Moshe Kasher, the actor known for his role as ASL interpreter Samuel Jacob in The Pitt, recently shared a personal health battle with his followers. The 46-year-old comedian and actor revealed that he was diagnosed with Stage 1 HPV-related tonsil cancer after discovering a small bump on his tonsil.
Kasher opened up about his “terrifying” experience in a candid Instagram post on June 21, 2026. He explained that he first noticed the lump three months ago while filming the Judd Apatow movie The Comeback King in Savannah, Georgia. Medical tests later confirmed it was tonsil cancer caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
The actor underwent a five-hour operation on June 19, 2026, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to remove the cancerous tissue. Doctors removed his tonsils and 25 lymph nodes from his neck during the procedure. Kasher described the surgery in his typical humorous style, saying a “Jewish surgery robot yanked my jaw open” to remove the cancer and “slit my throat and dissected my neck.” He now has a “hardcore neck scar” and is dealing with a swollen and bruised mouth during recovery.
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Kasher’s Emotional Journey and Hope for Recovery
Kasher called the experience “the most terrifying and consciousness-consuming experience of my life.” He shared that his days have been filled with “terror, meditation, tears, and medical planning.” Despite the fear, he remains optimistic about his recovery. The cancer has an “incredibly high cure rate” of around 95 percent.
“I’m in pain and I’m in the middle of a very difficult process. It’s gonna be a long summer,” Kasher wrote, “But regardless I will be okay and back to being a cool dude ASAP.”
“I am sick; I don’t feel sick. My body feels great. It has been a really reality-altering nightmare.” – Moshe Kasher
Doctors will determine next week whether Kasher needs radiation treatment. If the cancer has spread microscopically beyond the primary tumor, he will require additional therapy. Kasher used his platform to encourage others to get checked and vaccinate their children against HPV, noting that HPV-positive tonsil cancer is an “epidemic in men under 55.”
Kasher, who is married to comedian Natasha Leggero and has an 8-year-old daughter, admitted the diagnosis was his “worst nightmare” because his father died from a different form of cancer found in his neck. He and his wife recorded a podcast episode about his diagnosis before his surgery, which will be released on their show, The Endless Honeymoon Podcast. “I’m so grateful I have a life that’s worth living and a kid to raise this Father’s Day,” he said.
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