Jean Smart Details Undergoing Triple Bypass Heart Surgery

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Jean Smartis shedding light on her 2023 health scare for the very first time.

Three years after heart surgery, the actor from Hacks revealed it was a triple bypass, and explained the events that led to the emergency procedure.

While filming an episode for the third season of Hacks, Jean realized things weren’t proceeding as normal.

The 74-year-old told Variety in an April 8th article that after doing the scene multiple times, he asked if they had enough footage. He admitted to feeling tired, but didn’t think much of it at the time.

She explained that she was accustomed to feeling slightly breathless, like after climbing a few flights of stairs. However, it would always pass, and she’d just assume she was out of shape. She never considered it could be a sign of a health problem, thinking it was simply a need to exercise more.

After a few days of continued discomfort, Jean decided to see a doctor. This was partly because her husband, Richard Gilliland, had passed away two years prior at the age of 71 from a heart problem.

Jean remembered thinking, ‘It’s been too long since I saw my heart doctor. I need to take care of myself, especially for my sons, Connor, 36, and Forrest, 17, who’ve already lost their father.’ She explained that she left a message for the doctor after hours, saying she understood an appointment might not be possible that week, but she wanted to consider getting a stress test just to be safe.

The doctor called Jean back and told her to go to the emergency room right away. However, the award-winning actress was filming a scene and decided to finish it before having her driver take her to the hospital.

When Jean arrived, she unexpectedly met Paul W. Downs, one of the creators and stars of Hacks. His mother was in the hospital recovering from a broken ankle. Paul recalls being the only person with Jean when the doctors explained her medical options.

“It was incredibly stressful,” she told Variety. Her children had recently lost their father, and she didn’t want to frighten them, so they weren’t present. Naturally, her husband wasn’t there either. She was waiting for her brother to arrive, and I was with her when doctors explained she needed a triple bypass, not a stent.”

Jean met with three heart surgeons before deciding on one who recommended a triple bypass. Surprisingly, she wasn’t scared until after the surgery was finished.

Jean said she didn’t feel afraid until the following day when she thought about everything the rescue team had gone through. That’s when she realized how vulnerable she was.

Even though it was frightening, Jean wanted to share what happened to help others. In a February 2023 Instagram post, she advised people to pay attention to their bodies and see a doctor if something feels wrong. She added that she was happy she had done so herself.

Jean recently faced another health issue in addition to her heart bypass surgery. She shared that last summer, while walking in New York City, she suffered a broken kneecap.

She recounted a funny story from an August 2025 interview on Late Night with Seth Meyers. She’d gone to Macy’s to find an outfit for the Fourth of July fireworks. While trying to get a cab outside the store, she spotted one and, in her excitement, tripped over something.

Jean, who had to briefly pause her Broadway show, Call Me Izzy, due to an injury, jokingly said she was worried about paparazzi while she was hurt. “I was just lying there hoping no one would take a picture,” she added.

Jean isn’t alone – many celebrities have openly talked about their health problems. Here’s a look at other stars who’ve shared their medical journeys…

Former Total Bellas star revealed that one of her breast implants moved after being hit during an elbow slam by fellow wrestler Piper Niven in a match that took place in July 2025.

She reassured her sister, Bella Garcia, that they would eventually get the issue resolved. She explained to the doctor that as soon as she finished her current commitments – referencing her recent divorce and impending retirement – she would return to address the problem and ensure everything looked its best, anticipating future use and wanting it to be presentable.

Lupita Nyong’o, known for her role in 12 Years a Slave, received a diagnosis of uterine fibroids – non-cancerous growths in or around the uterus – in 2014, the same year she won an Academy Award for her performance in the film.

She didn’t share her diagnosis until 2025, when she revealed on Instagram that she had been privately struggling with the condition for over ten years.

She explained that many girls are taught to accept period pain as a normal part of being a woman. This often leaves them dealing with a common issue in silence and feeling isolated.

 

In July 2025, the actress from Daisy Jones & The Six revealed she’d been hospitalized for a hernia. This happened because she’d been wearing pants that were too tight, causing a gap in her abdominal muscles.

