SYDNEY – Jerry Lewis was hospitalized Friday after he was unable to perform at a show in suburban Sydney, but his publicist said he was simply overtired and was released after a few hours.
The 85-year-old actor, comedian and tireless advocate for muscular dystrophy research is on a fundraising tour for the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation Australia. He arrived at the Rooty Hill Returned Servicemen's League club, where he was to perform, but he couldn't get out of the car, said Ian Lowe, the club's general manager.
The foundation said the Sydney show had been sold out. CEO David Jack apologized in a statement, saying that Lewis was "not well enough to take the stage," without elaborating.
Candi Cazau, Lewis' Las Vegas-based publicist, said he was in the hospital for about three hours before going back to his hotel room, and that doctors concluded that he was simply overly tired.
"He's fine from what I understand," she said. "He was just feeling under the weather."
Cazau said Lewis' staff was being a bit cautious because Lewis contracted viral meningitis some years before during an earlier trip to Australia.
Lewis is the longtime chairman of the U.S. Muscular Dystrophy Association, which is separate from the Australian organization, and announced last month he was retiring as host of the Labor Day telethon that bears his name. He has battled a debilitating back condition, heart issues and pulmonary fibrosis. He
She said Lewis has had a "ridiculous" schedule in recent months. He has been flying back and forth from Las Vegas to New York, casting for the stage production of "The Nutty Professor," which he intends to debut in January.
"He looks, he sounds great - 85 going on 50," she said.
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Oskar Garcia reported from Las Vegas. Associated Press writer Tom Tait in Las Vegas contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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