If it isn't already sad enough when a person's health begins to suffer in their twilight, it's worse when said person is a public figure and those close to them start squabbling over the details and issuing conflicting press statements.

Such is the case with entertainment icon and Friend Of Bert, Don Lane, who has not been well lately, and is either suffering from dementia - if you believe his friends - or is just in an aged care facility - if you believe his manager.

Lane's long-time friend, radio personality Chris Kearns, announced today on radio station 2UE that the 74-year-old entertainer had dementia.

But Lane's manager Jayne Ambrose flat-out denied the claim, saying "certainly that is inaccurate."

"Don is very physically fine and he is in care," Ambrose said.

Kearns told 2UE's Steve Liebmann that Lane's condition was "pretty advanced" and he soon would not remember his wife and son.

"Don is suffering from dementia -- he's not well," he said.

"He's in very good care apparently and very good spirits."

It's hard to know who to believe here, other than to say that either way it's sad news for Lane and his family and friends (and fans, myself included), so Defamer Australia sends a grab-bag of well wishes and various sympathies to Lane and those close to him.

Hopefully Bert will take his former co-star and mate a fruit basket - lord knows seeing Moonface come through the door would cheer anyone up. Or maybe that's just me.

 

Tags: au | bert newton | don lane | he said she said | illness | sad news