The comedian was forced to cancel shows to undergo emergency eye surgery.

Whose Line Is It Anyway? star suffers medical emergency involving scary eye diagnosis

The comedian was forced to cancel shows to undergo emergency eye surgery.

By Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

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January 4, 2026 4:10 p.m. ET

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Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, and Ryan Stiles on 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?' in 2023. Credit:

Colin Mochrie has had to postpone several dates in his ongoing comedy tour due to a serious eye condition that required emergency surgery.

In a social media post shared jointly on Friday by the *Whose Line Is It Anyway? *star, his tour partner Asad Mecci, and the official account for their traveling hypnosis-improv fusion show HYPROV, Mecci wrote, "We regret to inform you that our upcoming shows will be postponed due to a medical situation involving Colin Mochrie."

"Colin has been diagnosed with a detached retina and will be undergoing emergency eye surgery today," Mecci continued. "His medical team is optimistic about his full recovery, but he needs time to rest and heal."

"We understand this news is disappointing for those who were looking forward to the performances, and we truly appreciate your understanding. We are currently working on rescheduling the shows, and all tickets will be honored for the new dates. If you are unable to attend the rescheduled performances, we will provide information on how to request a refund," Mecci explained.

The hypnotist noted that Mochrie "Colin is incredibly grateful for your support and well wishes" and "looks forward to being back on stage and sharing many more laughs with all of you in the near future."

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According to the Mayo Clinic, retinal detachment occurs when a thin layer at the back of the eye severs from the eye itself, cutting it off from blood vessels that provide critical oxygen. It is an emergency condition that risks permanent vision loss if not immediately treated.

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Colin Mochrie attends a fundraiser at the Second City Toronto on May 12, 2025.

Mathew Tsang/Getty

Mochrie and Mecci have been on tour since mid-December. They planned to span the country from Washington, D.C., to Salem, Ore. They were set to perform at the Fallsview Casino on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls on Jan. 2 and 3, with further dates to come in Washington state and Oregon, but Mochrie's emergency surgery has set those dates back.

During each HYPROV show, Mochrie and Mecci select 20 volunteers from the audience whom Mecci, a trained hypnotist, puts under hypnosis. Mochrie then performs an improvised comedy act with the semi-conscious volunteers.

Mochrie, originally from Canada, starred for eight years on the U.K. version of the improv series *Whose Line Is It Anyway? *before being cast on the American remake, which he appeared on from 1998 to 2007 on ABC, and again from 2013 to 2024 on the CW revival.

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