INTERVIEW WITH RON LESTER:
How did you go about dropping the weight?
I had ¾ of my stomach removed and pulled out. And then I flatlined, which is always fun. I went back six months later and they re-aligned my intestines. I decided to go into retirement so I’ve been retired for 2 ½ years, doing nothing but plastic surgery and partying.
What made you decide to take that drastic step?
I really didn’t have an opportunity. I mean, I tried every diet in the world. My first year on “Popular,” I checked into Duke University. They have a fat camp there and it didn’t even help me. You get so far to a point where you just can’t do it. I actually got Big Boy [actor and radio personality] to do the surgery. He’s a lot smaller. I talked him into doing the surgery.
So even though you flatlined, this is something you still suggest people do?
Absolutely not. I also believe you shouldn’t do the surgery if you are less than 100 pounds over your weight. Just understand there’s a lot of mental and psychological effects that go with it. It’s scary.
It seems like the mental part would be the most difficult to handle.
It’s very scary. I’m very fortunate because I’m about to turn 34 and not many people get to start their life over completely or be in a position where they can. Here I am going, “Dude, I’m just going to throw everything away. Start over. Fire everybody.” And I did. And it’s mentally, spiritually, emotionally, financially… It’s everything.
So now you’re back to acting?
Oh yeah. I’ve been here for three months. I’ve got a whole new team, publicists, managements, attorneys, agents. Literally, I started everything over.
I heard you’ve got “Karate Dog” coming out soon.
I have a movie coming out called “Karate Dog” with Jon Voight, and I play his son. But the funny thing is, we shot it almost 2 ½ - 3 years ago. I did it when I was doing “Not Another Teen Movie” and “Popular.” We were up in Vancouver filming it and I was playing his son. It was me and Jaime Pressly. We’re like, “Oh my God, dude, the movie is just now coming out?!” I’m not even going to walk on the red carpet – they won’t let me – because I was still over 500 pounds. Now I’m 173.
What do you want to do at this point in your career?
More movies. TV’s nice, I like doing TV, don’t get me wrong. It pays the bills. But I want to get back into film. I started racing cars and racing motorcycles so I’m taking my own life in danger again. I even thought about getting married.
Are you going to put your story down in a book?
Yes. We are going to have a book called “Reinventing Ron.” And I actually did “Montel Williams,” which airs August 18th. Hopefully I get to help some people that way. But I’m not going to be the poster child for it. I want to help – don’t get me wrong. I feel like I can do it in a different direction from what everybody else has done. That’s Al Roker’s job (laughing) not mine.
ADDITIONAL INTERVIEWS FROM THE WORLD PREMIERE OF “I, ROBOT”:
Will Smith & Bruce Greenwood / Alan Tudyk / James Cromwell / Shia LaBeouf & Paul Teutul Jr.
Special Premiere Guests: Jason Isaacs / Nick Cannon
