Editing Stephen Furst (section)

==Personal life==
Furst was married to entertainment lawyer Lorraine Wright from 1976 until his death.<ref name="Stephen Furst" /> The couple had two sons, both of whom are in the entertainment business. His older son [[Nathan Furst|Nathan]] (born 1978) is a television and film composer, while his younger son [[Griff Furst|Griff]] (born 1981) is an actor, director and musician.<ref name="Stephen Furst">{{cite web |url=http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/stephen-furst-57249916/ |title=Stephen Furst |website=Hollywood.com}}</ref>
Both of Furst's parents died from complications of diabetes.<ref name="people">{{cite news |url=http://people.com/celebrity/animal-houses-stephen-furst-his-heartbreaking-inspiring-battle-with-diabetes-before-death-at-63/ |title=Animal House's Stephen Furst: His Heartbreaking, Inspiring Battle with Diabetes Before Death at 63 |last=Russian |first=Ale  |access-date=20 June 2017 |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] |publication-date=19 June 2017 |df=mdy}}</ref> Shortly after his father's death, Furst was diagnosed with [[type 2 diabetes]] at age 17.<ref name="Fratboy Slim"/> He reached a weight of 320 pounds and had uncontrolled type 2 diabetes by the age of 40.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.diabeticlivingonline.com/community/celebrities/stephen-furst-laughter-best-medicine?page=0,1 |title=Stephen Furst: Laughter Is the Best Medicine |work=Diabetic Living Online |access-date=2017-06-17 |language=en}}</ref> After almost needing to have his left foot [[Amputation|amputated]] due to diabetes complications in 1996, Furst reduced his weight from 260&nbsp;lbs to 175&nbsp;lbs.<ref name="Fratboy Slim">{{cite web |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20134589,00.html |magazine=People |date=June 4, 2001 |title=Fratboy Slim |first=Jennifer |last=Wulff}}</ref>

Starting in June 2006, Furst co-hosted the [[Renal Support Network]]'s webcast ''Kidney Talk'' with [[Lori Hartwell]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rsnhope.org/programs/kidney_talk3.php |title=Kidney Talk |website=Renal Support Network |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210212329/http://www.rsnhope.org/programs/kidney_talk3.php |archive-date=February 10, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> He became a spokesperson for the [[American Diabetes Association]] and authored the book ''Confessions of a Couch Potato''.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/confessionsofcou00furs |title=Confessions of a Couch Potato |last=Furst |first=Stephen |date=2002-09-09 |publisher=American Diabetes Association |isbn=978-1-5804-0144-9|edition=1 |location=Alexandria, Va. |language=en |url-access=registration}}</ref> As a celebrity spokesperson for the [[American Heart Association]], Furst said, "I thought I was more powerful than the disease of diabetes, but in reality, I was letting it take control of me. Now, I've decided to take control of my life."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://consumer.healthday.com/diabetes-information-10/diabetes-management-news-180/animal-house-star-ignored-diabetes-alarms-404976.html |title='Animal House' Star Ignored Diabetes Alarms |website=Consumer HealthDay |language=en |access-date=2017-06-17}}</ref>

=== 2016 criticism of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences===
Furst wrote a letter, later published in ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', criticizing the Academy's portrayal of its members as racist and resistant to diversity and suggested the Academy's response to the 2016 #OscarsSoWhite was ageist and sexist. He suggested that most members of the Academy do not watch the films nominated for awards, and that the Academy should start by ensuring those who vote have watched the films.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/awards/stephen-furst-animal-house-academy-rule-changes-1201689253/ |title='Animal House' Star Stephen Furst Protests Academy Rule Changes |date=2016-01-26 |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=2017-06-17 |language=en-US |df=mdy}}</ref>