What happened to Marc Summers?

During a Biggers & Summers interview with Dr. Eric Hollander, Marc Summers openly disclosed his struggle with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). This revelation marked the beginning of Summers’ public advocacy for mental health awareness, as he discussed his condition on prominent television platforms like The Oprah Winfrey Show and Today. In collaboration with Hollander, Summers produced a VHS video box set in 1999 titled “Everything in Its Place: My Trials and Triumphs with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder,” sharing his experiences with OCD. Furthermore, he actively participated in a series of VHS videos for Freedom from Fear, a non-profit organization addressing anxiety disorders and related behavioral issues. Despite the challenges posed by his OCD, Summers continued to fully engage with fans and contestants on Double Dare, even going so far as to allow himself to be slimed and interact with contestants directly. However, this public disclosure about his mental health led to a setback in his career, costing him the hosting role in a Hollywood Squares revival, where he was replaced by Tom Bergeron.

In August 2012, Summers faced a traumatic incident, sustaining severe head injuries in a Philadelphia taxi accident equipped with a partition. Recounting the incident, he mentioned extensive damage to the left side of his face, with his eye socket swelling and impaired vision. Despite the injuries, Summers considered himself fortunate to have avoided brain damage, highlighting the severity of the accident.

In a 2015 interview on the Preston & Steve radio show, Summers shared a health scare from 2009. Initially experiencing stomach problems and persistent pain, exploratory surgery revealed that he had chronic lymphatic leukemia. The initial recommendation for chemotherapy prompted Summers to seek a second opinion in Chicago, resulting in a misdiagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma with a dire prognosis of six months to live. In a panic, Summers returned to his initial doctor, confirming the original diagnosis of chronic lymphatic leukemia. Enduring two years of grueling chemotherapy, he described the experience as “brutal.” Regular PET scans since the end of his treatment in 2016 have shown Summers to be in remission.

However, in late 2019, during a face-to-face interview on KTLA’s morning show, Summers disclosed that he was once again confronting cancer. While not specifying the type of cancer, he mentioned undergoing medication and expressed optimism, stating, “I feel good, it’s all going to be fantastic.” This revelation marked another chapter in Summers’ ongoing journey, showcasing his resilience and determination in the face of health challenges.