Phyllis Diller had to cancel a “Tonight Show” appearance celebrating her 90th birthday because she fractured her back — but the comedian still plans to celebrate.
Diller “twisted the wrong way” and caused “a minor injury, some kind of a fracture which is extremely painful,” her manager, Milt Suchin, said Wednesday.
“The doctors say to rest and let it heal. ... She’s in great spirits,” he said.
The injury also forced Diller to cancel an appearance this week before the Television Critics Association.
“It’s very disappointing,” Suchin said. “She was going to do a standup bit but she really can’t stand up properly.”
“She’s not immobile. She is functioning normally. She’s doing a lot of phoners and interviews,” he said.
Diller postponed her planned July 17th birthday appearance on NBC’s “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.” It will be rescheduled, Suchin said.
“She’s a trooper,” Suchin said. “She’s a phoenix, she rises. She’s gone through a lot worse.”
Diller has been busy. She voices Peter’s mother for the animated TV series “Family Guy,” recently made a guest appearance on ABC’s “Boston Legal,” has completed voice work on an animated film to be shown at next year’s Olympics and just finished taping five episodes of a new reality TV show, Suchin said.
She may be off work for a month or so, he said.
“If (the injury) mends sooner, we’re out there sooner. There’s no lack of demand for her services,” he said.