Story highlights Smith tweeted about his medical emergency
He lost 85 lbs
(CNN) Kevin Smith says he's lucky to be alive right now.
The director tweeted a selfie in a hospital gown late Sunday night, saying he had suffered a major health crisis.
"After the first show this evening, I had a massive heart attack," he wrote. "The Doctor who saved my life told me I had 100% blockage of my LAD artery (aka "the Widow-Maker").
The "Jay and Silent Bob" star added that if he "hadn't canceled show 2 to go to the hospital," he would have died.
"But for now, I'm still above ground!"
Read More
American filmmaker Kevin Smith — best known for helming Clerks and Chasing Amy — has revealed he survived a “massive heart attack” over the weekend.
The 47-year-old Tweeted a picture of himself from a hospital bed covered with tubes on Monday (26 February) morning. Smith had performed a stand-up show the evening prior, and was due to perform again but cancelled the second show.
“After the first show this evening, I had a massive heart attack,” he wrote on social media alongside the picture.
“The Doctor who saved my life told me I had 100 per cent blockage of my LAD artery (aka “the Widow-Maker”). If I hadn’t canceled show two to go to the hospital, I would’ve died tonight. But for now, I’m still above ground!”
After the first show this evening, I had a massive heart attack. The Doctor who saved my life told me I had 100% blockage of my LAD artery (aka “the Widow-Maker”). If I hadn’t canceled show 2 to go to the hospital, I would’ve died tonight. But for now, I’m still above ground! pic.twitter.com/M5gSnW9E5h — KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) 26 February 2018
Fans were quick to respond on social media, including Guardians of the Galaxy actor Chris Pratt, who wrote: “Kevin we don’t know each other too good but I have loved you since Clerks and I’m praying my ass off for you cause I believe in the healing power of prayer.”
Writer Sean Francis posted to Twitter: “I keep reading this in shock. Damn. It’s an understatement to say, but myself and so many others are glad you cancelled and are recovering. Sending love to you and yours.”
Kevin we don’t know each other too good but I have loved you since Clerks and I’m praying my ass off for you cause I believe in the healing power of prayer. Can you please pray with me people!? https://t.co/syB7BiQaoY — chris pratt (@prattprattpratt) 26 February 2018 I keep reading this in shock. Damn. It’s an understatement to say, but myself and so many others are glad you cancelled and are recovering. Sending love to you and yours. — Sean Francis (@SeanFrancis) 26 February 2018 Oh my god. Wishing you the speediest and most painless recovery. Love you, buddy — Brian Lynch (@BrianLynch) 26 February 2018 Jesus. We almost lost Kevin Smith.
Get well soon, prayers to the family. https://t.co/oGwgEexpg2 — Bob Chipman (@the_moviebob) 26 February 2018 The world needs you!!! — Hi-Rez (@HiRezTheRapper) 26 February 2018
Smith had performed a stand-up show at 6pm PT at the Alex Theater in Glendale, California, and was due to perform once again at 9pm.
The comic book writer and filmmaker posted the photo from hospital 21 minutes after midnight, local time.
Smith later posted a lengthy message to Facebook, explaining what had happened: "I was trying to do a killer stand-up special this evening but I might’ve gone too far," the post reads.
"After the first show, I felt kinda nauseous. I threw up a little but it didn’t seem to help. Then I started sweating buckets and my chest felt heavy. Turns out I had a massive heart attack. The Doctor who saved my life at the Glendale hospital told me I had 100 per cent blockage of my LAD artery (also known as “the Widow-Maker” because when it goes, you’re a goner).
"If I hadn’t canceled the second show to go to the hospital, the Doc said I would’ve died tonight. For now, I’m still above ground! But this is what I learned about myself during this crisis: death was always the thing I was most terrified of in life. When the time came, I never imagined I’d ever be able to die with dignity - I assumed I’d die screaming, like my Dad (who lost his life to a massive heart attack). But even as they cut into my groin to slip a stent into the lethal Widow-Maker, I was filled with a sense of calm.
