Ken Watanabe Is Battling Stomach Cancer, Broadway Return Delayed

Ken Watanabe‘s return to the Broadway stage in the musical The King and I has been delayed as he is currently battling stomach cancer.

The 56-year-old actor is recovering in Japan after undergoing endoscopic surgery and he has released a statement to thank his fans for their patience in his return to the stage.

“I would like to ask for your understanding that the start of my performance in New York will be a little delayed,” Ken said (via Page Six).

Ken received a Tony nomination for his performance in The King and I and he has been on a hiatus from the show since last summer. He was supposed to return from March 1 through April 17, but he will no longer perform those dates.

Ken is best known for his work in such films as Godzilla, Batman Begins, Letters from Iwo Jima, and The Last Samurai, for which he received an Oscar nomination.