Jerry Lewis Falls Ill, Cancels Part of Australian Tour
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis canceled part of a tour in Sydney after collapsing from exhaustion when he was about to take the stage, Agence France-Presse reports.
The 85-year-old comedian — a TV fixture on Labor Day weekend for decades — was scheduled to perform Friday night to raise money for muscular dystrophy. He is set to return to the stage Thursday in Melbourne if his health permits.
Jerry Lewis stepping down from Labor Day telethon
"He is extremely disappointed for his fans that he was unable to perform ... but a combination of a long flight from the U.S. and a busy few days on the start of his national tour led to his exhaustion," David Jack, head of Australia's Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, told the news agency.
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Lewis was attended to by a doctor, but was not hospitalized, according to Jack, who said Lewis was feeling better after resting in his hotel.
Lewis has undergone heart surgery following two heart attacks. He has also battled prostate cancer, lung problems and is a diabetic. The 2011 telethon will be Lewis' last. He will continue to serve as the association's national chairman.