In 2017, the actor suffered a severe heart attack while at home in England. “My heart attack was the best thing that ever happened in my life,” he said. What Happens During a Heart Attack? According to the American Heart Association, a heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is severely reduced or cut off completely. “In my case, it was a close call and advice to just really, really, really look at life in a different way,” he said at the time.