Although he will continue to watch movies, don’t be expecting Roger Ebert to be speaking about them anytime soon.

The former co-host of Ebert & Roeper (or Siskel & Ebert) has not been seen in his usual theater chair since he required surgery on his salivary glands back in 2006.  That was one of several operations the 65-year-old has had in the past few years for removal of growths.

In a recent post for the Chicago Sun-Times, the famous film critic said that he won’t be able to engage in a friendly argument with Richard Roeper anytime soon:

“I underwent a third surgery in January, this one in Houston, and once again there were complications. I am sorry to say that my ability to speak was not restored. That would require another surgery.”