Jimmy: I haven’t stopped since I was three Jimmy Osmond day before panto stroke
SHOWBIZ star Jimmy Osmond spoke about the demands of his gruelling 50-year career just a day before suffering a stroke in panto.
He revealed he was loving his stage role as Captain Hook but admitted he was working flat out.
One source revealed yesterday: “He said it was the biggest and best panto he’d ever done but also the hardest he’d ever worked.”
Jimmy’s comments came just a few weeks after an unpublished interview in which he admitted barely taking a break from showbiz since he was just
Father-of-four Jimmy, 55, was rushed to hospital after appearing in Peter Pan at the Birmingham Hippodrome on December 27.
He had a stroke while playing Hook but managed to finish the show. Last night a spokesperson said he was still receiving hospital treatment – and that doctors had told him to axe plans to do panto in Australia in the spring.
Sources say Jimmy’s famous siblings – including Donny, 61, and Marie, 59 – have been unable to travel from the US to see him but are in constant contact.
It was the second stroke Jimmy had suffered – the first coming back in 2004. It sparked fears that he needs to take a break. In the earlier interview, Jimmy admitted working in showbiz for so long was starting to take its toll.
He said: “Parts are falling off now so I’m a bit more cautious, but you know it blows my mind that I’m 55 years old and I haven’t stopped since I was three.”
Jimmy was halfway through a scheduled seven-week, twice-a- day stint as Captain Hook when he fell ill. When asked what keeps him going, he said: “Lots of biscuits! I don’t know, I grew up doing this.”
Looking back at his career, Jimmy – youngest of the Osmonds – said he takes any job offered through fear his career could come to an end at any moment. They have included appearances on British panel shows and a stint on I’m A Celebrity.
He added: “For me, I thought showbiz would never last. When I stopped performing with my brothers I was amazed there was an opportunity for just me – there was – I’m just so humbled and grateful that there is!
“I produce a lot, I don’t need to be the star of everything. It blows my mind that I find myself in this position.
“When I put together one last arena tour for my brothers, I thought ‘that’s it for me’ – but then all of these amazing offers kept coming and I said ‘ Yes’ to all of them.
“I was the one who did the jobs they didn’t want to do.”
The star, known as Little Jimmy Osmond in his younger days, also revealed he had taken responsibility for the business side of showbiz work.
He said: “When you do a deal, you realise the repercussions of not setting it up properly. I’ve been that guy for my family and others.
“I learned by osmosis and mistakes. Mistakes are the best teacher... boy have I made some !”
Jimmy also sounded as eager as ever to carry on. He added: “I don’t know what I want to do in the future but I want to do more of it. I love plays, I hope I’m asked to do them.”