Jerry Lewis

Jerry Lewis (born March 16, 1926) was an American comedian, actor, singer, film producer, screenwriter and film director. He is known for his slapstick humor in film, television, stage and radio.

Children with Patti Lewis: Gary Lewis (born 1945), Ronald (born 1949), Scott (born 1956), Christopher (born 1957), Anthony (born 1959) and Joseph (born 1964). With SanDee Pitnick a daughter Danielle (born 1992).

He was originally paired up with Dean Martin in 1946, forming the famed comedy team of Martin and Lewis. In addition to the duo's popular nightclub work, they starred in a successful series of comedy films for Paramount Pictures. Lewis was also known for his charity fund-raising telethons and position as national chairman for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Lewis won several awards for lifetime achievements from The American Comedy Awards, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and Venice Film Festival, and he had two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Starred with Dean Martin on "The Martin and Lewis Show" (1949-1953), which aired on NBC radio. They first appeared together in the films My Friend Irma (1949) and My Friend Irma Goes West (1950). The Martin and Lewis comedy team were one of a series of rotating hosts of the television show The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950).

He and Dean Martin were the world's top box-office earners from 1950-1956. On his own, Lewis also ruled as #1 movie draw in 1957, 1959, and 1961-1964.

Said his favorite Martin and Lewis film was The Stooge (1951) because "...it came closest to capturing what Dean and I had as a team".

In Italy, Lewis has been given the nickname 'Picchiatello' (which means something like "nut" or "crazy"). At least three of his movies use the word in their Italian title: You're Never Too Young (1955) which became "Il Nipote Picchiatello" ("The Crazy Nephew"), Hardly Working (1980) ("Bentornato Picchiatello", or "Welcome Back Crazy") and Cracking Up (1983) ("Qua La Mano Picchiatello". pr "Shake My Hand, Crazy").

Came upon his long-time theme song, "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby (With a Dixie Melody)", by accident. In 1956, he had to cover for an indisposed Judy Garland at a performance in Las Vegas, which included singing several of her songs. His performance of "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby", using Garland's arrangement, went over so well with the audience that Lewis has used it as his theme song ever since. He had a #10 hit recording with the song in 1957 and launched a recording career.

Was offered the role of Jerry/Daphne in Some Like It Hot (1959), directed by his friend Billy Wilder. He declined because he didn't want to dress in drag. The role, of course, eventually went to Jack Lemmon and he received an Oscar nomination for his performance. Lewis says that Lemmon would send him chocolates every year to thank him and he regretted not taking the role.

Oldest son Gary Lewis and his soft-rock group Gary Lewis & The Playboys had several pop hits in the 1960s, including "This Diamond Ring". At the height of his recording career Gary and Jerry appeared together on NBC TV's Hullabaloo (1965).

On March 20, 1965, he suffered a serious back injury while performing at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, resulting in chronic pain. He became addicted to the prescription painkiller Percodan, but says he has been off the medication since 1978. He used an implant device that dulls nerve impulses and can be controlled by a hand-held remote control.

In 1969, Lewis announced an ambitious project of franchising a chain of Jerry Lewis Cinemas. A firm believer in family entertainment, he said that the one inviolate rule of the chain would be that nothing other than family-oriented films would be shown. The theaters were to be state-of-the-art, easy to operate and franchised to individuals who could meet the chain's investment requirements. However, a combination of changing tastes in popular entertainment and management problems caused the project to collapse within just a few years. Several lawsuits between Lewis and his associates were settled out of court.

Norman Lear (creator of All in the Family (1971)) co-wrote many of the episodes of Martin and Lewis's show The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950).

Wrote, produced, and acted in the film The Day the Clown Cried (1972) which, because of legal difficulties, has not been released as of this date (March 2009). The film is a tale of a clown in Auschwitz during World War II.

Contrary to belief, the 1976 MDA telethon was not the first reconciliation of the legendary comedy team. They appeared spontaneously on ABC's The Joey Bishop Show (1961) and then ran off through the audience. In 1960, four years after they separated, they briefly reunited. Both were performing their own separate acts at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, a club they frequently played while they were together. Lewis caught Martin's closing act and Martin introduced his former partner to the audience, bringing him on stage. For about 15 minutes, they joked a little and sang a duet of "Come Back to Me". Unfortunately, the reunion was only a one-time thing. Later when Lewis was too exhausted to perform his act, Martin generously replaced him.

Society of Operating Cameramen, (SOC) Honorary Member (1981) Lewis was honored for his contribution and development the first "Video Assist" for the motion picture camera in 1966. This allowed him to view his performance while directing himself in his films. This is used extensively today in filmmaking, known as "Video Village".

Pronounced clinically dead from a massive heart attack, after completing The King of Comedy (1982) with Robert De Niro. [December 1982]

Had open heart surgery (1983) and underwent surgery for prostate cancer (1992).

He was presented the French Legion of Honor (1984) and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize (1977).

Claimed he was thrown out of high school for punching out his principal who had offended him with an anti-Semitic remark, and then went directly into vaudeville. An episode of Seinfeld (1989) makes use of plot point based on Lewis' (alleged) real-life stratagem of secretly leaving an audiotape recorder running in a briefcase he intentionally leaves behind him in meetings to see what some people may be saying about him.

He became the highest paid performer in Broadway history for his role as the Devil in "Damn Yankees" (1995).

Lewis was unable to perform at a planned London charity event at the London Palladium. He was the headlining act, and he was introduced but did not appear. He had suddenly become unwell, apparently with heart problems. He was subsequently taken to the hospital. Some months thereafter, Lewis began an arduous, months-long therapy that weaned him off prednisone and enabled him to return to work. [September 2001]

October 13, 2003, he entered a Las Vegas hospital to kick steroids used in the treatment of his pulmonary fibrosis.

In 2005, he received the Governors Award of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Board of Governors, which is the highest Emmy Award presented.

For his 80th birthday in 2006, he was given a medal and induction into the Legion of Honor by France, given the honorary title of "Legion Commander". He apologized for not speaking French at the ceremony but said that "even if the French people cannot hear my language, they have always heard my heart".

On February 22, 2009, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded Lewis the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.