Director falls ill taping stand-up special

Kevin Smith says he suffered a 'massive heart attack' after filming a stand-up special.

The director of Clerks and Chasing Amy had been shooting two shows back-to-back in Glendale, California – but cancelled the second after feeling unwell.

He said that doctors told him that had he not pulled the gig he 'would've died tonight'

Writing on Facebook, the Jay and Silent Bob filmmaker revealed: 'I was trying to do a killer stand-up 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'

But he also revealed that he faced death with a contented acceptance, saying: '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 #jayandsilentbobreboot 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… 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. #KevinSmith'

He posted a similar message on Twitter:

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

The recording was Smith's first comedy special in several years. He previously released the Q&A show An Evening with Kevin Smith on DVD in 2002 while his shows Too Fat For 40 and Burn In Hell aired in 2010 and 2012 respectively.

Published: 26 Feb 2018