EXCLUSIVE: ER Actor Hospitalized
Dearon Thompson, who played series regular Malik McGrath on ER, has been hospitalized in Los Angeles, RadarOnline.com has confirmed exclusively. Thompson, also known as rapper Deezer D, is scheduled to have surgery on Tuesday.
A source close to Thompson says he will undergo heart surgery and is currently “in good spirits.” Thompson confirmed the news to friends via e-mail saying: “I have my HEART SURGERY on TUES. Thanks for all your PRAYERS LOVE y’all.”
On ER, his character was a source of comicrelief on the medical drama. Despite his foray into acting, Thompson continued his musiccareer, most recently releasing the albumDelayed, But Not Denied in August 2008.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: E.R. StarDeezer D Set For Heart Surgery
ToCorrect "Same Problem That KilledJohn Ritter"
Deezer D, the actor and rap star who played Nurse Malik McGrath for 188 episodes through 15 seasons on ER, is himself now hospitalized and awaiting heart surgery.
"I'm just praying and God is watching over me," he told RadarOnline.com in an exclusive interview. Deezer D, whose real name is Dearon Thompson, explained that he had been experiencing recurring pneumonia for the last year, and he had "over 10 episodes of heart failure in the last eight months alone."
On July 7, he saw a new cardiologist who finally found the problem. "I have a heart valve that is leaking and the aorta had expanded to way beyond what it is supposed to be. As soon as the doctor identified what was going on, he put me in here."
The aorta is the largest artery in the body and carries blood away from the heart to all the other arteries. "The problem with my aorta is the same thing that killed John Ritter," Deezer D said. "I am so grateful that my doctor found it in time."
Ritter died in 2003. His aortic condition was undiagnosed and he died in a hospital emergency room.
RadarOnline.com was first with the news of Deezer D's surgery earlier today.
Deezer D will have the aorta replaced and the valve fixed in during surgery scheduled for July 14. He expects to remain hospitalized for about seven days following the surgery.
"What I was going through for the last year - that was scary," Deezer D said. "I'm fearless about the surgery."
"I'm just praying and God is watching over me," he told RadarOnline.com in an exclusive interview. Deezer D, whose real name is Dearon Thompson, explained that he had been experiencing recurring pneumonia for the last year, and he had "over 10 episodes of heart failure in the last eight months alone."
On July 7, he saw a new cardiologist who finally found the problem. "I have a heart valve that is leaking and the aorta had expanded to way beyond what it is supposed to be. As soon as the doctor identified what was going on, he put me in here."
The aorta is the largest artery in the body and carries blood away from the heart to all the other arteries. "The problem with my aorta is the same thing that killed John Ritter," Deezer D said. "I am so grateful that my doctor found it in time."
Ritter died in 2003. His aortic condition was undiagnosed and he died in a hospital emergency room.
RadarOnline.com was first with the news of Deezer D's surgery earlier today.
Deezer D will have the aorta replaced and the valve fixed in during surgery scheduled for July 14. He expects to remain hospitalized for about seven days following the surgery.
"What I was going through for the last year - that was scary," Deezer D said. "I'm fearless about the surgery."
EXCLUSIVE: ER Star Deezer D Is In
ICU Following Heart Surgery
Deezer D, the rapper-turned actor who starred as Nurse Malik McGrath for 15 seasons on ER, had surgery Tuesday in Los Angeles to correct the same potentially deadly heart problem that killed John Ritter.
Deezer, whose real name is Dearon Thompson had to have his aorta replaced and a leaking heart valve replaced in a surgery that lasted six hours.
RadarOnline.com exclusively spoke with Deezer last Friday about the procedure.
"He'll be in the ICU for the next two days," a friend of Deezer's told RadarOnline.com. "It's the watch-and-wait period now but if all goes well, he'll be moved to a regular floor for another seven days. Once his cardiologist gives the all clear, he'll be home - but with no more cigars and no strenuous exercise for awhile."
EXCLUSIVE: Grateful Deezer D Out Of Hospital After Major Heart Surgery
Deezer D is out of the hospital and happy to be alive.
The entertainer, who played Nurse Malik McGrath on NBC's iconic medical drama ER, is out of the hospital after a six-hour surgery last week to correct potentially fatal heartproblems (the same that killed funnyman John Ritter six years ago).
The actor, whose real name is Dearon Thompson, told RadarOnline.com, said that his colleagues from the defunct hospital drama were his base when his health problems -- needing an aorta replacement and leaking heart valve fixed -- surfaced.
“Most of the cast from ER supported me -- Eriq La Salle,Noah Wiley were at my bedside before and after my surgery," he said. "Shi McBride came and stayed with me and supported me.”
The actor profusely thanked his fan base for the moral support they provided via cards, letters and flowers.
"Thanks for all prayers and love, the entire experience made God more tangible in my life," he said. "I just can’t explain in words what I felt."
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO INTERVIEW: ERStar Deezer D Remembers DJ AM
Deezer D, the rapper-turned actor who starred as Nurse Malik McGrath for 15 seasons on ER, reminisced withRadarOnline.com on Wednesday about DJ AM and how they knew each other. Deezer, whose real name is Dearon Thompson, had surgery in July to correct the same potentially deadly heart problem that killed JohnRitter.
“It blew me away,” he told us about hearing the news of DJ AM’s (real name Adam Goldstein) death. Deezer met DJ AM when he was deejaying at an ER celebration, and the two became close. DJ AM even helped Deezer find a DJ for his wedding, since he would be performing in Vegas during Deezer’s nuptuals.
The two kept in touch over the years, and Deezer said he had seen DJ AM a few times since the 2008 plane crash. “I didn’t ask him about anything,” he told RadarOnline.com. “I was just happy to see him living.”
DJ AM was buried on Wednesday at Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary with family and friends in attendance.
“It blew me away,” he told us about hearing the news of DJ AM’s (real name Adam Goldstein) death. Deezer met DJ AM when he was deejaying at an ER celebration, and the two became close. DJ AM even helped Deezer find a DJ for his wedding, since he would be performing in Vegas during Deezer’s nuptuals.
The two kept in touch over the years, and Deezer said he had seen DJ AM a few times since the 2008 plane crash. “I didn’t ask him about anything,” he told RadarOnline.com. “I was just happy to see him living.”
DJ AM was buried on Wednesday at Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary with family and friends in attendance.
