At the time, Randall chose to keep his health battle private, with Bullock now revealing she was asked to keep the diagnosis a secret for years.

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ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

It eventually impacts the ability to move, speak, eat and breathe. While treatment can slow the disease’s progression, there is currently no cure.

Sandra Bullock has spoken out for the first time since the death of her long-term partner Bryan Randall. Credit: Getty

Appearing on a new episode of the SmartLess podcast, Bullock reflected on caring for Randall and the “huge weight” of carrying his diagnosis.

“I wasn’t allowed to speak about it,” Bullock told hosts, actors Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes,

“That was the request and I tried, I honoured it. He asked me not to share and it isolated me in the process.”

Bullock and Randall reportedly first met in 2015 and also kept their relationship fairly private.

The Oscar-winning actress explained Randall had been unwell for half of their relationship and his ALS diagnosis came amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The couple had co-parented her son Louis and daughter Laila, as well as Randall’s daughter from a previous relationship, Skylar.

Bullock and Randall reportedly first met in 2015 and also kept their relationship fairly private. Credit: Getty

“It doesn’t scare me, not the illness itself, it doesn’t scare me. I can see and be around just about anything,” Bullock said, reflecting on that difficult time.

“But I had two young kids that were navigating it, especially a little girl who saw Randall as a father figure.”

Bullock described Randall’s diagnosis as “traumatic” and said she had started grieving him four years before his death.

“My person left a lot earlier than the body left,” Bullock said on the podcast.

“I don’t think I ever dealt with that until after he passed, because you’re just on this treadmill, you know?”

Bullock’s sister had been the only person who had known about Randall’s diagnosis “for a while” although the actor eventually also confided in friends Jennifer Aniston and Bateman’s wife, Amanda Anka, according to People magazine.

Eric Dane dies after battle with ALS

In February this year, Grey’s Anatomy star Eric Dane died just 10 months after going public with his ALS diagnosis.

“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” Dane’s family said in a statement at the time.

Eric Dane and his two daughters Billie and Georgia. Credit: GoFundMe

“He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the centre of his world.

“Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight.”