Jerry Lewis Checks Out of Hospital

Comedian Jerry Lewis was released from a hospital in Australia after not being able to do a sold-out show in Sydney, according to his publicist, The Associated Press reported.

Lewis, who is 85, was scheduled to perform at the Rooty Hill Returned Servicemen’s League club, but was unable to get out of the car, according to club general manager Ian Lowe. The star was on a fundraising tour for the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation Australia.

Publicist Candi Cazau said that Lewis was hospitalized for three hours before returning to his hotel. Doctors surmised that Lewis was overly tired. "He was just feeling under the weather," she said.

Cazau also said that Lewis has been on a “ridiculous” schedule, which included commuting between Las Vegas and New York for “The Nutty Professor” theatrical production slated for January.

Aside from his comedic work, Lewis is best known for his fundraising work for muscular dystrophy, especially for the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day Telethon, which first aired in 1966. He announced last month that he was stepping down as host of the telethon but will remain serving as MDA chairman. Lewis said in a statement at the time: “I’ll never desert MDA and my kids.”

Selected Readings: The Associated Press, MDA Web site

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