The comedic actor Michael Richards, who is best known for playing Kramer on the television show Seinfeld in the 1990s, is speaking out to reveal that he secretly battled prostate cancer back in 2018.
Richards’ Secret Cancer Battle
“I thought, well, this is my time. I’m ready to go,” Richards, 74, told People Magazine. “But then my son came to mind just a few seconds later, and I heard myself saying, ‘I’ve got a 9-year-old, and I’d like to be around for him. Is there any way I can get a little more life going?’”
Richards went on to say that his biopsy looked so bad that his doctor recommended removing his entire prostate.
“It had to be contained quickly,” he recalled. “I had to go for the full surgery. If I hadn’t, I probably would have been dead in about eight months.”
Related: Michael Richards Makes Rare Red Carpet Appearance, Reunites With Jerry Seinfeld
Richards’ Pens Memoir
His private cancer battle left Richards having to face his own mortality. This inspired him to write his memoir “Entrances and Exits” using personal diaries that he’d kept over the years.
“I had over 40 journals I’d kept over the years and wanted to do a full review of my life,” Richards said. “I’m turning 75, so maybe wanting to do that is something that comes with being my age.”
“I wanted to connect with feelings and memory,” he added. “I’m surprised at how much I was able to remember.”
Richards has been a recluse for many years ever since he was hit with backlash for dropping the n-word as he argued with hecklers at the Laugh Factory while performing a standup comedy routine back in 2006.
“I was immediately sorry the moment I said it onstage,” he admitted. “I’m not looking for a comeback.”
These days, Richards is enjoying a private life with his actress wife Beth Skipp, who he’s been married to since 2006, and their son Antonio.
“[I’m] learning and healing. Healing and learning,” he said. “But life is always an up and a down.”
Check out Jerry Seinfeld interviewing Richards in the video below.
Related: Jerry Seinfeld Hints He’d Change A Few Things About Seinfeld
Richards’ History
Born in Culver City, California in 1949, Richards was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1970, and he served as a medic. After being honorably discharged, Richards decided to pursue a career in acting, something he’d been passionate about since the seventh grade.
After paying his dues for years, Richards got his big break when he was cast as the eccentric Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld in 1989. Richards quickly became one of the most popular stars of the show, and he won three Emmys for his work on it before the series went off the air in 1998.
Watch Richards talk about playing Kramer in the video below.
After Seinfeld, Richards briefly had his own eponymous program “The Michael Richards Show” in 2000, but it only lasted one season. He has been laying low since 2006, with his last television or film appearance being in 2019. Richards has an estimated net worth of $30 million.
Richards’ private cancer battle serves as a reminder that you never really know what someone is going through behind the scenes. Please join us in saying a prayer for Richards’ good health moving forward!
Also Read: 10 Best Quotes from Seinfeld That Are Still Funny
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