Fans of the hit series Outlander have been left high and dry during the Droughtlander, with no fresh episodes of the Starz show in sight. However, many have been revisiting the series, sparking intrigue about the character Colum McKenzie (portrayed by Gary Lewis), who is the uncle of Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan).
Colum made his debut in the first season of Outlander when Claire Fraser (Caitríona Balfe) found herself at Castle Leoch and discovered more about the enigmatic men who had saved her from the grip of Captain ‘Black Jack’ Randall (Tobias Menzies).
The character held the title of clan chieftain or Laird of the MacKenzie Clan but was heavily dependent on his younger brother Dougal MacKenzie (Graham McTavish).
It was revealed that Colum suffered from a debilitating and progressive condition known as Toulouse-Lautrec Syndrome or Pycnodysostosis/PKND/PYCD, which severely hindered his ability to walk.
As per Metabolic Support UK, Pycnodysostosis is a condition triggered by gene mutations, leading to the creation of an enzyme that breaks down substances like bone proteins and certain types of collagen within the body, reports the Scottish Daily Express.
Typically, these substances are reabsorbed back into the body, but for those afflicted with this condition, these materials are not fully broken down. Over time, they accumulate in the body and become toxic, impacting both cells and tissues.
The charity further notes that the condition is incredibly rare and varies significantly from patient to patient.
Some of the more typical symptoms include a shorter stature, a high forehead, abnormal pelvis bone and an abnormal collarbone, among other things. Pycnodysostosis is a genetic condition, but carriers of the gene don’t have it because their other genes are functioning normally.
Therefore, it’s likely that Colum inherited the gene from his parents if they were carriers, even though they didn’t have the condition. There was initial uncertainty over whether Colum should lead the clan given his condition, however, he was chosen over Dougal to be the Laird.
This is a storyline expected to unfold in the prequel series Outlander: Blood of My Blood, which will be airing later this year. Despite the pain inflicted on his legs, Colum did use wine for pain relief and even strutted around the castle as a display of power.
In Outlander, Claire euthanised Colum after the pain became unbearable for him before the Battle of Culloden. He had become ill and the pain was too intense to endure with Claire assisting him with her medical knowledge.
Esteemed acting heavyweight, Lewis, 66, portrayed Colum across seasons one and two of Outlander before his character met his tragic end. Lewis was no stranger to screens before his role in Outlander, perhaps best known as playing the miner father to Jamie Bell’s titular Billy Elliot.
He also had roles in Gangs of New York and Eragon, and Joyeux Noël. Since leaving Outlander he’s starred in the likes of His Dark Materials, The Bay, The Level, One of Us and Frontier.
Most recently, he’s graced the screen in Franklin, Vigil, Granite Harbour and Disney+’s A Thousand Blows, playing the character Jack Mac. As per IMDb, his upcoming roles include North Pole: 90° North, I Feel Fine and The Undertow.