Roger Ebert's Last Words, Continued: 'I Don't Mind People Knowing What I Look Like, But I Don't Want Them Thinking I'm Dying'

Roger Ebert has written a beautiful response to Chris Jones' Esquire article 'Roger Ebert's Last Words' in the Chicago Sun-Times.

This interview with Jones came after surgery in 2002 to remove a cancerous thyroid, followed by subsequent surgeries which left Ebert without a jaw and the ability to speak. The piece is accompanied by a photograph of Ebert as he looks today. Ebert writes:

"When I turned to it in the magazine, I got a jolt from the full-page photograph of my jaw drooping. Not a lovely sight. But then I am not a lovely sight, and in a moment I thought, well, what the hell. It's just as well it's out there. That's how I look, after all... This was no time to get sensitive and ask for photo approval, or an advance look at the piece. I'd been the goose, and now it was my turn to be the gander. I've never known what that means, geese-wise."

Ebert reflects at length about how it felt to give the interview, what he thought about the process, the story itself, and the meaning of the cover line: 'Roger Ebert's Last Words.'

I knew going in that a lot of the article would be about my surgeries and their aftermath. Let's face it. Esquire wouldn't have assigned an article if I were still in good health. Their cover line was the hook: Roger Ebert's Last Words. A good head. Whoever wrote that knew what they were doing. I was a little surprised at the detail the article went into about the nature and extent of my wounds and the realities of my appearance, but what the hell. It was true. I didn't need polite fictions.

"Ebert is dying in increments, and he is aware of it," Jones wrote in the article. Ebert added: "Well, we're all dying in increments. I don't mind people knowing what I look like, but I don't want them thinking I'm dying."

The piece is well worth a full read. Find it here.

Comments

[jalowe1957]

10:57 PM on 02/22/2010

Roger Ebert: Proof that film criticism isn't about how telegenic you are, it's all in the written word. Which carries more weight and integrity than brown-nosing for the major studios.

[XXYR]

10:09 PM on 02/22/2010

Ebert is really inspirational. He's become my favorite Tweeter. He's living with a serious illness - and while he can't speak, he makes his words say even more.

"Well, we're all dying in increments". My wife has cancer, and I know exactly what he means. He's a lesson in how to face cancer with class.

[shel3364]

08:42 PM on 02/22/2010

more like a "brave face"

[stylembe]

03:34 AM on 02/22/2010

Roger Ebert is amazing. He is very brave to have agreed to the Esquire exposé. He posts a hell of a lot on Twitter - compelling stuff all of the time. He's even kindly recommended my blog to other tweeters. If you need to follow just one person on twitter - he is the one.

http://stylembe.wordpress.com/2010/02/15/roger-ebert-recommends/

[Smirk]

11:34 PM on 02/26/2010

He's always seemed like a good guy.

[fusillijerry]

11:22 PM on 02/21/2010

Soldier on dude. You are inspiration.

[RockyMissouri]

09:49 PM on 02/21/2010

I see a lovely person- the clever man who wrote 'Beneath the Valley of the Dolls'- one of my husbands' favorite movies!

[tonyconde]

06:49 PM on 02/21/2010

Mr. Ebert: I see nothing ugly about that picture. To the contrary, I see in it perseverance, courage, happiness, confidence and poise. I see intelligence and depth. I see the continuation of a life well lived. Be well, and show your face at every opportunity. It is a beautiful one.

[Cloball]

02:58 PM on 02/21/2010

Great Esquire article about Roger. One of the best. Loved the quote about not letting someone bad live inside your head.

Think what Rush is doing to all those Republicans. He poisoned my mother and we could never talk about politics again after Rush came on the scene.

[harriettubman]

10:44 AM on 02/21/2010

Oprah dated him once. I couldn't believe that. She said he gave her the best advice of her life--syndication. Ebert seems to have a loving, supportive, protective wife too.

[janpradder]

01:17 PM on 02/20/2010

You go Roger! Always loved your show, and I love your spirit!!!

[middleoftheroad]

12:03 PM on 02/20/2010

Life is not fair when a guy like Roger can't speak and a guy like Beck can go on and on and on!

[liveordie]

08:40 PM on 02/20/2010

Aren't you the one? short but sweet. Allow me to fan you.

[azdirk]

10:41 AM on 02/20/2010

Although I rarely go to the movies, I was a fan of Siskel and Ebert. There program always gave me the impression that I was listening to a private conversation. It was obvious that, even when they differed, they respected each other and each took their craft seriously. This piece partly shows that my interest in there show was not displaced or wasted.

[greatlardini]

09:58 AM on 02/20/2010

Hard not to love a guy who wrote a Russ Meyer film.

[LynnBarnstorm13]

08:38 AM on 02/20/2010

Roger Ebert and Andrea Fay Friedman, two role models in two days! They made lemonade.

[filo]

07:11 AM on 02/20/2010

Any day above ground is a good day.