‘Whose Line’ star Colin Mochrie rushed to hospital for emergency surgery

Comic legend Colin Mochrie begins the new year in less than ideal circumstances. The message “Who owns this line?” » The star was rushed to hospital on Friday and underwent emergency eye surgery after being diagnosed with a detached retina, forcing him to postpone several dates on his current comedy tour. Colin Mochrie shared the update with fans in a joint statement alongside his collaborator Asad Mecci and their live show HYPROV, confirming the sudden medical scare.

“We regret to inform you that our next show will be postponed due to a medical issue involving Colin Mochrie,” the statement said. “Colin has been diagnosed with retinal detachment and will undergo emergency eye surgery today.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, a retinal detachment occurs when the thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye moves away from its normal position. If left untreated, it can lead to permanent vision loss. Symptoms often include sudden flashes of light, dark floating shapes, reduced vision, and loss of side vision, making emergency surgery crucial.

Although the situation was serious, the message offered a hopeful outlook. According to the update, Mochrie’s medical team is “optimistic that he will make a full recovery,” although he will need time to rest and heal before returning to the stage. The comedian also expressed his gratitude for the outpouring of support, noting that he is “incredibly grateful for your support and well wishes.”

The HYPROV team echoed these sentiments, captioning the announcement: “We are truly sorry and wish @colinmochrie7591 a speedy recovery. »

Mochrie is touring with HYPROV, a unique live show mixing comedy and hypnotism, which launched last month and runs through April. The format involves Mecci hypnotizing 20 volunteer audience members, after which Mochrie improvises comedy scenes with them on stage.

Organizers describe the show as “part mental experiment, part comedy laboratory, and part entertainment,” with improvised music propelling each performance into uncharted territory. Despite the setback, the statement assures fans that Mochrie “can’t wait to be back on stage and share many more laughs with you all in the near future.”

The tour also featured appearances by notable artists including Stephanie Courtney, Barrett Foa, Jeff Hiller, Jonathan Mangum, Amber Nash, Gary Mindy Sterling and Anthony Williams.

Mochrie holds the record for most appearances on “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” ”, with an incredible 431 episodes over the course of the series’ 21 seasons. It’s a streak that has made him one of the most recognizable and reliable improv artists. But despite decades of experience and thousands of hours on stage, Mochrie says his pre-show routine is anything but intense.

“I wish I could tell you there was an exhausting physical and mental warm-up,” he told WTMJ in January 2025. “I sit down and have a coffee.” This laid-back approach, he explained, comes from simple comfort with the profession. “I’ve been doing this for over 40 years now, so I’m at the point where I’m incredibly comfortable going on stage in front of an audience that wants to see a show that we don’t actually have.”