Published Sep 22, 2020

Prostate Cancer Survivor Mandy Patinkin, 67, Keeps Quarantine Silly & Fun With His Family

The beloved actor guesses the meaning of the song "WAP" and more while quarantining with his family at home.

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Patinkin Lives the Good Life with His Family

The prostate cancer survivor and loveable actor, who was diagnosed in 2004, is enjoying his time at home with family.
Patinkin gets silly in home videos, discussing everything from Cardi B to BFFs to his “laugh button.”
He called prostate cancer his “greatest gift,” as it gave him a new lease on life.

Actor Mandy Patinkin was diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 51 almost the same age his father was when he died of pancreatic cancer and now, the 67-year-old is living life to the fullest, even in quarantine.

With his family, the actor keeps things light and happy, as they navigate the COVID-19 world along with the rest of us. Patinkin is a star of stage and screen, perhaps best known and beloved for his show-stealing performance in the 1987 film The Princess Bride, when he played Inigo Montoya. And let’s not forget his Emmy win for Chicago Hope and multiple nominations for Homeland.

In fun videos posted to the actor's Twitter account, Patinkin and his wife, actress and writer Kathryn Grody, are quizzed by their son on various pop-culture tidbits. In one Tweet with over 36,000 views, the game-for-anything parents are asked the meaning of Cardi B's latest song.

Pop Culture Quiz pt 8.5 – WAP? pic.twitter.com/vy8LG9IKCm
— Mandy Patinkin (@PatinkinMandy) September 14, 2020

"What does WAP stand for?" their son asks Patinkin and Grody in their dining room. "We Always Pay," Patinkin guesses. Then he admits, "No, I don't know what it stands for." They're then given some more low-hanging fruit, as their son asks, "What does 'BFF' stand for? What does 'IDK' stand for?" And both parents get the quiz questions right this time.

In an especially funny video that Patinkin posted to his Twitter, he is fixing his "laugh button" which channels the sound of an audience laughing at his jokes, as his dog barks in the background.

Laugh Button pic.twitter.com/PdepKuj3lw
— Mandy Patinkin (@PatinkinMandy) September 17, 2020

Patinkin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March 2004. He told Coping magazine how he thought of his late father when he got the call from his doctor. "I felt lightheaded and overwhelmed, and I was weeping on the phone."

To get rid of the cancer, Patinkin underwent a prostatectomy. The surgery sometimes results in sexual dysfunction, but he was undeterred, saying of the surgery, "What's more important, having a sex life or getting rid of cancer?"

Dr. David Wise Talks to SurvivorNet About Adjusting to Your New Normal After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

The surgery was successful, and the actor beat his cancer. He calls his cancer diagnosis aside from his wife and children "the greatest gift I was ever given." Talk about a glass-half-full outlook! Patinkin previously, he says, took his like for granted. His cancer helped him to wake up to his life and really live it.

And by the looks of Patinkin's social media, we can tell he's really living his life, and enjoying all his loving and fun moments with his family this year.

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