Celebrity News

Jerry Lewis rushed to hospital before Friars Club appearance

Legendary comedian Jerry Lewis was rushed to hospital just before he was due on stage to hand Tom Cruise a prestigious Friars Club award.

The 86-year-old entertainer collapsed with low blood sugar just before he was to take the stage in front of hundreds at a star-studded gala at the Waldorf Astoria on Tuesday night.

Lewis was due to be honored with the Applause Award, and to present Tom Cruise with the Friars Club Entertainment Icon Award.

Chairman of the Friars Foundation Ambassador Joseph Zappala told the crowd that Lewis had fallen ill shortly before the event and had been taken to hospital, but was expecteed to recover.

Accepting his award, Cruise later told the crowd, “I am sorry Jerry couldn’t be here tonight, but I know he is going to be fine.”

Performers at the event, emceed by Alec Baldwin, included Bill Hader, Cuba Gooding Jr, Bebel Gilberto, Corinne Bailey Rae, Robin Thicke and the cast of Broadway’s “Rock of Ages”.

Cruise, who attended with his son Connor and daughter Suri, also said he was honored to receive the Friars Club Entertainment Icon Award, the club’s highest honor which has previously only been awarded to three recipients – Douglas Fairbanks, Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra.

Reps for Lewis couldn’t be reached last night.

A Friars Club rep said in a statement today: “Jerry Lewis was so sorry to miss the Icon Award presentation to Tom Cruise last night, but is feeling much better today.”