"I’ve had a great life: loved by parents who raised me to become the individual I am. I’ve had a weird, wonderful career in all sorts of media, amazing friends, the best wife in the world and an incredible daughter who made me a Dad. But as I stared into the infinite, I realized I was relatively content. Yes, I’d miss life as it moved on without me - and I was bummed we weren’t gonna get to make Jay and Silent Bob reboot before I shuffled loose the mortal coil. But generally speaking, I was okay with the end, if this was gonna be it.
"I’ve gotten to do so many cool things and I’ve had so many adventures - how could I be shitty about finally paying the tab. But the good folks at the Glendale hospital had other plans and the expertise to mend me. Total strangers saved my life tonight (as well as my friends Jordan Monsanto and Mily Dawn, who called the ambulance).
"This is all a part of my mythology now and I’m sure I’ll be facing some lifestyle changes (maybe it’s time to go Vegan). But the point of this post is to tell you that I faced my greatest fear tonight... and it wasn’t as bad as I’ve always imagined it’d be. I don’t want my life to end but if it ends, I can’t complain. It was such a gift."
Kevin Smith hosts IMDb LIVE at New York Comic-Con at Javits Center last October. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for IMDb.com)
KEVIN SMITH tweeted fans early Monday that he had suffered a “massive heart attack” after shooting a comedy special in the Los Angeles area.
“If I hadn’t canceled show 2 to go to the hospital, I would’ve died tonight,” Smith tweeted from the hospital. “But for now, I’m still above ground!”
Smith, the 47-year-old filmmaker (“Clerks,” “Mallrats,” “Chasing Amy”), writer and star of the AMC reality series “Comic Book Men”, was reportedly shooting “Kevin Smith Live!”, his new standup special, in Glendale, Calif.
After the first show this evening, I had a massive heart attack. The Doctor who saved my life told me I had 100% blockage of my LAD artery (aka “the Widow-Maker”). If I hadn’t canceled show 2 to go to the hospital, I would’ve died tonight. But for now, I’m still above ground! pic.twitter.com/M5gSnW9E5h — KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) February 26, 2018
Smith, whose feature directing career has spanned his breakthrough 1994 hit “Clerks” to 2016’s “Yoga Hosers,” had posted on Facebook hours earlier about his show taping.
Tonight I shoot my new standup special! Many thanks to the good folks at @comedydynamics for making it all happen -… Posted by Kevin Smith on Sunday, February 25, 2018
Smith, who shoots “Comic Book Men” in his native Red Bank, N.J., recently appeared in the 2017 film “Disaster Artist,” and had directed recent episodes of CW’s “The Flash” and “Supergirl.”
Smith’s screenplay for his 1997 film “Chasing Amy,” starring Ben Affleck and Jason Lee as comic-book creators, received a Spirit Award. Smith himself has written comics for such characters as Daredevil, Green Hornet and Batman, and he famously financed his indie Sundance hit “Clerks” partly by selling his cherished comics collection.
As a performer, Smith debuted his Silent Bob character in “Clerks” as a mute comic foil to fellow slacker Jay, played by Jason Mewes. In 2013, Smith staged a reunion tour with Mewes, anchored by their podcast and a new “Jay and Silent Bob Super Groovy Cartoon Movie.”
Smith told The Washington Post’s Comic Riffs in 2013 that the film was “a benchmark of his sobriety” in referring to his longtime friend Mewes, who had battled addictions to heroin and OxyContin.
