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Has anyone met someone that was once famous (actor, musician, etc.) but now works a regular job? Who was it?

· 2 min read

Ever stumbled across a headline that made you think, “Wait, is this a reality‑TV plot?” and then realized it was just a Reddit thread about an ordinary office worker who once made a living shaking a drum set? That’s exactly what we’re digging into today. Spoiler: it involves an oncologist, a band called The Offspring, and a courtroom that decided it was safer to postpone a trial than to risk a juror’s heart racing at a drum solo.

The Post​

Has anyone met someone that was once famous (actor, musician, etc.) but now works a regular job? Who was it?

Only the title was posted—no extra description, so the real fun began in the comments.

The Comments (with a little extra flair)​

My oncologist used to be the drummer for The Offspring.

Second person here. He must treat a lot of people.

Well, he has to keep them separated.

You’re the second person here to mention that. I love the offspring, they have a crazy story.

The doctor/drummer has a really crazy story too:

In 2018, while on trial in Oakland, California for medical malpractice Lilja saved the life of a potential juror who went into cardiac arrest during the jury selection. Afterwards the judge ruled a mistrial to avoid biases from any of the potential jurors who saw him save a life, and rescheduled his trial for a later date. The case went to arbitration and was dismissed.

TL;DR​

A cancer doctor who once thundered on the drums saved a juror’s heart in 2018. The court decided a mistrial was safer than a juror’s pulse‑drumming, so they postponed the trial and eventually dropped the case. Who knew the healthcare industry was just one drumbeat away from a courtroom drama?