Ron Lester, a former celebrity, rose to fame at a young age, but his popularity in Hollywood seemed to be largely based on his weight. He was obese since the age of five and by the time he turned 30, he weighed a staggering 508 pounds.
As the "lovable fat kid," Ron was hired by Hollywood, but his health was in grave danger. With the support of his friends, family, and co-workers, Ron decided to undergo an experimental gastric bypass surgery that nearly cost him his life.
After recovering from a flatline on the operating table, Ron began to lose weight, shedding an impressive 348 pounds in under two years. He also underwent 14 plastic surgeries to tighten and remove excess skin.
However, Ron's weight loss and numerous surgeries ultimately led to his struggles in finding roles he once effortlessly landed. He admitted that food was his "drug of choice" to cope with the pain of being the new kid in school, due to his frequent changes of schools due to disciplinary problems, as well as the loss of 22 close friends and family members throughout his life.
Tragically, Ron Lester passed away in 2016 in Dallas, Texas, due to liver and kidney failure.
