Filmmaker Kevin Smith survives 'massive heart attack'

Filmmaker Kevin Smith was brought to the hospital before his heart attack could cost him his life.Reuters/Mario Anzuoni

Filmmaker and actor Kevin Smith has shared on social media that he suffered a "massive heart attack" on Sunday, Feb. 25. He was found to have had a blocked left anterior descending (LAD) artery, which is a fatal condition in majority of cases.

Smith tweeted a photo of himself in a hospital gown, with a caption saying that he survived a heart attack and a deadly blockage in a major artery. He reportedly felt ill after a comedy show on Sunday night, opting not to do a second show to go to the hospital.

Smith is known for directing, writing, producing, and acting in the award-winning 1994 film "Clerks." He also wrote and directed films such as "Dogma," "Jersey Girl," and "Red State."

The New York Daily News reported that Smith was due to perform at two shows that Sunday, one at 6 p.m. and the other at 9 p.m. Smith cancelled his second taping for his stand-up comedy show, "Kevin Smith Live!"

"The Doctor who saved my life told me I had 100% blockage of my LAD artery (aka "the Widow-Maker")," Smith wrote in his tweet. "If I hadn't canceled show 2 to go to the hospital, I would've died tonight."

The LAD artery is considered to be the most important of the three arteries in the heart, because it pumps blood to a larger area of the heart than the two other arteries. It has earned the moniker "widow-maker" because the heart attacks it causes have high fatality rates.

According to an Instagram post by Smith, death was the thing he most terrified of in his life. He also wrote that his father died after suffering a heart attack himself.

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

"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)," Smith wrote in his post. However, he continued that he felt calm as he contemplated the possibility of his death because he felt that he has had a great life.

Smith also mentioned that he will be making some changes to his lifestyle after this ordeal, writing that he may become vegan.