‘Double Dare’ Host Marc Summers Battled Leukemia, Reveals Struggle With Illness


Double Dare host Marc Summers has revealed that he has suffered with leukemia. His battle started five years ago when he was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia back in 2010.

The former Double Dare host opened up in a radio interview with Philadelphia’s WWMR’s Preston and Steve show about his tough battle. During the candid conversation he called the experience “hell” and, at the time, didn’t want to reveal his illness because he didn’t want it to affect his career.

Fortunately he’s now in remission after two years of chemotherapy. According to Daily Mail,

“I’ve sort of compressed this thing and it’s made me nuts. I thought it was time to come out. I’m not covering up anymore—I’ve had it, I’m in remission and…I’m ready to move on.”

Summers has been open about his struggles in the past. He’s been extremely public about his battle with OCD. During a 1997 interview, Summers told Oprah Winfrey that he had OCD despite being the host of a slimy and slippery children’s game show.

“I never knew what OCD was. I just thought, ‘There’s got to be something wrong with me. Am I crazy? And If you watch the first 65 episodes [of ‘Double Dare’], I never got a drop on me.”

He later revealed in a later interview with Winfrey that he was fired from his gig on Hollywood Squares due to the 1997 omission.

“For some reason, people in the industry weren’t ready for it. Rumors got spread that I was a freak and that I was difficult to work with.”

When Marc Summers sat down to appear on Oprah: Where Are They Now? at the time he only felt comfortable with talking about his struggles that happened after he revealed he had OCD.

Since Marc Summers revealed his battle with leukemia, he has received a ton of support.

[Image via Marc Summers / Instagram]

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