Comic Dangerfield back in public

Dangerfield joked about his experience

US comedian Rodney Dangerfield has made his first appearance since having an operation to increase blood flow to his brain for forthcoming heart surgery.

Dangerfield, 81, made light of his experience with a series of jokes during a news conference at the University of California Los Angeles Medical Center.

"I love the hospital. They change the sheets every day - from one bed to another," he said.

Dangerfield had the operation to reduce the chances of him suffering a stroke in forthcoming surgery to replace a heart valve.

My brain is OK. I feel like a new man. I lost 30 pounds with the brain surgery diet

Rodney Dangerfield

Accompanied by his wife Joan, 49, he said he felt great and was returning to his normal routine.

"I gave my wife a kiss on the way in," he said. "At my age, that's about as sexy as I can get."

Keeping up the humour, he answered a medical question with the reply: "Ask me about things I'm familiar with, like drugs or prostitution."

He added: 'My brain is OK. I feel like a new man. I lost 30 pounds with the brain surgery diet."

His neurosurgeon, Dr Neil Martin, said he had made a "surprisingly rapid recovery".

Dangerfield became known to US audiences during the 1960s and 1970s from his appearances on the Ed Sullivan and Dean Martin shows and the Tonight Show.

He had suffered a mild heart attack in 2001 - two years after undergoing double heart bypass surgery.