Kim Coles at 60: “The Power Of Laughter As A Healer Is Huge”

Kim Coles/Photo: Mark Davis/Getty Images for BET

As a breakout star of 90’s TV shows “In Living Color” and “Living Single,” Kim Coles rose to superstardom with unforgettable and classic characters. But, it was no laughing matter when the actress-comedian’s life took a terrifying turn after she began experiencing heart concerns.

“There were three of us sitting,” she recalled of the change that came about while filming a talk show in Chicago, “and the person said that one in three women will die of heart disease. And I looked, and I knew I was having heart palpitations. I knew I wasn’t living healthy or eating healthy, and I didn’t want to be that one,” Coles told CBS Pittsburgh in September 2015.

Though Coles career is certainly on a different path, the resilient star revealed it was her very roots in comedy, that delivered the best medicine. “The power of laughter as a healer is huge. It is physically important because your body needs oxygen, and when you laugh, you take in the oxygen, and it makes the blood pump stronger, and makes you feel better.”

Now, an ambassador for organizations such as the American Heart Association, the Brooklyn native is using her platform to promote women’s health.

Coles Goes Red for Women

Taking pictures and looking beautiful in red, Coles hosted a special event in partnership with the annual Go Red campaign — raising awareness for women that heart disease is the number one killer. The luncheon, which took place in February 2016, brought hundreds of people together to where they were schooled on knowing their numbers, taking care of their heart and more importantly, changing their lifestyle.

From our partner

People 16+ years old struggling with lupus: Find out if the PHOENYCS FLY Study may be for you. Study-related care provided at no cost.

“I’m passionate [about] the message because heart disease is the number one killer of women and we need more education, and information,” Coles told Detroit’s Fox 2 at the time. “I’ve had my own little heart scares. No problems, but I’ve had heart palpitations.”

She added, “I get invited to speak at the Go Red events in the country, and a constant reminder I need to remember to get on the path to better health. I do okay, but I can do so much better.”

No More ‘Living Single’

Living Single broke viewing records and cross-cultural platforms, even though it was viewed as a “Black show.” Kim shared why it resonated with so many people of different viewpoints.

“It was understood we had a Black audience and marketed to Black people,” Coles, who had starred in Bounce’s In the Cut, tells Entertainment Weekly in a recent interview. “Well, this cute little Jewish man came to me and started squeezing my arm. He was like ‘Hey beautiful, how are ya? I’m from New York and you girls remind me of my time in Brooklyn.’ I know who that man was. I lived in Brooklyn, in a neighborhood that was predominantly Jewish. He knew who I was; I knew who he was. I remember telling my friends, this Black show resonated with this man. So that really opened up my eyes. I would say to anyone, if you want to laugh, you’ll laugh.”

But “living single” isn’t something that Coles is doing anymore. Since her divorce, it looks she has found love again in Dr. E. Jaye Johnson.

“He brings me JOY,” she posted. “Aaaaand I work on being JOYFUL on my own!”

From our partner

Join a Study, Help Future Patients. Researchers are studying a potential treatment for HER2+ metastatic breast cancer. Find out if you may qualify

“He shares so much LOVE! Aaaaand I allow myself to RECEIVE & RECIPROCATE!”

“He is open to COMMUNICATION! I get to be seen & heard and LISTEN to him as well!”

“ANNNNNDDDD even though he likes SUGAR in his Grits… WHY??!!!!”

Protect YOUR Heart

While each women’s journey to a happy, healthy life will vary, here are three ways to prevent heart disease, according to the American Heart Association.

• Exercise regularly:
• Knowing how many calories you should be consuming daily, to maintain a healthy weight, is just a starter point. While nutrition and calorie information on most food labels is typically based on a 2,000 calorie diet, you may need to make a few adjustments depending on age, gender, and level of physical activity.
• For instance, if you are trying to lose weight or maintain your current weight, “increase the amount and intensity of your physical activity to match the number of calories you take in.” Regular exercise is key! Aim for no less than 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity each week.
• Eat a balanced diet:
• Eight or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day, such as colorful options including: apples, lettuce, and carrots, is sure to do your body good! Whole grains and other high-fiber foods such as brown rice, whole wheat bread, popcorn, and old-fashioned oatmeal are also easy ways to get much needed fiber.
• For our foodies, when preparing food, use non-tropical vegetable oils like canola, olive, or peanut oil. According to AHA, replacing “bad fats (saturated and trans) with healthier fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) is better for your heart.”
• Don’t smoke:
• Opting to just say “no” to the smokes is the most preventable cause of premature death in the United States, reports the American Heart Association. Not only does smoking decrease your tolerance for physical activity, but it increases your risk for developing blood to clots. Meanwhile, secondhand smoke produces several effects that damage the cerebrovascular system. In other words, either way, smoking is a lose-lose situation.