Jerry Lewis (bornJoseph Levitch;[a] March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, singer, filmmaker and humanitarian. Under his famous nickname "The King of Comedy", across his seven-decade career, he is regarded as one of the greatest comedians of the 20th century.
Lewis was born as Joseph Levitch on March 16, 1926, inNewark, New Jersey, to aJewish family.[3][4] His parents were Daniel "Danny" Levitch (1902–1980), amaster of ceremonies andvaudevillian who performed under the stage name Danny Lewis, whose parents immigrated to the United States from theRussian Empire to New York, and Rachael "Rae" Levitch (née Brodsky; 1904–1982), aWOR radio pianist and Danny's music director, fromWarsaw.[5][6][7][8] Reports about his birth name are conflicting; in Lewis' 1982 autobiography, he claimed his birth name was Joseph, after his maternal grandfather, but hisbirth certificate,[9][10] the1930 U. S. Census, and the1940 U. S. Census all named him as Jerome.[2][8][11][12] Reports about the hospital where he was born conflict as well; biographerShawn Levy claims Lewis was born at Clinton Private Hospital and others report it asNewark Beth Israel Hospital.[13][14][15][16] Other aspects of his early life conflict with accounts made by family members, burial records, andvital records.[17]
In his teenage years, Lewis was known for pulling pranks in his neighborhood, including sneaking into kitchens to steal fried chicken and pies. He was expelled fromWeequahic High School in the ninth grade and dropped out ofIrvington High School in the tenth grade.[18] Lewis said that he ceased using the names Joseph and Joey as an adult to avoid being confused withJoe E. Lewis andJoe Louis.[5] By age 15, Lewis had developed his "Record Act", miming lyrics to songs while a phonograph played offstage.[19] He landed a gig at a burlesque house in Buffalo, but his performance fell flat and he was unable to book any more shows.
To make ends meet, Lewis worked as asoda jerk and a theater usher forSuzanne Pleshette's father, Gene Pleshette, at theParamount Theatre[20] as well as atLoew's Capitol Theatre, both in New York City.[21] A veteran burlesque comedian, Max Coleman, who had worked with Lewis' father years before, persuaded him to try again. Irving Kaye,[22] aBorscht Belt comedian, saw Lewis' mime act atBrown's Hotel in Loch Sheldrake, New York, the following summer, and the audience was so enthusiastic that Kaye became Lewis' manager and guardian for Borscht Belt appearances.[23] DuringWorld War II, Lewis was rejected from military service because of aheart murmur.[24]
In 1945, Lewis was 19 when he met singerDean Martin, then 27 at the time, at the Glass Hat Club in New York City, where the two performed until they debuted atAtlantic City's500 Club asMartin and Lewis on July 25, 1946. The duo gained attention as a double act with Martin serving as thestraight man to Lewis's zany antics. The inclusion of ad-libbed improvisational segments in their planned routines added a unique quality to their act and separated them from previous comedy duos.[25]
Lewis and Martin quickly rose to national prominence, first with their popular nightclub act, then as stars of their radio programThe Martin and Lewis Show.[26] The two made their television debut on CBS'Toast of the Town (later renamed asThe Ed Sullivan Show) June 20, 1948.[27]
The duo did their final live nightclub act together at theCopacabana on July 24, 1956. Both Lewis and Martin went on to have successful solo careers, but neither would comment on the split nor consider a reunion. Martin surprised Lewis on his appearance onThe Eddie Fisher Show on September 30, 1958, appeared together at the 1959 Academy Awards closing, reunited several times publicly and sometimes privately according to interviews they gave to magazines.[32]
After ending his partnership with Martin in 1956, Lewis and his wife Patty took a vacation in Las Vegas to consider the direction of his career. He felt his life was in a crisis state: "I was unable to put one foot in front of the other with any confidence. I was completely unnerved to be alone."[24] While there, he received an urgent request from his friendSid Luft, who wasJudy Garland's husband and manager, saying that she couldn't perform that night in Las Vegas because ofstrep throat,[24] and asking Lewis to fill in. Lewis had not sung alone on stage since he was five years old, twenty-five years before.
