Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis, born as Joseph Levitch, (March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, singer, director and humanitarian. He was of Jewish descent. He was best known for acting in comedy movies in the 1950s and 1960s such as The Nutty Professor. He also helped to raise money for people with muscular dystrophy, through the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Jerry Lewis | |
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.jpg) 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. |
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| Years active | 1931–2017[1] |
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| Children | 7, including Gary |
| Website | jerrylewiscomedy |
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Lewis was born in Newark, New Jersey. He studied at Irvington High School though he dropped out in his sophomore year.
Lewis first became famous as part of Martin & Lewis, working with singer Dean Martin. They worked together for ten years. They appeared on stage, radio and television, and in movies. They stopped working together in 1956 and did not speak for years. They reunited a few times from the 1970s to the 1990s.
Lewis directed of many of his movies. He was the first director to use video cameras with movie cameras, to help with filming scenes. Film takes time to process, but videotape can be played back right away, saving time and work if a scene needs to be redone. Other directors soon started using his technique, and it is still used today.
During the 1970s, Lewis' movies became less popular. He moved away from acting and directing. In the 1990s, he returned to performing onstage. He continued to perform during the 2000s.
Lewis was a Republican though he was friends with President John F. Kennedy.[2] He supported Presidents Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump.[3]
Lewis died at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada at 9:15 AM of cardiomyopathy on August 20, 2017 at the age of 91.[4]
Movies
Jerry Lewis acted in many movies, including:
- The Stooge (1952)
- Hollywood or Bust (1956)
- The Bellboy (1960)
- The Errand Boy (1961)
- The Patsy (1964)
- The Disorderly Orderly (1964)
- Three on a Couch (1966)
- Way... Way Out (1966)
- Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River (1967)
- The Big Mouth (1967)
- Silent Treatment (1968)
- Hook, Line & Sinker (1969)
Jerry Lewis Media
Lewis with Dean Martin in 1950
Publicity photo of Jerry Lewis for his NBC television program.
Lewis as Professor Kelp, with co-star Stella Stevens, in The Nutty Professor (1963)
Publicity photo of Lewis for The Jerry Lewis Show
Publicity photo of Jerry Lewis when he was guest-hosting The Tonight Show for Johnny Carson.
Lewis at the Cannes Film Festival, 2013
Lewis with President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan meeting with the Muscular Dystrophy Poster Child Christi Bartlett in The Oval Office, March 1981
Lewis's motion picture star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6821 Hollywood Blvd.
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References
- ↑ Hirschberg, Lynn (October 28, 1982). "What's So Funny About Jerry Lewis?". Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-features/whats-so-funny-about-jerry-lewis-83843/.
- ↑ Elfman, Doug (August 31, 2008). "How Jack Kennedy Talked Jerry Lewis Out Of A $500 Million Charity Loan". Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- ↑ "Jerry Lewis Praises Donald Trump, Says Syrian Refugees 'Should Stay Where the Hell They Are' (Video)". Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- ↑ Natale, Richard; Dagan, Carmel (August 20, 2017). "Jerry Lewis, Comedy Legend, Dies at 91". Variety. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
Other websites
- Official Jerry Lewis website Archived 2006-08-30 at the Wayback Machine
- Jerry Lewis on IMDb
- Italian Jerry Lewis fansite Archived 2009-05-20 at the Wayback Machine