Artist Steve Kaufman says he's not dead

LOS ANGELES, March 17 (UPI) -- U.S. fine artist Steve Kaufman says rumors of his demise are greatly exaggerated.

"I've received many phone calls and e-mails that I've died, and many flowers from fans. I had a major stroke. My cholesterol was 576," Kaufman said in a statement issued Tuesday.

No other information regarding his condition was made available.

A former assistant to Andy Warhol, Kaufman is a museum artist known for "autograph painting" portraits of Frank Sinatra, Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, B.B. King, the Rolling Stones, President Bill Clinton, Howard Stern, Donald Trump, John Travolta, Madonna Hugh Hefner and Oscar De La Hoya.

Kaufman Art has been seen on TV shows like "E!," "Tyra," "The Girls Next Door" and "MTV Cribs," the Steve Kaufman Fine Art Studio said in a news release.