SAD NEWS: Ricky Gervais makes end-of-life confession and assisted dying decision
The Office star opened up on his health and the end of his life.
Ricky Gervais made an end of life confession (Image: Getty)
Ricky Gervais says he is “pro-choice” when it comes to assisted dying. The Office creator, 65, told Saga Magazine that it is due to “ridiculous conspiracy theories” that the bill has been blocked by the House of Lords, which have “spooked” voters.
Gervais said: “It’s your life, you should be able to do what you want.”
When it comes to his own death, the comedian clarified: “But it would take a lot to get me there. I’d want every last breath. It’s only if every breath hurts.”
The one thing Gervais wants to do before he passes on is marry his partner of 40 years, Jane Fallon – but only if he can avoid inheritance tax. He said: “That will be the reason I marry. We haven’t done it yet. But if it wasn’t for [the tax]…
“How more married can you be? We share all our money, we’ve been living together for 40 years. Some marriages don’t last a year.
“It’s horrible, isn’t it? ‘I’ve got to get around to marrying, before I die…’”
The star – whose animated comedy series Alley Cats hit the number one spot on Netflix within hours of it dropping – has no intention of retiring, despite his growing aches and pains. He told the publication: “My dad worked on a building site until he was 70. That’s hard work. I just stand there talking.
“I still moan and wake up the next morning feeling like I’ve been run over. The adrenaline takes it out of you. It’s like driving really fast for an hour in heavy traffic – easy until you make a mistake – so you mustn’t.
“I know, I should be pottering around my garden shed, but I don’t think I could sit around doing nothing. You work so you have a reason to sit on the couch and watch telly every night.”
He opened up to Saga Magazine (Image: Saga Magazine)
He previously admitted he will go to great lengths to avoid seeing a doctor, telling Jimmy Kimmel last year: “I’m reminded every day that I’m getting older.
“Everything is just sort of slower and aches more. When I get up in the morning and I walk downstairs, it’s like I’ve got false legs. They are like stiff pirate legs. It just hurts.”
Instead, he Googles his symptoms – but has never had surgery.
He said: “I broke a tooth right after Christmas on a Kettle Chip and I just went ‘Oh for f***’s sake, what’s the chances of that?’
“So we had to get an emergency dentist. If I had a drill I would have done it myself. I’ll do anything myself. If there is a pill or an ointment, I’ll try anything. I’ve never had a surgery.
“You know those skin tags? I had one on my eyelid so I cut it off with a pair of nail scissors.”
It is Alley Cats Gervais can imagine “doing until [he] dies”, admitting he will “never run out of ideas” for his animated feline character Gus.
