Jerry Lewis
RETURN TO INDEX
Born Name:
Joseph Levitch
Born Date: March 16, 1926
Born Place: Newark, New Jersey
Died Date: August 20, 2017
Died Place: Las Vegas, Nevada
Occupations: Comedian, actor, singer, film director, film producer, screenwriter, humanitarian, vaudevillian, headliner
Brief Biography: Jerry Lewis was known as "The King of Comedy". He revolutionized American comedy with his high-energy, physical slapstick style, characterized by "rubber-faced" expressions, pratfalls, and child-like voice, influencing generations of performers.
Early Life and Career:
Born Joseph Levitch in Newark, New Jersey, to vaudevillian parents, he was "born in a trunk," performing on stage from age five.
"Record Act": As a teenager, he developed a successful act miming to records.
Dropping Out: He left high school to pursue his show business career.
The Martin and Lewis Era (1946–1956):
Partnership: In 1946, he partnered with singer Dean Martin, creating a legendary duo.
Success: They dominated nightclubs, radio, and television (notably The Colgate Comedy Hour) before starring in 16 successful Paramount films.
The Split: The partnership ended acrimoniously in 1956 after a decade, leading to twenty years of limited contact.
Solo Career and Filmmaking:
Solo Star: Lewis became a top-grossing movie star, starring in 35 motion pictures between 1957 and 1984.
Director & Innovator: He directed and wrote many of his films, including classics such as The Bellboy (1960), The Ladies Man (1961), and The Nutty Professor (1963).
Video Assist: Lewis is credited with inventing the "video assist" (using closed-circuit monitors to watch takes immediately), a technique now standard in filmmaking.
Dramatic Role: He earned critical acclaim for his dramatic role in Martin Scorsese's The King of Comedy (1982).
Humanitarian Work:
MDA Telethon: He was closely associated with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, hosting the annual Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon from 1966 to 2010, raising over $2.6 billion.
Honors: He was awarded the French Legion of Honor in 2006 and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2009.
Born Date: March 16, 1926
Born Place: Newark, New Jersey
Died Date: August 20, 2017
Died Place: Las Vegas, Nevada
Occupations: Comedian, actor, singer, film director, film producer, screenwriter, humanitarian, vaudevillian, headliner
Brief Biography: Jerry Lewis was known as "The King of Comedy". He revolutionized American comedy with his high-energy, physical slapstick style, characterized by "rubber-faced" expressions, pratfalls, and child-like voice, influencing generations of performers.
Early Life and Career:
Born Joseph Levitch in Newark, New Jersey, to vaudevillian parents, he was "born in a trunk," performing on stage from age five.
"Record Act": As a teenager, he developed a successful act miming to records.
Dropping Out: He left high school to pursue his show business career.
The Martin and Lewis Era (1946–1956):
Partnership: In 1946, he partnered with singer Dean Martin, creating a legendary duo.
Success: They dominated nightclubs, radio, and television (notably The Colgate Comedy Hour) before starring in 16 successful Paramount films.
The Split: The partnership ended acrimoniously in 1956 after a decade, leading to twenty years of limited contact.
Solo Career and Filmmaking:
Solo Star: Lewis became a top-grossing movie star, starring in 35 motion pictures between 1957 and 1984.
Director & Innovator: He directed and wrote many of his films, including classics such as The Bellboy (1960), The Ladies Man (1961), and The Nutty Professor (1963).
Video Assist: Lewis is credited with inventing the "video assist" (using closed-circuit monitors to watch takes immediately), a technique now standard in filmmaking.
Dramatic Role: He earned critical acclaim for his dramatic role in Martin Scorsese's The King of Comedy (1982).
Humanitarian Work:
MDA Telethon: He was closely associated with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, hosting the annual Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon from 1966 to 2010, raising over $2.6 billion.
Honors: He was awarded the French Legion of Honor in 2006 and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2009.