Home for the holidays, Koz finds support ‘pretty overwhelming’

Rich Koz

Rich Koz, Chicago television’s beloved movie host Svengoolie, is on the mend from double bypass surgery after suffering a heart attack earlier this month.

“I got home just in time for Thanksgiving,” Koz, 60, told me by phone Monday. “I’m hoping the recovery goes as quickly as possible.”

Sounding tired but in good spirits, Koz said he’s feeling as good as can be expected. “One of the doctors described it best: It’s like a roller coaster ride. You have good days and bad days. Hopefully as I go along, I just get stronger and everything kind of rebuilds.”

Koz, who was stricken at his west suburban home November 3, underwent surgery at a Chicago hospital 11 days later. The latest ordeal recalled a heart attack he suffered in March 2002. “It was just like the first one 10 years ago,” he said. “There was no warning, and it just hit. This one was more severe, from what I understand.” The previous episode did not require a bypass.

Although he still faces many weeks of physical therapy, Koz said he looks forward to returning to work. “They always say once they’ve done the bypass and everything heals up, you’re back to normal.”

From around the country, thousands of get-well wishes have poured in to the veteran performer, who’s been playing the wise-cracking ghoul Svengoolie since 1979. Earlier this year, his weekly horror-movie show began airing nationally on Weigel Broadcasting’s Me-TV network.

“It’s pretty overwhelming to think about that,” Koz said of all the support and affection he’s received. ”I haven’t had a chance to go online, but some of the guys from work brought printouts of things and a lot of the snail-mail letters and such that I’ve gotten. It’s really sweet of people. It’s very nice.”

Friends and fans may send Koz cards in care of: WCIU The U, 26 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60661.