Frasier's Grammer 'nearly died'

Kelsey Grammer first played Dr Frasier Crane in 1984

Frasier star Kelsey Grammer nearly died after suffering a heart attack in June, he has revealed.

A spokesman for the actor told press at the time that the attack had been "mild" but Grammer has now revealed that his heart stopped beating.

He told US news programme Entertainment Tonight: "They had to blast me twice and get me started all over again."

The 53-year-old played psychiatrist Dr Frasier Crane for 20 years on TV show Cheers and spin-off series Frasier.

Obviously you play the hand you're dealt and it has been a very interesting hand lately - it has been tough Kelsey Grammer

The actor said he started to suffer from chest pains when out paddle-boarding with his wife in Hawaii.

He said it felt "like somebody was actually trying to tear my chest apart with, like, the jaws of life".

He added: "I did think 'oh gosh, I have got to hang on, I've got too much junk I've got to take care of, I've got to take care of the family'."

The heart attack came three weeks after the actor discovered the Fox network was cancelling sitcom Back To You, in which he starred alongside Patricia Heaton.

The series had lasted for one season.

He said: "Obviously you play the hand you're dealt and it has been a very interesting hand lately - it has been tough."

Grammer is also the voice behind the character Sideshow Bob in The Simpsons.