Kevin Smith, director of the comedy classic "Clerks" and one half of the Jay and Silent Bob duo, came close to death on Sunday night after suffering a "massive heart attack". The 47-year-old had just finished performing a stand-up comedy show in Glendale, California, and was due to perform another when he suddenly felt ill.
He was rushed to the hospital, where he eventually found out that he'd had a potentially fatal heart attack.
"The Doctor who saved my life told me I had 100% blockage of my LAD artery (aka ‘the Widow-Maker’)," Smith tweeted. "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," he added.
Just hours earlier, the husband and father-of-one had posted on Facebook about his upcoming show.
"Tonight I shoot my new standup special," he wrote. "Many thanks to the good folks at @comedydynamics for making it all happen... And thanks in advance to the audiences showing up to both shows in #glendale tonight! Your pity laughter will be like sponges to my flop sweat!"
Unfortunately, the show didn't go quite as smoothly as Smith had hoped - but he was still feeling chipper enough to tweet a selfie after receiving medical attention.
Hundreds of fans and fellow celebrities flocked to send Smith a get well soon message after the incident happened.
"Kevin we don’t know each other too good but I have loved you since Clerks," wrote Chris Pratt, "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!?"
"Glad to still have you this side of the lawn," said actor Michael McKean.
Chris Hardwick, who hosts Talking Dead - a show on which Smith is a frequent guest - wrote, "Holy s**t. @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!!!"
Smith has no known health problems but has openly talked about his struggles with his weight in the past. He is somewhat known for his "yo-yo dieting", and has previously gained and lost weight in very short periods of time.
When he first met his wife, for instance, he lost a whopping 50 pounds. And, in 2008, he lost almost half his body weight - going from 400 lbs to 210 lbs - by cutting out sugar from his diet and going on "juice fasts". Then, in 2010, he was famously kicked off a flight after being too large to fit into the seat, which motivated him to lose 65 lbs. Since then, however, he has reported "putting it all back on".
He also reportedly gave up smoking ten years ago.
Here's hoping that Smith makes a speedy recovery, and is well enough to get back to his family and continue with his new show very soon!
