Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced Hollywood mogul who has been held at the Rikers Island jail complex in New York City since April, was rushed on Sunday evening to Bellevue Hospital for emergency heart surgery, according to his lawyer.

Mr. Weinstein, 72, contacted Craig Rothfeld, his jail consultant, several times over the weekend to tell him that he was not feeling well, according to Arthur Aidala, Mr. Weinstein’s lawyer.

“This guy is going to die on your watch if you don’t do something,” Mr. Aidala said he and Mr. Rothfeld had written in emails to officials at Rikers and Bellevue before Mr. Weinstein was taken to the hospital on Sunday evening.

Mr. Weinstein underwent surgery on Monday morning and is in recovery in the intensive care unit, Mr. Rothfeld said on Monday afternoon. “Mr. Weinstein suffers a plethora of significant health issues that need ongoing treatment,” he said.

He had been complaining of a cough and weight gain, Mr. Rothfeld said. The surgery helped to “alleviate the massive amount of fluid on his lungs and heart.”

Mr. Rothfeld added that Mr. Weinstein had called him after the surgery. “He’s grateful to be alive,” he said.