Robin Williams Recovering After Heart Surgery

NEW YORK — Robin Williams was recovering at the Cleveland Clinic after heart surgery that his doctors deemed successful, his publicists said Monday. The 57-year-old actor had an operation to replace an aortic valve on March 13, publicists Mara Buxbaum and Chris Kanarick said. He was expected to make a complete recovery in the next eight weeks.

"His heart is strong and he will have normal heart function in the coming weeks with no limitations on what he'll be able to do," said Dr. A. Marc Gillinov, a cardiothoracic surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic. "A couple of hours after surgery, he was entertaining the medical team and making us all laugh."

Williams was initially treated at the University of Miami Hospital before being transferred to Cleveland. He had been in Florida earlier this month when he was forced to cancel the remainder of his one-man comedy show, "Weapons of Self-Destruction," after experiencing shortness of breath.

Williams, whose sold-out, multi-city tour is expected to resume in the fall, thanked staff at both hospitals.

"I can't thank them enough for their kindness and dedication while I was in their care," he said in a statement. "I must also thank all the people who have expressed their love and concern for me. I have been deeply touched by their support."

Williams being Williams, he couldn't resist a comic aside.

"I got some great new material for the tour and can't wait to get back on the road," he said. "I'm thinking the next leg of the tour will be `Weapons of Self-Destruction and Reconstruction'!"

Comments

[nurseratcht]

Get well soon, Robin.....we love u!

[Elaine Kavrakis]

Absolutely -- we love Robin!!!!

to see this man preform live -- it is a sight....what a mecurial mind he has and it all happens in real time...shear brilliance.

Hope your heart mends very fast --- I will see you back at 142 Throckmorton in Mill Valley for sure!!!

[notreallyabadguy]

Best Wishes to Robin. He is a great talent. I also want to say thanks to Cleveland Clinic because they saved my life too. Anyone with a heart condition should visit Cleveland Clinic. They are the number one hospital for heart disease for at least 15 years. They found options for me that my local doctors didn't see, they can do the same for you.

[andvoodoo2]

I second the best wishes to Robin and throw some in for you, too. Glad to hear some good news about medicine!

[bridgeworker]

I'm so glad to hear that the surgery went well. Here's to a full recovery, Robin. May you now enjoy vibrant health and have as many opportunities as you desire to share your wild, imaginative, intelligent self for many, many, many years to come.

[PepeLepew]

Please get well, Robin.
Maybe your friend Lance will join you in the hospital when he gets surgery on his collarbone!

[kdoug]

Get well Robin. You have a BIG heart and now it'll be workin' right! Love you bro!

[courageunderfire]

Truly, this man is one in a billion, and truly a very funny man, also just one hell of a great actor!
I wish him all the best, heal fast Robin Williams! We love you!!!!

[delay loop]

Guess that's what happens when you snort coke for 15 years.

[ilovevegas]

, WOW! A few haters in here. Ignore them and just get better Robin, your great!

[obmark]

Wow, isn't that clever!

[PepeLepew]

Mean.

[rini]

Don't talk about what you don't know.

Aortic stenosis has nothing to do with intranasal cocaine use. There is no logical medical connection. Thanks for making assumptions and judging.

[wildervine]

Robin, you've got to get better so you can come back to Memphis again! All of our love from the River City- take care of yourself!

[TerBear]

I adore that man. I pray he has a full recovery and continues to share his amazing gift of laughter with the world..........I am a happily married woman but if I were not...I would so want to go out with him. Lucky me, my husband is a funny guy too.

[JAL12]

Get well soon Robin. We love ya, big guy.

[1differentdrummer]

This man and his friend and mentor, Johnathan(sp) Winters, are two of the greatest comics ever.

[ConfuciusSay-]

Good to know he's getting better.

[Bitsko]

Perhaps he'll have a change of heart and stop stealing other comedians jokes. Just kidding, Robin. Get well soon.

[x004Ronin]

I know it wasn't the main topic of your post, but every comedian gets accused of stealing jokes. I have yet to hear of a famous comedian not accused of stealing jokes. Pretty much every aspect of human life has been joked about. There's no way anyone can come up with 100 completely original jokes.

[PlaceboStudman]

It's an old "joke" (though there is some truth to it) "good writers borrow, great writers steal"

[bugsbonzai]

Good try, but Robin developed a notorious reputation early in his career as a joke ripper. Back in the 70's the Comedy Store even used the light that signaled the end of set-time to signal that Robin had entered the room so the comedian onstage knew not to use his 'A' material. Eventually, Robin cleaned the plagiarized material from his sets, and paid off those comedians who were abused. His material today is consistently his own, but this is only after developing an illustrious career off the backs of others.

If Robin were starting out today, his joke stealing would be common knowledge, as Dane Cook's joke stealing from Louis C.K. and others is well documented with side-by-side comparisons. But, as has been shown with the rise of Dane, building your career off of the jokes others wrote doesn't necessarily mean you're doomed. You can still have a long, illustrious career.

All that said, I still admire Robin Williams. Good actor, good person. I hate criticizing somebody I like, but the record needs to be set straight.

[Agentlady007]

It's clear he's pale, but what can you expect from being in a hospital after heart surgery? I suggest vitamin D or the sun 5 minutes a day. No shade in those five minutes, and 3 month check ups.
I'm so glad he's holding on. Nahnoo Nahnoo~~~

[Bitsko]

These photos are obviously taken before the surgery. Looks like the Sundance Film Festival.

[rjohns3]

Ummm--

"In this Jan. 18, 2009 file photo, Robin Williams arrives at the premiere of "World's Greatest Dad" at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)"

Unless we are seeing different photos...

[ReasonableBill]

Good luck Robin. Now take it easy and do what the Doctor's tell you.