Wednesday, Jun 3, 2009    Text size: 

"I had symptoms on Sunday and Monday while I was playing golf," West told XBIZ. "I know the symptoms — my father and grandfather both died from heart attacks — but I thought 'I'm in pretty good shape, this might be some kind of weird heartburn thing.' I got tightness in my chest and got hot and sweaty, but it would go away in five or six minutes.

"Yesterday I went to the gym for the first time in a while since I hurt my back. I worked out, and started walking around the track and this time it kicked in and it didn't go away. I had a friend drive me to the emergency room."

West had a catheter procedure Tuesday night ("They didn't open me up.") and is currently in a Las Vegas area hospital.

"I have to go back to get another artery unblocked, they couldn't do it all in one shot. I'll come back in a couple of weeks.

"I feel good, and they said the heart sounds good today," West said. "I'll probably be out of here tomorrow or Friday."

West started his performing career in 1975 and has appeared in more than 1,200 productions, including his "Up and Cummers" new-talent series which ran more than 100 editions and introduced performers including Jenna Jameson and Kylie Ireland.