Billy Gardell, 150 pounds lighter: 'young Jackie Gleason' to 'old Paul Newman'

ATLANTA — Billy Gardell, who had bariatric surgery in 2022 that helped him shed 150 pounds, recently told “Live with Kelly and Mark” that he transformed from a “young Jackie Gleason to an old Paul Newman.”

In an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in advance of four shows May 10 and 11 at the Punchline Comedy Club, he said that quip came off the top of his head. “Those were two of my idols,” he said.

The massive weight loss, he said, eliminated his type 2 diabetes, improved his resting heart rate from 113 to 68 and reduced both his blood pressure and cholesterol to normal levels.

“It’s been two years and I’m not used to it,” he said. “I still don’t fully recognize myself.”

He has managed to maintain his weight between 205 to 210 but said it takes work.

“It’s the hardest part and the best part,” he said. “I have to consistently eat right every day, take care of myself water-wise, protein-wise and vitamin-wise and keep to my regimen. I work with a nutritionist. We talk once a week with a video check. I weigh myself every day. I am really committed to this.”

Being lighter, he said, has changed his life in multiple ways.

“Just to be able to move with more grace,” Gardell said. “I can fit into an airplane seat. I don’t need to take a deep breath to tie my shoes. I can shop at normal stores. I don’t have to walk into a place and wonder if a chair will hold me. There’s a freedom that you can only understand if you were heavy.”

The surgery happened between seasons of his show “Bob Hearts Abishola,” an ensemble sitcom which ends its five-season run May 7. This is Gardell’s second show under producer Chuck Lorre (”The Big Bang Theory,” “Two and a Half Men,” “Mom”) after six seasons on “Mike & Molly.” The concept focuses on an unlikely mixed race couple: a middle-aged man named Bob from Detroit (Gardell) falling in love with his Nigerian-American cardiac nurse (Folake Olowofoyeku) while recovering from a heart attack.

With budgets cut and ratings down, CBS only gave the show a fifth season if most of the cast only showed up part of the time. In the end, Gardell was happy to get 96 episodes and a show that will go into syndication.

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