Saturday Night Live graduate Chris Kattan had to undergo emergency surgery while suffering from severe pneumonia, Fox News Digital confirmed.
The 52-year-old comedian was rushed to hospital on Sunday after being recently diagnosed with pneumonia.
After Kattan arrived at the hospital, it was determined that he needed emergency surgery. The operation was reportedly successful and he is due to be released on Friday.
A source close to Kattan told Fox News Digital on Thursday that Kattan is “doing well” and “still on track to be released tomorrow.”
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Chris Kattan had to undergo emergency surgery after being diagnosed with severe pneumonia. (Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)
Kattan’s friend Maria Libri shared a photo of herself with the “Undercover Brother” star on Instagram Thursday.
“This sweet, sweet man of mine is on the road to recovery after suffering severe pneumonia,” she wrote, adding several red heart emojis.
“He always takes care of us, now it’s our turn to take care of him @chriskattanofficial.”
The comic was scheduled to perform at two shows Friday at the Market Lounge & Comedy Club in Valparaiso, Indiana. On Wednesday, the comedy club announced the shows had been canceled and shared a statement from Kattan’s representative.
“Due to a medical emergency, Chris has had to reschedule his shows this week,” the statement said. “He’s currently in hospital and doing well, but won’t be able to perform on stage for a couple of weeks. He deeply apologizes for not being able to make it, but can’t wait to get to Indiana for a date to be announced very soon!
“If you have purchased tickets they will automatically roll over to a new date and if you don’t make it you will of course be offered a full refund.”
Kattan starred on SNL from 1996 to 2003. While competing on Dancing With the Stars in 2017, Kattan revealed he broke his neck performing a stunt years earlier.
In his 2019 memoir Baby Don’t Hurt Me: Stories and Scars From Saturday Night Live, Kattan claimed that the injury occurred during a 2001 skit on the long-running NBC comedy series. He said he suffered from a number of health issues after the accident and required five surgeries, two of which were paid for by NBC.
A spokesperson for NBC told Variety the network had no record of the allegation and declined to comment further.
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In February, Kattan surprised fans of Celebrity Big Brother when he abruptly quit the show after just two weeks into Season 3. The comedian later addressed speculation that his departure was due to his inability to participate in the show’s physical challenges due to injury.
Kattan, left, starred on SNL from 1996 to 2003. (Mary Ellen Matthews/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
“I’m fine,” he told Global TV. “To work on other projects, I’m fine. Riding up and down on a reindeer might do something to your neck and was something to watch out for, but other than that I was fine with doing physical stuff.”
Kattan explained that he left the show because isolation from family and friends outside proved too difficult for him.
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“Being cut off from the outside world is not easy. Outsiders are not allowed to communicate with you. I had some family problems. My stepfather is very ill and I could not find out how he is doing. That was hard,” he told the outlet.
However, Kattan said he has developed strong friendships with the other participants and plans to keep in touch.
“They really wanted me to stay,” Kattan said, laughing. “They definitely wanted me to stay as we got on so well. I get along with everyone. They are lifelong friends, forever.”
Ashley Hume is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @ashleyhume