Comic stopped taking his drugs

Jerry Lewis has been admitted to hospital after he stopped taking drugs to control a life-threatening illness.

The 77-year-old comedian was trying to wean himself off the steroids he was taking for the respiratory condition pulmonary fibrosis.

The medication was causing him to gain weight, and in recent years he has looked increasingly bloated.

His agent Jeff Witjas said: "The important thing is he's fine and in a few months he's going to be active again in the business. He's slimming down to his normal weight. This is all a good thing."

Lewis entered the Las Vegas hospital, which has not been named, several weeks ago. It is not known exactly how long he will remain there.

Besides pulmonary fibrosis, Lewis suffers spinal meningitis, chronic back pain and diabetes.

Published: 14 Nov 2003