Film director and all-around nerd, Kevin Smith has announced that he suffered a near-fatal health scare. The comedian, known for films such as Clerks, Mallrats and Chasing Amy had completed a stand-up set in Glendale California. Before he began his second set he began to feel strange with symptoms that culminated with chest pain. Instead of hitting the stage for more laughs he wisely chose to visit the Glendale Hospital. Turns out Smith has suffered 100% blockage of his LAD artery. That one is known as the “widow maker” according to Smith’s Instagram post. He described the incent as a “massive heart attack”.
Smith went on to say that had he not canceled his second set, that doctors indicated he would have surely died. He also indicated an eerie ease with the prospect of death although some trepidation that his expiry would mean that the Jay and Silent Bob Reboot would end up not seeing the day of light.
Kevin Smith‘s health problems have been fodder in the news before. Smith was famously thrown off a Southwest flight in 2010 due to his girth. The airline explained the move that his size was a safety risk even after he was already seated in a flight. With this in mind Smith says, “I’m sure I’ll be facing some lifestyle changes (maybe it’s time to go Vegan)”.
Smith has had a bit of a resurgence in popular culture since he blazed on the scene in 1994 with his debut Clerks. Most recently he has appeared on AMC’s Comic Book Men which chronicles his time as the owner of a comic book store. He also began a web series titled Fatman and Batman on YouTube in 2015. He also regularly produces podcasts and stand-up appearances often with longtime collaborator Jason Mewes whose has played Jay in many of Smith’s films to his Silent Bob character.