LOS ANGELES – Comedian Rodney Dangerfield's (search) recovery has been gradual in the three weeks since he underwent heart-valve replacement surgery.
Dangerfield has been hospitalized at the University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center's intensive care unit since the Aug. 25 operation, but his publicist said Wednesday that's no cause for alarm.
"He's 82 years old and doctors are just being safe," Dangerfield spokesman Kevin Sasaki said. He added that Dangerfield's doctors expect a full recovery.
Meanwhile, some of Hollywood's biggest names are paying the comic quite a bit of respect.
Close friends Jim Carrey (search), Jay Leno (search), Adam Sandler, Roseanne Barr, Andrew Dice Clay (search), Louie Anderson and Bob Saget have all stopped by to see him, Sasaki said.
"He's been excited that people like that are interested," the publicist added.
During his recovery, Dangerfield's wife, Joan, has remained at his side at the hospital.
Dangerfield, best known for the self-mocking line, "I don't get no respect," recently released his autobiography, "It's Not Easy Being Me: A Lifetime of No Respect but Plenty of Sex and Drugs."
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