The legendary U.S. prop comedian Gallagher is recovering in hospital after suffering a heart attack before a show in Texas. The 65-year-old was drinking at a North Dallas bar before going on stage, but was rushed to hospital after experiencing severe chest pains and subsequently collapsing, reports CBS News.

Gallagher's promotional manager Christine Scherrer says the comedian is sedated and "slowly recovering" after the incident. Marc Cummins, the manager of Coach Joe's Hat Tricks in Lewisville, says Gallagher collapsed in his office about 20 minutes before his show was due to start at 9pm. A twitter picture taken by a fan shows the comedian in the club on Wednesday afternoon prior to his performance. Mr Cummins said the club's promotions director performed CPR on the comedian before the paramedics arrived. It's the latest in a string of recent health problems for Gallagher, who suffered a minor heart attack after collapsing during a performance in Minnesota.

The 65-year-old is best known for smashing watermelons with a sledgehammer. In 2004, he was ranked the 100th best comedian of all time by Comedy Central, but reacted angrily to the honor, telling The Oregonian, "I looked at the other people and I was trying to find anyone I ever heard of. How could I be behind people I never heard of? ... I made 13 one-hour shows for Showtime, which are available on videotape. I invented the one-man show on cable".