What to Know
- "Clerks" star and director Kevin Smith said on "Today" his doctor saved his life after a heart attack.
- “I was afraid of dying, that’s my biggest fear ever,” he said. “My second biggest fear was anyone seeing me naked."
- Smith said he's now a Weight Watchers ambassador along with Oprah Winfrey and DJ Khaled.
Just about two months after suffering a massive heart attack, actor and director Kevin Smith shared details about his journey back to health on "Today."
“Honestly, the heart attack was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Smith said, adding that his doctor saved his life.
The “Clerks” star and filmmaker suffered a heart attack Feb. 25 right after a standup comedy show in Glendale, California. The heart attack, called a "widowmaker" because of its low survival rate, was caused by total blockage of his left anterior descending artery (LAD), landing him in the hospital for surgery.
Smith's doctor used a stent to open up his vein.
“Suddenly I breathed — I felt a world better,” Smith recalled.
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“None of the blood was going through there for who knows how long. I had 100 percent blockage for years so I wasn’t getting proper oxygen. So now I feel great,” the New Jersey native said.
Despite his precarious condition, Smith says the doctors found him to be quite lively during the operation, saying he would constantly ask questions and would sing an occasional song.
“So the dude went in there and they keep you awake while it’s going on, they don’t knock you out, so I was talking the whole operation,” he said. “He told me later on, ’You’re very chatty.’”
Smith told "Today" hosts Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin he sang the words to the teen drama series “Degrassi's” theme song because it’s “very hopeful.” “Whatever it takes, I know I can make it through,” he sang to the anchors.
Although Smith came across as a fun and positive patient, he said he still had his fears — death and nudity.
“I was afraid of dying, that’s my biggest fear ever,” the 47-year-old said. “My second biggest fear was anyone seeing me naked. And in the hospital your chances of dying and being seen naked go up real huge.”
Smith is now focusing on losing weight in order to maintain his health. His doctor recommended he lose 50 pounds and he says he has so far dropped 32 pounds. He credits vegetable-based diets and Weight Watchers to his success. He also read Penn Jillette’s book “Presto” for weight-loss inspiration.
“I joined Weight Watchers and they made me an ambassador. So it’s me, Oprah and DJ Khaled. I’m in pretty good company,” Smith said.
