Kelsey Grammer: Work stress led to heart attack

Actor's health suffered after show was axed

Saturday, 26 July 2008

Kelsey Grammer, who suffered a mild heart attack seven weeks ago, says pressure from his canceled sitcom Back to You contributed to his health problems.

‘It was a very stressful time for me, and a surprise to me [that it was canceled],’ Grammer, 53, said Wednesday while promoting his drama-comedy, Swing Vote, in L.A. ‘But you know, everything that doesn't kill us – which it almost did – makes us stronger.’

Back to You, costarring Patricia Heaton, was canceled in May by Fox after one year, despite respectable ratings.

‘Not happy about it,’ says Grammer. ‘I had a heart attack, maybe you heard. I was not happy about it.’

But now, he says, ‘I think things are going to be fine, thank you. I'm doing fine. It's OK.’

Asked if the health scare changed his lifestyle, Grammer said, ‘Oh, not a ton. Just watch your diet a little bit, take some pills.’

A sitcom veteran who has Cheers and Frasier to his credit, Grammer plans to take more time out for family, and is thinking about films.

‘Oh gosh, I hope so,’ he said. ‘You can only do so many a year. I have other things that matter to me, like my wife and family.’