Spielberg has kidney removed after 'irregularity' found

February 7, 2000
Web posted at: 3:50 p.m. EST (2050 GMT)

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Famed movie director Steven Spielberg has undergone surgery to remove a kidney after an "irregularity" was found, his spokesman said Monday.

Marvin Levy, a spokesman for Spielberg's company DreamWorks SKG, said the kidney problem was detected when Spielberg, 52, had a routine examination.

"During a routine physical examination, Steven Spielberg's doctor discovered an irregularity on his kidney. Subsequently, it was removed at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. A complete recovery is promised and no follow-up treatment is necessary. Surgery was performed by a team headed by Stuart Holden," said Levy in a statement.

Levy would not say when the operation was performed. He did not give any details on what the kidney "irregularity" was.

Spielberg is one of the most successful directors of all time. Some of his box office successes include "Jaws" (1975), "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982), "Schindler's List" (1993), and "Saving Private Ryan" (1998). He has won two best director Oscars -- for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Schindler's List."

U.S. film registry adds 25 new titles
November 16, 1999
Veterans Day honor for Spielberg, Hanks
November 11, 1999
Spielberg, Paltrow win at Golden Globes
January 25, 1999

Internet Movie Database: Steven Spielberg

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.