Jerry Lewis back to work after op

Jerry Lewis has been plagued by ill health for two decades

Comedy legend Jerry Lewis has returned to work organising his annual charity telethon just over a week after suffering a minor heart attack.

The 80-year-old, who is recuperating on his yacht in San Diego, had a tube inserted into an artery following the 11 June attack.

"He's recovering and already working on the telethon," long-time manager Claudia Marghilano said.

Lewis, who left hospital on Saturday, was still on medication for pneumonia.

The disease is common among people with pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung condition Lewis has been fighting since 2000.

'Doing great'

Ms Marghilano said that her client had contracted pneumonia several times.

"They put him on antibiotics and he's recovering," she said. "He's just doing great now."

Lewis is best known for his comedy partnership with Dean Martin during the 1950s, before going on to star in films such as The Ladies Man and the original The Nutty Professor.

He has organised an annual telethon in aid of the Muscular Dystrophy Association since 1966.

Poor health

The star has been plagued by ill health for the last two decades, battling prostate cancer and meningitis.

In 2001, he began taking steroids for pulmonary fibrosis, but had to be weaned off the drugs in hospital in 2003 after they caused him to gain too much weight.

Since then, Lewis has made a gradual return to the limelight.

In March, he travelled to Paris to receive France's highest civilian accolade, the Legion of Honour.

He turned up for the prestigious event wearing slippers and pretended to fall asleep during a 20-minute speech by France's culture minister.

The comedian recently announced plans to direct a musical version of The Nutty Professor on Broadway.

His heart attack forced him to postpone shows in Las Vegas that had been planned for next month.