Christopher Lambert canceled his planned return to Steel City Con after collapsing while meeting fans at the Pennsylvania convention one day earlier.
The 69-year-old Highlander star became ill while signing autographs at the Monroeville Convention Center outside Pittsburgh on August 8. A witness told TMZ that Lambert suddenly collapsed before he was transported from the convention by ambulance.
His representative later said Lambert was “perfectly OK” and resting at his hotel, attributing the episode to low blood sugar after the actor had slept poorly and eaten very little. Steel City Con separately said he had become overheated and dehydrated.
Organizers initially announced that Lambert would return on August 9 for photo opportunities and a panel. That plan changed shortly before his scheduled arrival, when the convention said he was still not feeling well and needed additional rest.
The Medical Scare Interrupted His Saturday Appearance
View this post on Instagram
Lambert was signing autographs during the second day of Steel City Con when he became ill. According to TMZ, a witness said the actor suddenly collapsed and was then taken from the convention hall by ambulance.
Steel City Con initially described Lambert’s departure only as a “personal issue” and canceled his remaining Saturday photo opportunity while his return time remained undetermined.
Lambert’s representative attributed the episode to low blood sugar associated with a lack of sleep and food. Steel City Con offered a slightly different description in a statement provided to People on August 9. “Christopher was feeling a little overheated and dehydrated,” organizers said, adding at the time that he was doing much better.
Steel City Con Announced His Return, Then Canceled It
View this post on Instagram
Early on August 9, Steel City Con announced that Lambert would return to the convention at 11:30 a.m. for photo opportunities and a question-and-answer panel. The plan changed around the time Lambert was expected to arrive.
TribLive reported that Steel City Con posted another update at approximately 11:40 a.m. saying Lambert would no longer return that day. “He is not feeling well and needs to rest,” Steel City Con co-owner Robert Stein said.
Lambert Is Still Scheduled for FAN EXPO Chicago
Before Sunday’s cancellation, Lambert’s representative told TMZ that the actor was expected to recover in time for FAN EXPO Chicago the following weekend. As of August 10, the official FAN EXPO Chicago listing still has Lambert scheduled to appear Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the August 14-16 convention.
Lambert experienced another health-related interruption in March 2025 after falling down stairs at a hotel and injuring his back. The injury forced him to cancel an appearance at Sweden’s SciFiWorld convention, but his representative later said he made a full recovery.
The French actor is best known for playing Connor MacLeod in the 1986 cult film Highlander. His other prominent roles include Tarzan in Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes and Lord Raiden in the 1995 adaptation of Mortal Kombat.