‘We spoke about not seeing each other again’: West Wing’s Richard Schiff, 65, recalls ‘striking’ chat with his wife about the possibility of death as he details his ‘scary’ battle with COVID-19
- The West Wing star, 65, and his wife of 24 years Sheila Kelley, 57, announced they both tested positive for COVID-19 last month
- On Wednesday’s Good Morning Britain, the actor admitted he and the actress spoke about ‘not seeing each other again’
- The screen star, who is still recovering from the disease, was initially ‘taken to the hospital against his will’ after he contracted the disease
- Richard rejected doctors orders by fighting off the virus with ‘oxygen, Remdesivir and steroids’ instead of being put on a ventilator
- The Good Doctor actor, who was filming the medical drama in Vancouver at the time, confirmed his wife’s recovery is currently ‘up and down’
Richard Schiff has recalled the moment he had a ‘striking’ chat with his wife of 24 years about the possibility of him not surviving coronavirus.
On Wednesday’s edition of Good Morning Britain, the West Wing star, 65, who is still recovering from the disease, admitted he and actress Sheila Kelley, 57, spoke about ‘not seeing each other again’ as he struggled to breathe during his ‘scary’ battle.
The actor also revealed he was admitted to hospital in November ‘against his will’ and rejected doctors orders by fighting off the condition with ‘oxygen, Remdesivir and steroids’ instead of being put on a ventilator in an intensive care unit.
‘We spoke about not seeing each other again’: Richard Schiff has recalled the moment he had a ‘striking’ chat with his wife of 24 years about the possibility of him not surviving coronavirus
The screen star and his long-term partner announced they both tested positive for COVID-19 last month, but as Richard’s condition worsened, the couple held serious conversations about death.
Detailing their heartbreaking discussion, the Good Doctor actor, who was filming the medical drama in Vancouver at the time, reflected: ‘I had a conversation with my wife and had to speak about maybe not seeing each other again.
‘The worst part of it is the epiphany, the realisation, that you may never touch each other again – that struck home more than anything else.
We gotta go at some point but the idea I’d never touch her again was striking but luckily I made it.’
‘It struck me’: On Wednesday’s edition of Good Morning Britain, the West Wing star, 65, admitted he and Sheila Kelley, 57 (pictured in 2018) spoke about ‘not seeing each other again’
‘I was taken against my will’: The actor rejected doctors orders by fighting off the disease with ‘oxygen, Remdesivir and steroids’ instead of being put on a ventilator in an intensive care unit
Health condition: The screen star and his long-term partner announced they both tested positive for COVID-19 last month (pictured in 2017)
‘The worst part of it is the epiphany that you may never touch each other again’: As his condition worsened, the couple held serious conversations about death
The media personality went on to share how he was eventually taken to hospital, a decision made by Sheila.
Richard added: ‘Around 11 o’clock at night I started to feel symptoms so I kicked Sheila out of bed. At 2am I called my manager and at 5am I called the ad, assistant director, on the show and told them I had symptoms.
‘If the symptoms came 6/7/8 hours later, I would have infected the crew. I was tested, and by Wednesday I tested positive.
‘I tried to ride it out with the production doctor and vitamins and then I was feeling worse and my cough was bad. I then went to hospital against my will.’
‘My cough was bad’: The media personality, who played Communications Director Toby Ziegler in The West Wing (pictured), went on to share how he was eventually taken to hospital
The film star’s son Gus, 26, tested positive for coronavirus, but his daughter Ruby, 20, never contracted the virus.
The director made it his mission to overcome Covid as he stated: ‘I am ex-smoker, pre-diabetic and old so I had some strikes against me but when it happened it was scary.
‘The doctor said my inflammation markers were bad the said ”you need to go to ICU and on a ventilator” but I said no. I fought it off with oxygen, Remdesivir and steroids I feel lucky, grateful and positive’.
Richard confirmed his wife’s recovery is currently ‘up and down’, but insisted she’s ‘much better’.
Update: Richard also confirmed his wife’s recovery is currently ‘up and down’, but insisted she’s ‘much better’