Valerie Harper Rushed To Hospital During Theatre Performance

Valerie Harper has reportedly been rushed to hospital after suffering a medical emergency. 75-year-old Harper was performing in her musical, Nice Work If You Can Get It, at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine on Wednesday (29th July) when the incident occurred.

Valerie Harper at the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards Gala in February 2015.

The emergency services confirmed they had been called out to the theatre about an incident concerning a 75-year-old woman. She was reportedly unconscious backstage at the theatre and she was taken to a nearby hospital.

According to reports in ET, the show’s artistic director informed the audience Harper had been taken ill and the ambulance outside was for the actress. It appears Harper was conscious by the time she left the theatre as she asked the director to pass a message on to the audience.

"She wants all of you to know after some fluids and rest she hopes to be right back here on stage later this week,” the director reportedly told the audience, according to reports.

The artistic director has since released a statement, which reads: "Valerie Harper was taken to a local hospital as a precaution before her July 29 evening performance of Nice Work If You Can Get It, at the Ogunquit Playhouse, after reporting that she was not feeling well. She is resting comfortably and will remain in the hospital for observation for the time being. The audiences and all of us here at the Playhouse are greatly enjoying our time with Valerie here in Ogunquit, and we are encouraged that she is feeling better."

Harper, who is best known for her role as Rhoda Morgenstern, in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, has battled with cancer over the past six years. The cancer is reportedly incurable but is being kept at bay with chemotherapy treatment.