Jerry Lewis Biography One of the world’s most loved comedians, Jerry Lewis was born Jerome Levitch on March 16, 1926, in Newark, New Jersey. As the son of a vaudeville performer, Lewis began working in burlesque shows at age sixteen, and was married by the time he was eighteen. Lewis first found fame with singer Dean Martin, when the two paired up as a comedy act. By the late 40s, Lewis and Martin were basking in the spotlight due to the popularity of their nightclub act and film and television appearances. In 1965, the dynamic duo’s partnership ended, and a highly-publicized, long-running feud began between the two. It would be nearly a decade before they were seen together again at Lewis's Labor Day telethon in 1976, a meeting which their mutual friend Frank Sinatra arranged. Lewis has starred in and directed several films, including The Ladies Man in 1961, The Errand Boy in 1961, and The Nutty Professor in 1963, which was later remade into a 1996 movie starring Eddie Murphy and Dave Chappelle. Lewis received critical praise for the absurd brand of humor in his films, particularly in France, where in March 2006 the French Minister of Culture awarded Lewis the Legion of Honor as the “French people's favorite clown.” Lewis has also received praise from critics in his home country for his work in such films as Martin Scorsese's 1983 flick The King of Comedy, also starring Robert De Niro and Sandra Bernhard.
In 1966, Lewis began hosting an annual Labor Day Telethon in support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, which he had first developed ties to in 1950. The Jerry Lewis telethon, typically co-hosted by Ed McMahon or Casey Kasem, has since become an annual tradition, and raised approximately US $2 billion to date. On the fortieth anniversary of the telethon in 2005, Lewis added Salvation Army fund-raising for Hurricane Katrina relief to the roster. For his work on behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Lewis received a 1977 nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize; and in 1985 was awarded a U.S. Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service. Lewis has battled several different health problems of his own over the years, including prostate cancer, diabetes, and pulmonary fibrosis. He also suffered severe back pain following a slapstick stunt gone awry, which nearly left him paralyzed. He has recently had an electronic device implanted in his back to reduce discomfort, and also serves as a spokesperson for the company, Medtronic, which developed it. Lewis has been the recipient of several Lifetime Achievement Awards from The American Comedy Awards, The Golden Camera, The Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and The Venice Film Festival. He has also been recognized with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Lewis currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. YUDDY |
