Stanley Tucci lost a lot of weight while battling cancer several years ago.
The star – who is promoting his new series Citadel – was noticeably thinner when he hosted his CNN food show Searching For Italy, leading fans to wonder if he had gone on a new diet. But he had just secretly battled cancer.
Now the 62-year-old star has shared exactly how much weight he lost while living on a feeding tube for six months.
“I lost 35 pounds,” he said. ‘I couldn’t eat. I had a feeding tube for six months and everything tasted like you know what and smelled like you know what.
“And it took months and months and months before I could finally eat and taste good again.”
He is now cancer free.
Talking numbers: Stanley Tucci lost a lot of weight while battling cancer several years ago. Now the 62-year-old star has shared exactly how much weight he lost. Seen in 2021 on the left and in 2016 on the right
Thinner on his show: When he was on CNN’s Searching For Italy, he looked skinny
The star also called his battle with cancer “terrifying.”
The Devil Wears Prada actor was diagnosed with oral cancer in 2017.
And he described how he was able to overcome the condition with the help of his wife Felicity.
She is the sister of his Devil Wears Prada co-star Emily Blunt.
Tragically, Tucci lost his first wife Kate to cancer in 2009 and was “completely shocked” to learn he would also be battling the disease.
Speak with Willie Geist on Sunday SitdownTucci recalled the fear he faced when he was diagnosed.
And he also talked about how he couldn’t eat for six months without the help of a feeding tube.
My late wife and I traveled all over the world to find a cure for her. So when I got it I was completely shocked,” he explained.
“And luckily it hadn’t spread.”
Speaking of weight, “I lost 35 pounds,” he said. ‘I couldn’t eat. I had a feeding tube for six months and everything tasted like you know what and smelled like you know what’
“I was terrified, terrified.”
He described how the “cruel” and “terrible” treatments affected his diet:
Tucci said he had to be dragged into treatments “kicking and screaming” but acknowledges it saved his life.
“I was so scared,” he said. “But Felicity was very persistent. I mean, they had to drag me away kicking and screaming. But now I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t.’
‘She was incredible. It’s still incredible,” he said of his wife, with whom he shares two children. He also has three children with his late wife Kate.
Stanley previously described how he was diagnosed after an initial scan failed to detect the cancer.
Fuller: The star was known to have more weight on him earlier in his career
Support System: Tucci described how he was able to overcome the condition with the help of his wife Felicity, the sister of his Devil Wears Prada co-star Emily Blunt; Tucci pictured with Felicity in 2019
Now he eats all the time! The star slays pasta and pizza on the CNN show Searching For Italy
“I had a scan, but the scan missed it. And if you think there might be something wrong, of course you’re also afraid that something is wrong,” he said. People last year.
Finally, after visits to multiple doctors, Tucci was diagnosed with a three-centimeter tumor on his tongue.
“They couldn’t operate because the tumor was so big,” he said. It’s a miracle it hasn’t spread. It had been in me for so long.’
Tucci was unable to eat during the treatments and was dependent on a feeding tube, which also destroyed his senses of taste and smell.
Devastating: The actor tragically lost his first wife Kate to cancer in 2009; photo 2006
Candid: Tucci recalled his health struggles while speaking to Willie Geist for Sunday Sitdown
Several months after his treatments ended in 2018, Tucci built up the strength to eat again.
He said his wife’s incredible support helped him through the health battle.
Tucci said, “Felicity’s undying attention, affection, and encouragement got me through.”
The Captain America star said he was still experiencing some lingering side effects from the treatment, but has largely regained his sense of smell and taste.