In a scene in Episode 5 of Marshals, the Yellowstone spin-off that debuted on CBS in early 2026, Gil Birmingham, playing Thomas Rainwater again, looks away rather than maintaining eye contact with the person he is speaking to. It’s not overt. It’s likely that most viewers are unaware of it. However, within hours of the March 29, 2026, episode airing, someone on Reddit had already identified it and given it a name: “He is constantly cutting his eyes to the side, glancing off,” one user commented. “He is obviously very aware of how it appears to others, and is trying to mitigate it as much as possible.” The thread was illuminated by the post. Hundreds of responses, some speculative, some sympathetic, some blatantly cruel. Gil Birmingham’s right eye, which seems to protrude noticeably more than his left, is the object that they are all circling.
This is not a brand-new discussion. Around 2024, fans began to take it seriously after a Decider interview in which the asymmetry was obvious enough to cause sincere worry in the comments. Birmingham has never directly or publicly addressed it, which has, in some ways, only increased the level of curiosity. A vacuum is disliked by nature. The internet does the same.
The most widely accepted theory is Graves’ disease, a thyroid disorder that can result in exophthalmos, or swollen eyes. It is feasible. The visual presentation, especially the asymmetry between the eyes, does correspond with what viewers have described, and Graves’ disease is rather common. However, caution is advised in this situation. There is no confirmed diagnosis. Birmingham and those close to him have not released a statement. These fans are working backwards from their perception of a 72-year-old man’s face on a television screen.
Interestingly, opinions about his appearance aren’t all negative. In the same Reddit thread, a number of viewers noted that he appeared healthier in Marshals than he did in Yellowstone’s last season in late 2024, when the puffiness appeared more noticeable. One user commented, “Honestly, he looks better in Marshals,” and others concurred. That’s telling because the topic of discussion isn’t just decline, but rather fluctuation and an appearance that seems to change from season to season and episode to episode.
Birmingham has built one of the more subdued but enduring careers in American film and television over the course of forty years. Before Yellowstone made him well-known to the general public, he began as a bodybuilder who was discovered by a talent scout at a gym, landed a music video for Diana Ross in 1982, and worked his way up through guest appearances and supporting roles for years. Playing Thomas Rainwater, who is composed, arrogant, and politically astute, required a certain stillness that becomes apparent when you closely examine his eyes. The character’s restraint, which once made them captivating, now attracts a different kind of attention.
The way this conversation has developed makes it difficult not to feel a little uneasy. Birmingham has refrained from drawing attention to his health. He has shown up, completed the task, and allowed the performances to speak for themselves. It is still genuinely unclear if something is medically incorrect. Regardless of his own desires, it is evident that audiences have determined that his appearance merits analysis, and that analysis is now a part of how he is perceived. Only he would know if he takes that lightly or seriously.
FAQs
1. What is wrong with Gil Birmingham’s eyes?
His right eye appears to bulge more than his left.
2. What condition do fans think Gil Birmingham has?
Most suspect Graves’ disease, a thyroid condition that causes eye protrusion.
3. Has Gil Birmingham confirmed any eye condition?
No official statement or diagnosis has ever been made public.
4. When did people first notice the change in Gil Birmingham’s eyes?
Fans began raising serious concerns around 2024.
5. Does Gil Birmingham look better or worse in Marshals?
Several viewers say he looks healthier in Marshals than in Yellowstone.