'Clerks' Director Kevin Smith Is Recovering From A Massive Heart Attack
Over the weekend, we almost lost a beloved director who has become an influential voice in the world of geekdom through a media empire that spans film, television and podcasts.
Kevin Smith, best known for directing the indie comedy Clerks and building his own movie universe with films like Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma and Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, suffered a massive heart attack while doing a couple stand-up shows over the weekend in Glendale, California. But thankfully, Kevin Smith had his life saved by the doctors present and he's recovering in the hospital with a new lease on life.
The Kevin Smith heart attack scare was revealed by the filmmaker himself on Instagram:
A post shared by Kevin Smith (@thatkevinsmith) on
Kevin Smith has always been open with his fans and vocal about anything and everything in his life. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that his post about this near-death experience is extremely intimate and revealing. Here's what Smith posted on Instagram:
"I was trying to do a killer standup special this evening but I might've gone too far. 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% 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!"
Smith continued with some reflection on how he used to be terrified of death. But when he came face-to-face with the prospect, he looked on his life with great satisfaction and contentedness:
"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."
Smith wrapped up by thanking the doctors who saved his life and the friends who immediately had him rushed to the hospital, and also indicated that he might have some life changes in store:
"Total strangers saved my life tonight (as well as my friends Jordan Monsanto and Emily 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 may get railed on by fandom nowadays, mostly because of his vocal nature about film, television, comics, criticism and pretty much everything, but he's always been one of my favorite people in entertainment. His brand of R-rated comedy was influential when I was in high school, and even though that may have fallen by the wayside as I've matured (somewhat), his work will always have a soft spot in my heart.
More recently, Smith has been garnering acclaim for his work on DC Comics TV shows like Supergirl and The Flash, not to mention his unscripted series Comic Book Men on AMC and the myriad of podcasts he hosts and produces on his Smodcast network. I'm glad that he's still with us, and I hope he feels better soon.