Jerry Lewis was rushed to hospital on Tuesday night (June 12, 2012) just moments before he was due to present Tom Cruise with an award at a prestigious Friars Club event. 86 year old Lewis collapsed at the Waldorf Astoria, where the awards were being held, due to having low blood sugar, the New York Post have reported. He was due to take to the stage just after it happened but was instead rushed to hospital for treatment.
Lewis was supposed to be presenting Tom Cruise with the 'Friars Club Entertainment Icon Award' as well as receiving the 'Applause Award' himself. The chairmen of the foundation, Joseph Zappala, told the gathered audience that Lewis had been taken ill and had been rushed away for treatment but assured those present that he was expected to fully recover. When Tom Cruise accepted his award, he said "am sorry Jerry couldn't be here tonight, but I know he is going to be fine." Cruise was in attendance with his children Connor and Suri and said that he was honored to receive the award - the highest bestowed by the organization. The only other people to have received it are Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra and Douglas Fairbank.
A representative for Friars Club told New York Post "Jerry Lewis was so sorry to miss the Icon Award presentation to Tom Cruise last night, but is feeling much better today."