Leon Schuster celebrates 73rd birthday, gives health update

Despite being labelled “overweight,” depressed, and having a painful back injury, Leon Schuster was all smiles for his 73rd birthday on Monday, 21 May.

The comedian and actor celebrated his special day alongside his close friends and family. 

Over the weekend, the funnyman – affectionately known as Shucks – vented on social media over another death hoax about him.

LEON SCHUSTER CELEBRATES 73RD BIRTHDAY

In a Facebook post, Leon Schuster thanked his fans for their birthday wishes.

Describing his birthday as “blessed and wonderful,” he shared: “My kids came to fetch me, and with them and a few friends, we enjoyed watching movies.”

However, the festivities were cut short when he continued, “My back started to hurt, and I had to come and lie down again.”

Leon’s son Ernest shared on his Facebook account, “73 and still going strong like a bull! May the Lord spare you many more years, and may you be blessed abundantly.”

Leon Schuster is a dad to four children, whom he shares with his ex-wife Lalie. They are Leande, Ernest, Lelani, and Rachelle.

He also has a growing brood of grandchildren, having recently welcomed his sixth one.

DEPRESSED, OVERWEIGHT AND IN PAIN

Speaking to TimesLive earlier this month, Leon Schuster revealed he was not only suffering from back injuries but also depression after becoming immobile.

The South African comedian is recovering from two back surgeries and gearing up for a third after he injured himself on the set of Mr Bones 3.

He’s also been diagnosed as overweight and will have to shed the kilos before he can have another back surgery.

He said: “I’m eating very little. I’m on these diet injections, but I’m not feeling that I am losing weight.

“I have been in the gym my whole life, and all of a sudden, there’s complete inactivity. I have to lie on my bed. I can sit for an hour, then I have to lie down again because the pain is eating me up.”

“The whole process is being postponed, and I’m depressed about that. My life is standing still. My creative life is standing still. I cannot create anything when I’m feeling like this, and all these tablets I have to take to suppress the pain are not good for me, but I don’t have a choice because they give you some relief, but they stuff up your stomach and mental frame of mind.

According to pal Don Clarke, Leon has a screw loose in his back, which is affecting his sciatic nerve.

He shared in a Facebook post: “The fact that Leon spends most of his time on his back makes this a conundrum of the highest order! 

“His mobility is severely curtailed, but he is able to hobble around occasionally, albeit in severe pain.  Despite this, his spirits are high, and we had a few laughs”.