Moshe Kasher, the actor known for his role in The Pitt, has disclosed that he is undergoing treatment for oropharyngeal cancer at age 46, detailing the painful surgery he endured. The comedian and writer shared his diagnosis on social media, revealing that he discovered a 'bump' on his tonsil while filming in Savannah with director Judd Apatow and actor Glenn Powell.
Diagnosis and Surgery
Kasher wrote on Instagram: 'It was cancer. Which did not rule so hard. Two days ago, a Jewish surgery robot at Cedars-Sinai yanked my jaw open for 5 hours and cut it out and then slit my throat and dissected my neck leaving me with a hardcore neck scar which will make people reluctant to street fight me.' He described his tongue as 'swollen and bruised' from being clamped and yanked out of his mouth during the procedure.
He called the experience 'the most terrifying and consciousness consuming experience of my life,' adding that his days were filled with 'terror, meditation, tears, and medical planning' alongside 12-hour workdays on set.
Prognosis and Recovery
Despite the ordeal, Kasher expressed hope, noting that the cancer has a high cure rate. 'It's gonna be a long summer. But the good news is the cancer I have has an incredibly high cure rate (in the 95% zone). I will find out next week if I need radiation or not but regardless I will be okay and back to being a cool dude ASAP,' he wrote.
He also joked that he contracted the cancer through sex, as it is linked to the HPV virus, and added seriously: 'I'm so grateful I have a life that's worth living and a kid to raise this Father's Day.'
Support from Colleagues
Kasher praised director Judd Apatow for being incredibly supportive during the filming process. Apatow commented on Kasher's post: 'You couldn't be a kinder, stronger, funnier person. Heal fast and easy. Also- Five Hour Energy Drinks can really help on those tiring days. I'm also a fan of Patron Silver and Mountain Dew. This post has been sponsored.'
Kasher is best known for his role as Samuel Jacob, an American Sign Language Interpreter, on The Pitt alongside Noah Wyle. He has also appeared in The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Shameless, and Zoolander 2.
Personal Life and Podcast Revelations
He is married to fellow comedian Natasha Leggero, and the couple share a daughter born in 2018. On their joint podcast, The Endless Honeymoon Podcast, Kasher revealed that his diagnosis was his 'worst nightmare' because his father died of a different, less curable cancer that he had also found on his neck. He explained: 'If [the cancer] has spread, even microscopically – and they won't know until I do the surgery – then I will need radiation.'