Fans and fellow celebrities, including Chris Pratt, tweeted their concern and wishes to Smith early Monday:
Praying for you. I will continue to. You inspired me with Clerks when I was a senior HS. I’m tagging my Lb/rb football coach who showed me the movie cause he believed in me and knew I’d be inspired. @hodge1916 ♥️ https://t.co/syB7BiQaoY — chris pratt (@prattprattpratt) February 26, 2018
@ThatKevinSmith Fans of Kevin Smith please take comfort he is in a good hospital with great doctors but if he needs 2nd or 3rd opinions from the worlds finest cardiologists we’ve got him covered too. https://t.co/tS8sadzycs — Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) February 26, 2018
Read more:
Kevin Smith’s ‘Super Groovy’ movie helps co-star Jason Mewes on his road to recovery
Silent Bob was nearly silenced for good this weekend.
Kevin Smith, the acclaimed director of “Clerks” and “Chasing Amy,” suffered a massive heart attack on Sunday.
Smith, 47, announced the incident on Twitter with a selfie from his hospital bed:
After the first show this evening, I had a massive heart attack. The Doctor who saved my life told me I had 100% blockage of my LAD artery (aka “the Widow-Maker”). If I hadn’t canceled show 2 to go to the hospital, I would’ve died tonight. But for now, I’m still above ground! pic.twitter.com/M5gSnW9E5h — KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) February 26, 2018
Smith was slated to perform two concerts on Sunday, one at 6 p.m. and one at 9 p.m., at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California. He felt ill in between the shows and went to the hospital where doctors saved his life.
Smith is always busy doing something creative. When he’s not writing and directing movies and TV shows, he’s performing concerts featuring spoken word stories and Q&A sessions with fans. Smith hosts and produces the reality TV series “Comic Book Men” for AMC, co-hosts numerous podcasts and hosts the new online show “The IMDb Show.” He’s also the author of “Tough Sh*t: Life Advice from a Fat, Lazy Slob Who Did Good,” and the co-owner of the Red Bank, N.J., comic book store Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash, which is named after two of his most famous characters.
Fans and colleagues took to social media to wish Smith a speedy recovery:
Glad to still have you this side of the lawn. Cheers. — Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) February 26, 2018
Kevin we don’t know each other too good but I have loved you since Clerks and I’m praying my ass off for you cause I believe in the healing power of prayer. Can you please pray with me people!? 🙏♥️ https://t.co/syB7BiQaoY — chris pratt (@prattprattpratt) February 26, 2018
@ThatKevinSmith Fans of Kevin Smith please take comfort he is in a good hospital with great doctors but if he needs 2nd or 3rd opinions from the worlds finest cardiologists we’ve got him covered too. https://t.co/tS8sadzycs — Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) February 26, 2018
Holy shit. @ThatKevinSmith seems to be okay but he almost wasn't. Kev is a wonderful force of good and humor in this world and I'm proud to be his friend. We are lucky we didn't lose him so PLEASE send him HUGS!!! https://t.co/TLYz1mrsh1 — ʞɔiwbɿɒH ꙅiɿʜƆ (@hardwick) February 26, 2018
Sending positive energy and prayers your way! You’ll get through this man! Lots of love! — James Cullen Bressack (@JamesCullenB) February 26, 2018
Christ. That Kevin Smith heart attack is sobering as hell. Glad he’s still with us. — Chris Hewitt (@ChrisHewitt) February 26, 2018
Scary! Glad your ok. — Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) February 26, 2018
WTF? Get well, @ThatKevinSmith. Love, prayers and all best wishes from your pals here in Scotland. https://t.co/rDRkJxUUdB — Mark Millar (@mrmarkmillar) February 26, 2018
Hey @ThatKevinSmith just sending you some love. Speedy recovery my man. — Jack Osbourne (@JackOsbourne) February 26, 2018
A massive heart attack at 47. Thank Buddy Christ he's still above ground. Get well soon, Kevin Smith, you magnificent nerd. https://t.co/k4zoEt88BW — Marshall Julius (@MarshallJulius) February 26, 2018
I keep reading this in shock. Damn. It’s an understatement to say, but myself and so many others are glad you cancelled and are recovering. Sending love to you and yours. — Sean 🌱 Francis (@SeanFrancis) February 26, 2018
