Battling a mystery illness for over a year, veteran actor and comedian Henry Rodney is preparing to travel overseas to seek a diagnosis.
Rodney who has been putting smiles on the faces of Guyanese for the past four decades, and is known for his performances in shows such as, “Nothing to Laugh About,” “Agree to Disagree” and the “Link Show,” fell ill last year and is still trying to ascertain what is wrong.
He told this newspaper that over a period of time he found that his movement had slowed. “When I stand for too long, my legs get tired and I was getting weak. That was a concern for me,” the 57-year-old actor said.
This, he said, led to him visiting several doctors and two diagnosed him with Parkinson’s disease given the fact that he displayed similar symptoms, such as shaking, noticeable tremor in one hand and slowing of movement.
“I saw several doctors last year. The first doctor I saw, after explaining my feelings and experiences, said she suspected Parkinson’s and she asked me to do several tests. I did them and the results came back negative.
“She [sent] me to [a] specialist and that doctor, Dr Kamps, she looked at my report and she also suspected Parkinson’s and treated me for two months,” Rodney told this newspaper in a recent interview.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. It develops gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. But while a tremor may be the most well-known sign of Parkinson’s disease, the disorder also commonly causes stiffness and slowing of movement.
According to the comedian, he then paid a visit to two other doctors who both said that he was not suffering from Parkinson’s. “I returned at the end of the two months and when I returned I met Dr Khan and he said that I don’t have Parkinson’s. I sought another opinion from Dr. Doobay and he shared the same sentiment; that I don’t have Parkinson’s and he told me to cease treatment but at that time I had already finished two months of treatment,” he explained.
And while no doctor has been able to tell him what is really wrong with him, Rodney said, “I am not worried; I am a believer. I don’t think any sickness should keep anyone back… I am not going to allow this to impede my progress, to stop me. Once I am feeling up to it I will [act].”
Notwithstanding his illness, during the 50th independence anniversary celebrations last month he performed at the Theatre Guild in Kingston. “I did a queh queh last week… People ask me how come I singing queh queh. This is life, life was given by God to live and God has each and every one of us here for a purpose. My purpose is not yet fulfilled…,” he stated.
Church comic
Recounting how he started doing comedy, Rodney said, “Since I was a little boy I have been interested in comedy… I started acting in the church.” Born in Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara on 23 February 1959, he said that for as long as he could remember he has always been a comic, even in serious times. While he attended St Mary’s Anglican, he recalled, he was chased out of concerts for his comedic acts, “but that never deterred me, I kept pressing on.”
In church, he said, he and several others formed a group, St Mary’s Young Eagles, and started putting together concerts. Rodney would go on to become one of the biggest household names in comedy in Guyana. His first major production, he said, was a Trinidadian play called Cockadoo, where he was “the only youngster among the big guys.”
He gained a devoted following particularly due to his role in the local sitcom Agree to Disagree.
He has also been on the international scene. In 2004, he was cast in the film Guiana 1838, along with Indian actor Kumar Gaurav. The film by Rohit Jagessar was based on the abolition of slavery in the British Caribbean,
While he has starred in over 100 plays over the years, the actor said that his favourite would have to be Anybody See Brenda? While his favourite character, George, came out of the play Jezebel. Both plays were written by University of Guyana lecturer, Paloma Mohammed.
Asked if comedy is something he would do all over again, the actor said definitely. “It is good to know that I can bring laugher, evoke laughter. There are so many who are in distress in this life. So many people who are hurting, disturbed and you can give them a little smile and it goes a long way. I know what we are doing. We [comedians] have stopped people from committing suicide. We have changed the course of people’s lives in one way or the other. So this is something I would do all over again,” he said.
Meanwhile, as regards his illness, the next step is to go overseas. “As soon as things are fixed, I will be going overseas to see a specialist,” he said. “You don’t want to go to another medical doctor who will tell you the same thing.”
Friends of the comedian have pitched in to help and have since staged two benefit shows to raise funds to offset expenses so that the actor can visit a specialist in the USA. While he is not exactly sure how much money he will need, he is grateful for what has been done for him so far.
Anyone desirous of assisting the comedian further can contact him on 601-0346. Additionally, a GoFundMe account has been set up in his name.
