‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ Legend Colin Mochrie Rushed into Emergency Surgery, Leaving Fans and Tour Dates in Limbo

Colin Mochrie, Whose Line Is It Anyway? Star, Undergoes Emergency Surgery

Colin Mochrie—Who’s Line Is It Anyway?‘s long-running performer—was diagnosed with a detached retina, prompting him to seek emergency eye surgery and postponing his improv comedy shows.

Colin Mochrie is seeing to his health.

Colin Mochrie postpones comedy shows for emergency surgery

The Whose Line Is It Anyway? star postponed his upcoming comedy shows due to a medical situation involving his eye.

“Colin has been diagnosed with a detached retina and will be undergoing emergency eye surgery today,” read a statement shared on his Instagram Jan. 2. “His medical team is optimistic about his full recovery, but he needs time to rest and heal.”

The statement continued, “Colin is incredibly grateful for your support and well wishes. He looks forward to being back on stage and sharing many more laughs with all of you in the near future.”

Retinal detachment occurs when the thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye pulls away from its regular position, according to the Mayo Clinic. The risk of permanent vision loss in the affected eye increases the longer the detachment goes without treatment.

Colin, 68, was initially scheduled to perform with hypnotist Asad Mecci on Jan. 2 and 3 in Niagara Falls, Canada, as part of their HYPROV: Improv Under Hypnosis Tour.

He was also scheduled to reunite with his longtime Whose Line Is It Anyway? costar Brad Sherwood on Jan. 9 in Walnut Creek, Calif., before taking their Asking for Trouble Tour to Florida and Illinois later in the month.

Colin Mochrie
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Colin holds the record for most appearances on the improv comedy show with 431 episodes during its 21-season run. But despite his impressive streak, the comedian doesn’t do a lot when it comes to preparing for his shows.

“I wish I could tell you there was a grueling physical and mental warm up. I just sit and have a coffee,” he told Wisconsin’s WTMJ in January 2025. “I’ve been doing this for over 40 years now, so I’m at the point where I’m incredibly comfortable walking out on stage in front of an audience who wants to see a show that we don’t actually have.”