Monkees’ Peter Tork Has Cancer
My heart broke just a little bit this morning when I found out that former Monkee Peter Tork has cancer.
Tork announced via his website that he has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma and will undergo extensive surgery today in New York. The cancer is uncommon and generally grows slowly on a person’s head and neck. It’s most frequently found in the salivary glands but in Tork’s case was discovered on the lower region of his tongue. Doctors say preliminary findings from a biopsy show the cancer has not spread beyond the initial site and Tork says his prognosis is good.
Tork, 67, was the bassist for the 60’s made-for-TV band. He was known on The Monkees as “the dummy,” a stark contrast to his real persona. Though the show only aired from 1967-68, the band garnered a loyal following from fans. In 1986, for the 20th anniversary of the show, MTV ran a marathon which kickstarted a reunion tour and fueled the success of the band and show once again. Tork toured with bandmates Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz on and off throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s. He continues to make music today with his current band, Shoe Suede Blues.
In the 1990’s he was seen on television as Topanga Lawrence’s father on the sitcom Boy Meets World, as well as a guest character on 7th Heaven. In 1995 Tork made a guest appearance on the TV show Wings, playing himself at an auction bidding against Crystal Bernard’s character for the Monkeemobille.
Peter remains cheerful about his condition and hopeful about the future.
“I am extraordinarily grateful, amazed and humbled by the encouragement, affection and support I’ve received so far,” Peter says of the reaction from friends and family to the news of his illness. “Barring any complications, I fully expect to honor a performance date I have this June with Shoe Suede Blues,” Tork states. “We’re appearing in Manchester, Connecticut and I’m looking forward to that and all our tour dates.”
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