‘Seinfeld’ star Michael Richards reveals prostate cancer battle: ‘I thought ... I’m ready to go’

(Gray News) - Actor Michael Richards revealed a health scare that he says could have ended his life a few years ago.

Richards, 74, shared with People that he underwent surgery to remove his prostate after being diagnosed with stage 1 prostate cancer in 2018.

“I thought, ‘Well, this is my time. I’m ready to go,’” People quoted Richards. “But then my son came to mind just a few seconds later and I heard myself saying, “I’ve got a 9-year-old and I’d like to be around for him.’”

In his upcoming memoir “Entrances and Exits” he writes about coming face-to-face with his mortality.

“It had to be contained quickly,” he said “I had to go for the full surgery. If I hadn’t, I probably would have been dead in about eight months.”

Richards, best known for playing Cosmo Kramer on the hit series “Seinfeld,” has mostly stayed out of the spotlight in recent years.

But said he has been keeping journals about his life experiences and wanted to share them in his memoir.

“I had over 40 journals I’d kept over the years and wanted to do a full review of my life,” he shared. “I’m turning 75, so maybe wanting to do that is something that comes with being my age. I wanted to connect with feelings and memory.”

Richards is said to be currently living a quiet life as husband to actress Beth Skipp and father to their son Antonio.

“Entrances and Exits” will be available at stores on June 4.