Global InformationJerry Lewis information
Jerry Lewis | |
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 Lewis in 1957 | |
| Born | Joseph Levitch[a] March 16, 1926 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | August 20, 2017 (aged 91) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1931–2017[1] |
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| Children | 8, including Gary |
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| Notable works and roles | Prof. Julius F. Kelp and Buddy Love in The Nutty Professor |
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Jerry Lewis (born Joseph Levitch;[a] March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, singer and humanitarian who was famously nicknamed "The King of Comedy", with a career lasting over eight decades. He appeared in more than 59 motion pictures, including the first sixteen films with his partner, singer Dean Martin, during their act as Martin and Lewis.
As a solo leading star, he acted in Cinderfella (1960), The Bellboy (1960), The Errand Boy (1961), The Ladies Man (1961), It's Only Money (1962), The Nutty Professor (1963), Who's Minding the Store? (1963), The Patsy (1964), The Disorderly Orderly (1964) and The Family Jewels (1965). 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 film director, producer and screenwriter.[3]
For television, Lewis was the host of The Jerry Lewis Show in 1963 and The Jerry Lewis Telethon in 1966, benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). His work won him several accolades, including two stars on the Walk of Fame. Lewis performed in concert stages, nightclubs and audio recordings.
Lewis appearing in at least 117 film and television productions. France bestowed on Lewis the Legion of Honor. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He is described as one of the greatest comedians of the 20th century.
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- ^ Hirschberg, Lynn (October 28, 1982). "What's So Funny About Jerry Lewis?". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Kehr, Dave (August 20, 2017). "Jerry Lewis, mercurial comedian and filmmaker, dies at 91". The New York Times. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
Most sources, including his 1982 autobiography, Jerry Lewis: In Person, give his birth name as Joseph Levitch. But Shawn Levy, author of the exhaustive 1996 biography King of Comedy: The Life and Art of Jerry Lewis, unearthed a birth record that gave his first name as Jerome.
- ^ Kehr, Dave (August 30, 2017). "Jerry Lewis, a Jester Both Silly and Stormy, Dies at 91 (correction)". The New York Times. Retrieved October 11, 2022.