Someone messaged Suki on X (formerly Twitter), asking why she hadn’t posted recently. The message jokingly revealed a surprising reason for her silence: she claimed a pair of very tight pants she wore six months ago caused a hernia, and she’s been afraid to mention it.

The former star of Beverly Hills, 90210 shared in April 2025 that he was recovering from surgery to fix a nearly ruptured appendix.

Brian shared in an Instagram video that he recently experienced stomach pain which led him to the emergency room. He discovered he had a perforated appendix – it hadn’t fully burst, but was very close to it.

He added, “I’m on the road to recovery. It’s not an easy process. This is my first major surgery.”

During a soccer game against the Seattle Reign on September 14th at Lumen Field in Seattle, a midfielder from Racing Louisville collapsed after only a few minutes of play.

As a huge USWNT fan, it was really scary to watch. I saw one of the players slowly lower herself to the field, with a teammate immediately there to support her, according to Reuters. Then, just seconds later, she actually collapsed, and the ref quickly called for the trainers to come and check her out. It was a truly frightening moment.

Savannah received immediate medical attention on the field and was taken to a nearby hospital for more tests, according to a statement from the National Women’s Soccer League. They reported that she is currently in stable condition and is alert.

Adam Devine revealed that injuries from a childhood accident – he was hit by a cement truck at age 11 – continue to cause him problems even now.

“It’s been incredibly difficult,” Devine shared on the In Depth With Graham Bensinger podcast in 2025. “I experience spasms all over my body, and doctors recently told me I was facing a life-threatening situation—within the last year, actually.”

He explained that his pain is intermittent, saying, “My body has a few quirks and isn’t quite perfect.”

A former contestant on The Bachelor went to the hospital because of severe back pain. He said the pain was so bad he had to crawl on his hands and knees, and it got worse during a road trip with a friend.

He described a persistent tingling sensation, saying, ‘Even now, bringing my knees to my toes, it still feels tingly, which is really strange.’ He explained that just a few weeks prior, he’d been squatting nearly 300 pounds, but now he can’t even do a squat without falling over. He compared the feeling to having a stroke.

But with the help of a back specialist and some steroids, he added, “We’re on the mend.”

As many of you know, I share a lot of my life, and I wanted to let you know that my ex-husband, Matt, recently had a heart attack back in March of this year. Thankfully, he pulled through, and we’re all so relieved he’s okay. It was a scary time, but I’m grateful for a positive outcome.

In March 2025, the actor from 30 Rock experienced a medical issue at a New York Knicks game and had to be taken out of Madison Square Garden in a wheelchair.

The comedian later posted on social media to explain that he hadn’t been feeling well due to food poisoning, but he was starting to feel better.

In February 2025, the former Even Stevens star revealed she was shot in the face during a birthday celebration for her husband, Brendan Rooney. They were on a trip to go clay pigeon shooting when the incident occurred.

In an Instagram post, she explained that she was accidentally shot in the face by someone at a party who fired a gun unsafely. Brendan Rooney quickly helped her, evaluated her injuries, and took her to the hospital. She was hit five times, and one bullet came dangerously close to her right eye.

The former Kim Possible star explained that a small piece of something got stuck behind their eye. Doctors have advised against removing it with surgery right now, and they’ll continue to monitor the situation, as their vision is currently normal.

The actress expressed immense gratitude for surviving a frightening experience. She shared how much she loves her family and friends, saying she realized how precious life is. “Seeing everything that happened made me realize how quickly things can change,” she explained, urging everyone to cherish their loved ones and hug them whenever possible.

Amy Schumer is grateful for the internet, surprisingly, because it helped her discover a health issue. After noticing she looked “puffier” in photos, she faced criticism online. But instead of just negativity, doctors began commenting, expressing concern that she might have Cushing syndrome, a condition often linked to high cortisol levels or steroid injections. This prompted Amy to realize she’d received steroid injections after a breast reduction and C-section. She later learned she had a form of Cushing syndrome that would resolve on its own, and she’s relieved to be healthy. As she shared, getting this diagnosis and knowing she’d be okay was the best possible news.

In December 2024, an AHL player suffered a skate cut during a game, requiring 25 stitches to close the wound. After his son made a full recovery, New Jersey Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald told ESPN how grateful they were, saying, “We feel very lucky, and I wouldn’t want any parent to go through that.”

