Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis (born Joseph Levitch; March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was an American comedian, filmmaker, actor, humanitarian and singer who was famously nicknamed "The King of Comedy," with a career lasting eight decades. He appeared in more than 60 motion pictures, starting in 1949 including sixteen Martin and Lewis musical comedy films with Dean Martin as his partner. Lewis transitioned into a solo leading star acting in The Bellboy (1960), Cinderfella (1960), The Errand Boy (1961), The Ladies Man (1961), and The Nutty Professor (1963). He portrayed Jerry Langford in Martin Scorsese's drama The King of Comedy (1982) earning a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor nomination. He was also an early and prominent user of video assist, while as director, producer and writer.
Jerry Lewis | |
|---|---|
Lewis in 1957 | |
| Born | Joseph Levitch March 16, 1926 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | August 20, 2017 (aged 91) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Other names |
|
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1931–2017 |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 8, including Gary |
| Comedy career | |
| Medium |
|
| Genres |
|
| Notable works and roles | Cinderfella The Bellboy The Ladies Man Prof. Julius F. Kelp and Buddy Love in The Nutty Professor The Patsy The Family Jewels |
| Signature | |
After becoming national chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), Lewis focused on muscular dystrophy activism and between 1966 and 2010, hosted 45 live Labor Day telecasts of The Jerry Lewis Telethon. benefiting the organization. His work won him several accolades, including two stars on the Walk of Fame and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. Lewis performed in concert stages, nightclubs, music recordings and starred in 43 television programs throughout his career.