'SNL' Star Darrell Hammond Reveals He Underwent Life-Saving Emergency Surgery

Saturday Night Live announcer Darrell Hammond has revealed that he recently underwent life-saving emergency surgery, after doctors found an artery blockage.

The 66-year-old comedian took to his Twitter account on Tuesday night to share footage of himself in Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center as he praised the medical staff and assured his followers that he would be "back to work soon."

He wrote on the micro-blogging platform: "Quick update... had an emergency surgery this week and the amazing staff at @CedarsSinai saved my life!"

The Florida native added: "Thank you to the doctors & nurses who helped me! And because of their great work I'll be back to work soon!"

In a video accompanying his statement, Hammond shared a video of himself attached to a series of wires in the hospital as he explained his treatment.

"My blood pressure was 214 the other day and the doctors here are so talented, they brought my blood pressure down nearly 100 points," he said.

Pointing to a scar on his neck, the star went on: "I always had hypertension but I don't anymore, because you see this cut? I had an artery blocked.

"There was a blockage in the artery in my brain and these guys went in there and took it out... and my blood pressure immediately dropped 100 points."

Continuing to discuss his scar, he added: "It looks bad, but they did, like, a miracle thing in there and now I've got to go to bed and try to sleep with these wires on."

Sporting his signature sunglasses and hat, Hammond praised his "incredible" nurse as he said there were "such talented people" working in the hospital.

After uploading his post, Hammond received an outpouring of support from a host of well-wishers, including Kathy Griffin, Jon Cryer, Brad Williams, and Ben Gleib.

In his memoir, God, If You're Not Up There, I'm F*cked—which was published back in 2011—Hammond detailed his troubled past, including his drug use and alcoholism.

"I kept a pint of Remy in my desk at work," he wrote of his battle with the bottle. "The drinking calmed my nerves and quieted the disturbing images that sprang into my head... when drinking didn't work, I cut myself."

Hammond also recalled how he was once taken to a New York hospital after being removed from the NBC building by police "in a straitjacket" back in 1998.

By 2002, things had not improved, with Hammond revealing: "I'd started adding an obscene amount of cocaine to my binges. I had to be creative about how I did it without other people catching on or letting it interfere with the work. At least too much."

After spending time in rehab, Hammond relapsed in 2009, writing of the experience: "I had the brilliant idea I should try crack."

Following his relapse, Hammond sought treatment again and has embraced a sober lifestyle.

Hammond enjoyed immense popularity throughout his 14-season run as a cast member of Saturday Night Live, between 1995 and 2009, before he replaced the late Don Pardo as the show's announcer from 2014.

He impersonated several public figures and celebrities during his time as a performer on the NBC show, including Bill Clinton, John Travolta, Sean Connery, and a pre-White House Donald Trump.

The star even won the praise of Trump himself, who tweeted back in 2018 that he greatly favored his impersonation of him over that of Alec Baldwin.

"Alec Baldwin, whose dying mediocre career was saved by his terrible impersonation of me on SNL, now says playing me was agony," Trump tweeted from his now-suspended account. "Alec, it was agony for those who were forced to watch. Bring back Darrell Hammond, funnier and a far greater talent!"