In March 2022, Hailey Bieber experienced a frightening health scare while having breakfast with her husband, Justin Bieber. She suddenly started having stroke-like symptoms, unable to speak and experiencing drooping on the right side of her face. Although these symptoms eventually subsided, she went to the hospital for testing. Doctors discovered she had suffered a small blood clot to the brain, which they identified as a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack). Further investigation at UCLA revealed Hailey had a hole in her heart called a patent foramen ovale (PFO). This hole allowed the blood clot to travel to her brain, causing the TIA. Hailey has since undergone a successful procedure to close the PFO and is now doing well.

The same year Hailey faced a health issue, Justin also experienced one. In June 2022, he revealed he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a condition that caused temporary paralysis on one side of his face. This forced him to cancel the remaining dates of his Justice World Tour.

In a video posted to Instagram, Justin explained that the virus affected the nerves in his ear and face, preventing him from blinking, smiling, or moving his nostril on the affected side. He also shared that it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to eat.

Fortunately, the paralysis eventually went away. Hailey shared on Good Morning America that Justin was recovering well, adding that while the situation was frightening and unexpected, he was going to be okay and she was thankful he was fine.

Jamie Foxx recently shared details about the serious health scare he experienced in April 2023, which he had initially kept private. He explained that while in Atlanta, he suffered a severe headache and asked for aspirin, but then lost consciousness. He doesn’t remember the next 20 days.

Initially, a doctor gave him a cortisone shot and sent him home, but his sister, Deidra Dixon, was worried and took him to the hospital. There, they discovered he had a brain bleed that led to a stroke.

After surgery, Jamie woke up in a wheelchair on May 4th, unable to walk. He then traveled to Chicago for rehabilitation and therapy. He expressed deep gratitude for the prayers he received, saying he needed every single one.

The reality TV star shared that she briefly stopped breathing while running a mile during the first challenge on the NBC competition show.

She shared on the show Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser that her memory of the event was fragmented. She recalled hearing a helicopter, feeling like she was floating, and then seeing her grandfather. After that, she remembers only darkness, followed by light, leading her to realize she had died that day.

She explained that her organs were failing. She hadn’t known she had rhabdomyolysis, a condition where your body essentially starts to shut down.

Emilia Clarke, known for her role in Game of Thrones, revealed a harrowing health battle in a 2019 essay for The New Yorker. While filming the show, she experienced a severe headache during a workout, followed by intense pain and vomiting. She quickly realized something was seriously wrong with her brain.

A hospital scan revealed she had suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage – a life-threatening stroke caused by bleeding around the brain – due to a ruptured aneurysm. She immediately underwent surgery to repair it, but the pain was excruciating. During her recovery, she temporarily lost her ability to speak, often muttering incoherently.

Though she left the hospital after a month, a 2013 scan showed the aneurysm had grown and required a second surgery. This procedure was unsuccessful, leading to a major bleed and a dire prognosis. Doctors had to perform a more invasive surgery, accessing her brain directly through her skull.

Fortunately, Emilia is now fully recovered and says she’s “at a hundred per cent.”

Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg’s daughter, recently shared how thankful she is for her family’s support after experiencing a stroke in January 2024. She immediately reached out to them, sending a text and a photo, and they quickly came to her aid, as she told TopMob News’ Will Marfuggi in December 2024. While she could have been discharged after the stroke, other health issues, including lupus and kidney problems, required a longer hospital stay. Cori is now recovering well, saying she’s “doing great” and has been working to regain some motor skills. She’s happy to be on the mend and feeling much better.

Shailene Woodley struggled with serious health issues throughout her early twenties. In a September 2024 podcast interview, she revealed she experienced hearing loss, extreme fatigue, and digestive problems that made eating painful. For years, she received conflicting diagnoses from various doctors.

Drawing on her background in herbalism and holistic health, Shailene sought answers by working with both traditional doctors and alternative healers. This search for well-being spanned a decade.

The physical discomfort led to emotional challenges, including fear of food and struggles with body image, identity, and feeling safe in her own body.

Fortunately, after years of focusing on both her physical and mental health, Shailene has fully recovered and is now very healthy. She expressed her happiness to be in such a good place.

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2026-04-09 21:49