Film critic Roger Ebert has lost his ability to speak, but still communicates

AP ^ | February 16, 2010

[ConservativeStatement]

NEW YORK (AP) — Film critic Roger Ebert lost his ability to speak nearly four years ago, when he underwent a tracheostomy, a procedure that opens an airway through an incision in the windpipe, after surgery for cancer in his jaw.

In an interview in the new issue of Esquire magazine, the 67-year-old film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times uses pen and paper and text-to-speech computer software to communicate. He's developed a kind of rudimentary sign language, and he sometimes draws letters with his finger on the palm of his hand.

[originalbuckeye]

Any comment I might make would be in bad taste other than, I really miss Siskel.

[Salvey]

Has he lost his ability to hate?

[gathersnomoss]

Did Siskel smoke or chew? Yikes. God Bless him.

[DB]

Is that a real picture?

[oh8eleven]

uses pen and paper and text-to-speech computer software to communicate. He's developed a kind of rudimentary sign language, and he sometimes draws letters with his finger on the palm of his hand.
Gheeze, what a guy. I'll bet no one in recorded history has ever done any of that.

[WOBBLY BOB]

that’s what I wondered...did he just suck a lemon?

[ConservativeStatement]

The caption within the link states it’s an “undated photo.”

[originalbuckeye]

That's Ebert. It is a real picture. He has had several head/neck cancers. I'm not sure what kind. He has had a tracheotomy for a long time. No, he can't speak.

[WOBBLY BOB]

It’s settled science.

[paulycy]

If that is a real picture then wow. Just wow.

I mean no disrespect but he looks like those shriveled apple dolls. His politics suck but he doesn’t deserve this.

[A_Former_Democrat]

So this is what’s so embittered him?

[DJ MacWoW]

From the article: after surgery for cancer in his jaw.

[Cyber Liberty]

Steven Hawkings comes to mind....

[savagesusie]

I don’t think so...it could have been photoshopped. Hope so for his sake...

[digger48]

Knew a fellow who looked quite similar to that for several years.

[reagan_fanatic]

Oh my God - he looks horrible. He doesn’t even look like the same man. Sad.

[DollyCali]

It appears he had his lower jaw removed & my guess is if he can’t talk it is not from trach.. but that his tongue was also removed.

This is a very debilitating cancer if one opts for the surgical “corrections”

Many people have had trachs & can talk .. he may however have had his larynx removed also

[digger48]

That what you look like without a jaw. it’s real

[Williams]

It’s a shame to see. He answers letters in a column in the Metro. I like discussions of movies so much it’s hard to hate him, plus I guess I missed his worst remarks. I have to draw the line on politics at cancer. I wish him well and wish for cures of that disease.