“Reba” Star Christopher Rich Opens Up About His Life-Changing Stroke
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Former Reba Star To Make His Return To Television
Fans of the hit sitcom Reba can soon expect another reunion of their favorite cast members. The actor who portrayed Reba McEntire‘s former TV husband, Christopher Rich, will appear on the next episode of Happy’s Place on Friday, February 21st.
The new show follows Bobbie, played by McEntire, as she inherits her late father’s restaurant and is shocked to learn that her new business partner is her half-sister, whom she did not know existed.
Happy’s Place is full of familiar faces. The show also stars former Reba actress Melissa Peterman, and one episode featured a cameo by Steve Howey. Howey previously played Reba’s son-in-law from 2001-2007.
So far, fans are loving the hilarious new sitcom, so much so that it was just renewed for a second season!
Christopher Rich’s Character Draws Inspiration From His Real-Life Experience
Rich is set to play a character named Maverick, who Variety describes as:
“…a local tattoo artist that is very good at his job … as long as he’s using his right hand. Turns out Maverick has had a stroke and likes to tease new clients about which hand he’s going to use when he starts doing their tattoos.”
Fact and fiction intersect with this storyline, as Rich is a real-life stroke survivor. The now 71-year-old suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of a stroke in 2018, which kept him from acting in the years that followed.
Rich described the experience of once again working with his former co-stars as “heartwarming” and said:
“It felt like I was back home in a safe place. I was really well taken care of. It was a blessing. I want to go back so badly.”
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The Actor Opens Up About His Life-Changing Stroke
Rich revealed that his health issues left him unable to walk or use his left arm. He has had to work to develop new neuropathways as a result of the damage to his brain. Additionally, the actor ended up back in the hospital after his initial stroke with blood clots in his lungs and “debris” on his heart.
Since filming with the Reba crew again, Christopher Rich told US Weekly that he feels “really good” after a few years of recovery. He recalled:
“After my stroke and having a brain injury, it is like I got hit with an atomic bomb. So it all gets traumatized, and it is a hard reset.”
Rich admitted that he hopes his role on Happy’s Place will open more opportunities for him to act again.
“It’s great to be able to be a disabled person and play a disabled person. I’m hoping that when some of this gets out there, that people that I’ve worked with in the past are going to say, ‘OK, let’s bring him back. We can work with him.'”
Despite his suffering, Rich maintains a positive outlook on the future.
“When you face a major medical issue, it changes your perspective on life. When you come through it, you begin to enjoy each day a little bit more, even with the pain.”
Listen to Reba McEntire share how the cast reunion came to be in the video below!
