Kevin Smith Suffers Massive Heart Attack Following His 85-Lb Weight Loss

Clerks star Kevin Smith recently revealed he suffered a massive heart attack despite losing 85 pounds over the last few years. The 47-year-old comic took to Instagram to update his fans on his health scare.

“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,” he wrote alongside a hospital selfie. “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).”

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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! 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 (as well as my friends @jordanmonsanto & @iamemilydawn, 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. #KevinSmith

A post shared by Kevin Smith (@thatkevinsmith) on Feb 26, 2018 at 1:41am PST

He went on to explain that if he didn’t cancel his second show he would’ve have died just like his dad, who died of a heart attack. However, he is remaining optimistic. “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,” he continued. “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.”

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Kevin’s heart attack does come as surprise, especially after the veteran actor took control of his health in 2010 and dropped 85 pounds. Kevin decided to drop the weight after being kicked off a flight due to his size. “I feel mixed feelings about losing the weight,” he said in the past. “I sympathize far more with heavier people than I ever will with thin I’ll never be thin.”

Kevin in 2008 vs. 2017.

He also credited the 2014 documentary Fed Up as another source of inspiration. “Awesome documentary, an anti-sugar documentary that completely changed my perception,” he told Men’s Health. “So then I watch this documentary last year, and I was, like, ‘Oh, man, um, I really don’t wanna die’ – and I’m already 44 years old.” Get well soon, Kevin!