'Mike & Molly' Star Billy Gardell Unrecognizable After 170-Pound Weight Loss

Billy Gardellhas always been candid about life in a larger body. Long before he became a household name on the hit sitcom "Mike & Molly," the actor and comedian openly joked about his size onstage and onscreen, even as his weight crept into dangerous territory. At the height of his career, he was celebrated for his humor, charm, and relatability, including his portrayal of Mike Biggs, a police officer who meets his future wife at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting. But behind the laughter were years of health struggles, yo-yo dieting, and mounting medical issues that eventually pushed the 56-year-old toward a dramatic life change. After years in the spotlight and a lifetime of battling his weight, Gardell has now shed more than 170 pounds and says the transformation has completely reshaped not only his body, but his future.

For Billy Gardell, the turning point came during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, a moment he now credits with saving his life. "When the first wave hit, and they punched up that list of high-risk conditions, I had all of them," he told PEOPLE. "Overweight, sleep apnea, smoker, type 2 diabetes, asthma… It was really the perfect storm."

The realization hit hard. His blood pressure was rising, his diabetes was worsening, and the numbers from his lab work were becoming increasingly alarming. "Between my blood numbers not coming back good, my blood pressure going up, type 2 diabetes, and COVID, it was enough stuff to scare me to say, 'Come hell or high water, I've got to make a change.'"

That change came on July 17, 2021, when Gardell underwent gastric bypass surgery, a decision he'd avoided twice before. Three years later, he calls it nothing less than life-saving. "My diabetes is gone. I feel strong. I have energy. Losing weight saved my life."

Billy Gardell says his complicated relationship with food began in adolescence, when his parents divorced, and he suddenly felt responsible for the household. "I had a lot of responsibility heaped on me at 14 to help provide for the family, and the second stepfather that we had in the house was not a kind person," he shared. "I think I put on this extra weight as some kind of safety armor."

Leaving home at 17 to pursue stand-up comedy brought new pressures and new emotional habits. He began "medicating" his "emotions and fears" with food, but also used it to celebrate his successes. "Both of those things are poison pills," he admitted.

Like many, Billy Gardell tried nearly everything on the market. "Low-carb, keto, intermittent fasting," he said. "And by the way, all those things work, but I just couldn't stay consistent with any of them. I was on a yo-yo thing."

Even while starring opposite Melissa McCarthy on the hit CBS sitcom "Mike & Molly," where he became a romantic lead at 350 lbs, Gardell says the weight no longer matched the life he wanted. "I had gotten so big and so stationary that it hurt to stand up," he recalled. The fear of not being around for his wife, Patty, and son, Will, pushed him closer to surgery each time, until COVID finally compelled him to act.

After surgery, Gardell adopted a new lifestyle centered around mindful eating and consistent movement. He says the biggest shift came from changing the way he thought about food. "Food is fuel. It's not reward, it's not soothing, it's not medication," he explained, noting that breaking his emotional attachment to eating was essential.

These days, his routine is structured but realistic. He starts his mornings with a turkey sausage sandwich, followed by cottage cheese and fruit in the afternoon, and ends the day with a light dinner free of fried or sugary foods. He stays hydrated with roughly 75 ounces of water each day, takes multivitamins, a fish oil supplement, and a probiotic, and works out three to four times a week to maintain his strength and energy.

Even with the discipline, Billy Gardell doesn't deprive himself. He allows room for occasional treats, like "a forkful" of birthday cake or a single slice of pizza when he wants one. The balance has paid off as he now fluctuates "between 210 and 215."

The transformation shows up in everyday moments, too. "I can fly in a middle seat on an airplane now," he said proudly. "I'm able to walk into a store and buy a shirt off the rack."

Behind the laughter were years of health struggles, yo-yo dieting, and mounting medical issues that eventually pushed the 56-year-old toward a dramatic life change. After years in the spotlight and a lifetime of battling his weight, Billy Gardell has now shed more than 170 pounds and says the transformation has completely reshaped not only his body, but his future.