Billy Gardell says the decision "probably saved" his life - and five years later, he's still living out the change.
The 57-year-old star of Mike & Molly and Bob Hearts Abishola opened up on the "Breaking Bread" podcast about the bariatric surgery he underwent in 2021, revealing that type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart concerns had pushed his health to a breaking point. At his heaviest, Gardell weighed 379 pounds and had spent years cycling through 30-pound swings, gaining back nearly as much as he lost each time.
The turning point came when a knee injury left him unable to even walk for exercise. "I have to do something drastic," he recalled telling himself. His doctor agreed, bluntly warning him that "after 50, the warranties start running out."
Since the surgery, Gardell says he's off all medication and his diabetes is completely gone. He's candid that the work didn't end with the operation - five years later, he still has to "be real selective" about food, joking that "the fat Hulk is still running around" in his head.
But the actor, known for his warmth on screen, said the harder part was surrendering pride and admitting he needed to change before it was too late. His message to anyone facing the same struggle: "If I can do it, you can do it. And don't let nobody tell you different. Do whatever it takes."
