HOLLYWOOD (CNS) - Steve Lawrence, 83, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, he said today.
The 83-year-old singer opened up about his recent diagnosis and how he's coping with the news in a letter released by his spokesman Howard Bragman.
``Dear Friends, There have been a number of rumors and some press reaching out to me and I feel it's important that I tell my own truth,'' he wrote in the letter, which was obtained by People Magazine and other media outlets.
``I have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and it's in the early stages. I am being treated with medications under the supervision of some of the finest doctors in the field. Fortunately, they have managed to slow down this horrific process. I'm living my life, going out in public and trying to spend as much time as possible with my family and friends while I am still able to engage and enjoy.''
He asserted: ``I want my beloved fans to know that in spite of this bittersweet moment, what I don't want is pity or sympathy. I have lived and am living a wonderful, joyous life filled with love, support, and amazing moments. With my beloved Eydie, I had one of the great loves of all time; my career has always been there for me as a source of joy and fulfillment; and you, my fans, have shown immeasurable love and support in ways I only could have imagined.''
Eydie Gorme, his late wife, died in 2013. They wed in 1957 and were performing partners.