KAREN Duffy is best known for being a VJ on MTV, but now being a survivor of a rare disease, fans are wondering where she is now.
From being George Clooney's rumored girlfriend to writing a book about her illness, Karen has captured the hearts of many.
Born in New York City on May 23, 1962, Karen is the daughter of Carol, a homemaker, and Phil Duffy, a developer.
She was raised catholic, but attended a public school in New Jersey.
Before enterting showbiz, Karen attended the University of Colorado Boulder, where she earned a degree in recreational therapy.
She didn't know that her life was about to dramatically change.
ENTERING SHOWBIZ
A few years after college, Karen started modeling and acting in TV commercials.
But her life, and fame, changed when she became the Video Jockey (VJ) for MTVin the early 1990s, under the name Duff.
During that time, the VJ had small roles in a number of films including Dumb and Dumber, Blank Check, Malcolm X, and more.
The actress has over 20 credits to her name, but has not starred in anything since 2009.
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By 1995, she was working as correspondant for documentary filmmaker, Michael Moore for his shows, TV Nation and The Awful Truth.
Karen ventured into other aspects of her career in the '90s.
She became a "Charlie Girl" for Revlon and the face of Almay Cosmetics.
In 1994, Karen co-hosted the pay-per-view TV event, Elvis: The Tribute, with singer Kris Kristofferson.
NOT CLOON-EYING AROUND
While at the height of her fame, Karen was rumored to be dating George Clooney.
However, the two have just been lifelong friends and supported each other over the years.
The two were so close that they attended the 1995 Emmy Awards together.
That was the last day of her life that she wasn't in pain.
“I was with George the last night I was healthy and, literally, this illness hit me like a bus," she told PEOPLE in 2017.
"It was the next day that I became symptomatic with sarcoidosis. That photo marks the end of my healthy life with one of the most charming and hilarious gentlemen. Talk about going out with a bang!" she told the outlet in a recent interview.
The day after the Emmy's, she woke up with an excruciating head and neck ache.
Flying from Los Angeles to New York City, her doctor found an inoperable "mostaccioli-sized lesion" against her brain stem and spinal cord.
It crushed her nerves, which caused unimaginable pain.
Nine months later, doctors diagnosed her with sarcoidosis of the central nervous system.
Neurosarcoidosis is a long-term chornic illness that affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves.
It causes a lot of inflamation in those areas, which results in pain.
Karen went from a vibrant, 34-year-old, traveling the world to a severely sick one.
According to PEOPLE, "At times her health was so precarious she spent weeks in the hospital and she once had her last rites read when her doctors feared her respiratory system was in danger of shutting down."
There is no cure for the disease, but she is recieving treatmenet to ease the pain, a mix of steroids, morphine, a pain patch, and chemotherapy.
George has been there for her through it all- from her book releases to attending events together to just being a good friend to her.
CHRONICLING HER PAIN
Despite living with chronic pain, Karen continued to work.
In 2000, she became an author when she released her first book Model Patient: My Life As An Incurable Wise-A**.
The book chronicled her life in the spotlight and how it all abruptly came to an end when she received her diagnosis.
But Karen learned not to hide from life, but chose to ran towards it.
In the 2000s, she continued to work staring in smaller roles such as Fantastic Mr. Fox, Crafty, and Pepper Ann.
Karen hosted Tiny House of Horrors on TLC and appeared on Live Earth as a co-host.
Duffy told PEOPLE that being aorund her family and friends for the past 20 years has been an "important form of therapy for her."
LIFE OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT
After the 2000s, Karen stopped acting and focused on her family and writing.
In 1997, she married John Lambros.
They had one child, Jack, together, who was born via surrogate.
George was the one who encouraged her and her husband to have a child.
It was difficult to conceive with all of the procedures she had undergone, but he helped them find a doctor to help them.
She published her second book, Backbone: Living With Chronic Pain Without Turning Into One in 2017.
It was a way she could describe her daily life with chronic pain and suffering while using humor and acceptance to cope.
George could not show up to her book launch as he was on "paternity leave," but did send a tequilla fountain.
He was featured in the book and even wrote a blurb for it.
“My friend Karen Duffy, who lives with unimaginable pain, has taught me so much; that my complaints are the most ridiculous in the world,” it read.
In her book, she told readers that she can usually only get up three days a week and the slightest touch, including wind will "sting her neck."
He is still a huge part of her life and her son's life.
He even gave them their first dog a few years ago.
BOOK 3 AND LIFE NOW
Karen made a surprise appearance on The Real Housewives of New York City in 2018.
That was the last time she was seen on TV.
That same year, she spoke at the US Pain Foundation and Gala.
Now, Karen focuses on being a wife and mother and writer.
Her third book, Wise Up: Irreverent Enlightenment from a Mother Who's Been Through It was released on April 12.
The book is written in the form of letters to her 18-year-old son, Jack, with a mix of life lessons and funny stories.
Jack is a high school hockey player.
Karen recently celebrtaed her 60th birthday last year with friends and is currently co-producing two films- New Worldand The World's Greatest Beer Run Ever.
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Karen has used writing as a form of therapy.
She hopes her words and books inspire others and help those who live with chronic pain.
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