It has been almost exactly one year since comedian and actor Tracy Morgan was seriously injured in an accident on the New Jersey Turnpike and on Monday, June 1 made his first TV appearance since the crash on NBC’s Today.
While Morgan survived but sustained injuries including brain damage, broken ribs and a broken leg, his friend and fellow comedian James McNair was killed when a Walmart truck hit the limo van they were traveling in.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes,” Today’s Matt Lauer told the actor. “How do you feel?”
“I can’t believe I’m here,” Morgan responded. “I can’t believe I’m in front of you. I can’t believe I’m here.”
When asked about how he is doing emotionally, Morgan thanked his family and friends for helping him through the trauma of not only his injuries but the loss of his friend. “I’ve been down. I have my family. I have my wife, Megan- we about to be married- and my daughter, my son, to keep my spirits up… Tina Fey and all the people calling me, just helping me get my spirits up. The case is settled but the pain is always going to be there for Jimmy Mac. He was a close friend of mine, a comrade in comedy. He was a loving man and he was a warm man, He was a good man. It just hurt me to see that he’s gone. That’s it,” he said through tears.
Morgan then revealed that he doesn’t actually remember the accident and did not know Jimmy Mack had died until he came out of his coma. “I would just watch the accident on YouTube, and one day, I came across his funeral on YouTube. And I just…I lost it for about a week. I had to pay my respects, and that was my way.”
While it has been a tough year Morgan also stated that he is happy that Walmart took the responisbility and now he is focusing on healing and getting back to work. “I love comedy. I love comedy. I will never stop loving her. I love comedy and I can’t wait to get back to her, but right now, my goal is just to heal and get better. Because I’m not 100 percent yet. I’m not. And when I’m there, you’ll know. I’ll get back to making you laugh. I promise you.”