Roger Ebert debuts new voice on Oprah
[HMG] – Roger Ebert must rank as one of the most respected voices in the business of film, Four years ago cancer silenced that voice, but today Oprah debuted its return.
In early 2002 the now 67-year old host was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Intensive treatments failed to destroy it and on July 1, 2006 Roger underwent surgery to remove all the tumors – which also removed his ability to eat, drink or speak.
From that day this prolific, Pulitzer Prize-winning author [he wrote 15 books, maintains a blog and several review columns, and even a Twitter feed,] has not spoken a word…Until Oprah.
A pioneering technology by a company in Scotland now allows Roger to speak in his own voice – using thousands of samples taken from DVD reviews and housed on his laptop.
“It still needs improvement but at least it sounds like me,” Roger said, via his Mac Book. “In first grade, they said I talked too much. And now I still can.”
And as he ’spoke,’ his wife of 18 years – Chaz Hammelsmith Ebert gave way to tears.
“I actually think it’s incredible – that’s your voice,” she said. “Roger, what do you think?”
“Uncanny, came the replicated reply. A good feeling.”
So if these were his first words in almost four years, what were his last, he was asked?
“I probably spoke them to Chaz as they wheeled me to the operating room,” he ’said.’ “They were probably, ‘I love you.’ At least I hope those were my last words. But in my dreams I’m talking all the time.
Happily, Roger has been declared free of cancer. But he has also ruled out future surgery.
“This is the way I look and my life is happy and productive, so why have any more?” his Mac Book explains to Oprah.
It’s great to know that, even for a man who’s seen so many bad movies, life can still have a bright ending…
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Chaz Ebert is film critic Roger Ebert 's wife, and even though her husband has struggled in... Read Full Story »
