Oh no!
Roger Ebert was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2002 and then suffered from cancerous growths in his salivary glands in 2003, and after going 10 years strong WITHOUT cancer, the terrible disease is back in the film critic’s body.
Now, Ebert is taking a “leave of presence” from his job at the Chicago Sun-Times, he said:
“The ‘painful fracture’ that made it difficult for me to walk has recently been revealed to be a cancer. It is being treated with radiation, which has made it impossible for me to attend as many movies as I used to. I have been watching more of them on screener copies that the studios have been kind enough to send to me…
At this point in my life, in addition to writing about movies, I may write about what it├óΓé¼Γäós like to cope with health challenges and the limitations they can force upon you. It really stinks that the cancer has returned and that I have spent too many days in the hospital. So on bad days I may write about the vulnerability that accompanies illness. On good days, I may wax ecstatic about a movie so good it transports me beyond illness.”
But don’t think that Roger is just gonna stop working because he has cancer, he still plans on getting together with filmmakers, Martin Scorsese, Steve Zaillian and Steve James to produce a bio-documentary about his life and career.
And the 70-year-old icon will also continue to work on his social media sites, Ebert Digital and RogerEbert.com, as well as write and review movies when he feels the flick is good enough.
Ebert has been working for the Chicago Sun-Times for exactly 46 years, and we think he has many more years to grace us with his criticism!!
Get well soon, Roger!
[Image via C.M. Wiggins/WENN.]