“Highlander” Actor Christopher Lambert, 69, Collapses at Fan Convention, Abruptly Taken Away by Ambulance

He is set to return to Steel City Con for photo ops and a panel on Sunday, Aug. 9

NEED TO KNOW

• Christopher Lambert left the Steel City Con in Philadelphia early on Saturday, Aug. 8
• Event organizers said the 69-year-old actor exited due to a “personal issue,” and TMZ later reported that Lambert suffered a medical emergency and was escorted out of the convention in an ambulance
• The Highlander star is set to return to Steel City Con for photo ops and a panel on Sunday, Aug. 9

Christopher Lambert left a fan convention early after he collapsed at the event.

Steel City Con in Philadelphia — one of the largest comic book and pop culture conventions in the United States — announced on Facebook on Saturday, Aug. 8, that the actor, 69, suddenly left the event due to a “personal issue,” forcing organizers to cancel his previously scheduled photo ops.

TMZ later reported that Lambert suffered a medical emergency and was taken from the convention in an ambulance. An eyewitness told the outlet that the actor suddenly collapsed.

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Steel City Con told PEOPLE in a statement on Sunday, Aug. 9, that Lambert would be returning for the convention that day at 11:30 a.m. local time for photo ops and a panel. 

“Christopher was feeling a little overheated and dehydrated. He had to sit down, but he is doing great today,” organizers said.

Representatives for Lambert did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Aug. 9.

Best known for his role in 1986’s Highlander, Lambert is also recognized for playing Tarzan in 1984’s Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, as well as Lord Raiden in the 1995 live-action movie adaptation of Mortal Kombat.  

The French actor is scheduled to make appearances at Fan Expo Chicago and Mad Monster Expo in North Carolina later this month. 

Lambert’s latest health ordeal comes more than one year after he canceled one of his scheduled appearances at the Swedish festival SciFi World in March 2025.

He fell down a set of stairs at a hotel and sustained a back injury, TMZ reported at the time. 

“As an actor, filming and promoting his films are an absolute priority and has always been, and while he has the highest respect for people organizing events and fans who attend,” Lambert’s rep said in a statement to Nine.com.au.

They added: “Unfortunately, this time he will not be able to attend the comic con.”