Robert Altman Reveals Heart Transplant News
07 March 2006
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Robert Altman Shocks With News Of Secret Heart Transplant.Veteran film-maker ROBERT ALTMAN shocked Hollywood last night (05MAR06) when he dramatically announced, onstage at the Oscars, that he owes his life to a heart transplant operation he had 11 years ago.The SHORT CUTS director jokingly insisted he is therefore technically only in his thirties, and not eligible for the Lifetime Achievement Award he picked up at the Academy Awards.The 81-year-old said, "I'm here, I think, under false pretences. I think I have to become straight with you."Eleven years ago I had a heart transplant, a total heart transplant."I got the heart of, I think, a young woman who was in about in her late thirties. By that kind of calculation you may be giving this award too early because I think I've got about 40 years left."The veteran director kept his heart transplant a secret from Hollywood for over a decade, as he feared he would never work again if the news got out.The GOSFORD PARK film-maker, 81, underwent the life-saving operation in 1995, but decided to keep his ordeal quiet to avoid being ostracised from the movie community.He said, "(It has) such a stigma. I thought maybe no one would hire me again."
Altman amazed the film industry at the Academy Awards last night (05MAR06), when he announced the news of his heart transplant operation while onstage collecting a Lifetime Achievement Award.
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