He delivered jokes and clowned with the audience while Garland sat off-stage, watching. He then sang a rendition of a song he had learned as a child, "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" along with "Come Rain or Come Shine." Lewis recalled, "When I was done, the place exploded. I walked off the stage knowing I could make it on my own."[24] At his wife's urging, Lewis used his own money to record the songs on a single.[33]Decca Records heard it, liked it and insisted he record an album for them.[34] The single of "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby" went to No. 10 and the albumJerry Lewis Just Sings went to No. 3 on theBillboard charts, staying near the top for four months and selling a million and a half copies.[24][35]
Lewis in 1958
With the success of that album, he recorded additional albumsMore Jerry Lewis (an EP of songs from this release was released asSomebody Loves Me), andJerry Lewis Sings Big Songs for Little People (later reissued with fewer tracks asJerry Lewis Sings for Children). Non-album singles were released, andIt All Depends On You hit the charts in April and May 1957, but peaked at only No. 68. Further singles were recorded and released by Lewis into the mid-1960s. But these were not Lewis's first forays into recording, nor his first appearance on the hit charts. During his partnership with Martin, they made several recordings together, charting at No. 22 in 1948 with the 1920sThat Certain Party and later mostly re-recording songs highlighted in their films.[citation needed]
In late 1956, Lewis began performing regularly at theSands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, which marked a turning point in his life and career. The Sands signed him for five years to perform six weeks each year and paid him the same amount they had paid Martin and Lewis as a team.[34] Live performances became a staple of Lewis's career and over the years he performed at casinos, theaters, and state fairs. In February 1957, Lewis followed Garland at thePalace Theater in New York and Martin called on the phone during this period to wish him the best of luck.[34] "I've never been happier", said Lewis. "I have peace of mind for the first time."[34] Lewis established himself as a solo act, starting with the first of six appearances onWhat's My Line? from 1956 to 1966, then guest starred onThe Tennessee Ernie Ford Show,Tonight Starring Jack Paar andThe Ed Sullivan Show.
In January 1957, Lewis did a number of solo specials for NBC and starred in his adaptation of "The Jazz Singer" forStartime, then hosted the Academy Awards three times, in 1956, 1957 and 1959. The third telecast, which ran twenty minutes short, forced him to improvise to fill time.[36]
A 1959 contract between Paramount and Jerry Lewis Productions specified a payment of $10 million plus 60% of the profits for 14 films over seven years.[37] This made Lewis the highest paid individual Hollywood talent to date and was unprecedented in that he had unlimited creative control, including final cut and the return of film rights after 30 years. Lewis's clout and box office were so strong[38] thatBarney Balaban, head of production at Paramount, told the press, "If Jerry wants to burn down the studio I'll give him the match!"[39]
Lewis ended his association with Hal Wallis, their last joint venture beingVisit to a Small Planet (1960). His next film wasCinderfella (1960), directed by Frank Tashlin; it was supposed to be Lewis's summer release, but Paramount withheld it in preparation for a Christmas 1960 release. Paramount, needing a quickie movie for its summer 1960 schedule, insisted that Lewis must produce one.[40]
This resulted in Lewis's sudden transformation from movie clown to all-around filmmaker. He produced, directed, co-wrote, and starred inThe Bellboy (1960). Using theFontainebleau Hotel in Miami as his setting—on a small budget, with a very tight shooting schedule—Lewis shot the film during the day and performed at the hotel in the evenings.[40]Bill Richmond collaborated with him on many of the episodic blackouts and sight gags. The film presented a new approach for the usually frenetic and highly vocal comedian: inThe Bellboy Lewis doesn't speak at all—he only whistles—until a punchline at the very end of the film.
This was really a time-saving device; by concentrating on visual action, Lewis could film the scenes faster without bothering to remember written dialogue. Another time-saver was his innovative use of "video assist"—instant video playback, which allowed Lewis to review each scene on videotape immediately after filming it, thus eliminating film-laboratory delays and expenses. Trade reviewer Pete Harrison noted the sight gags but felt that Lewis was not a true pantomime artist: "As a mute, there are only brief moments of his work coming close toChaplin,Jacques Tati, orHarpo Marx. Lewis, always laughed at, fails to win the viewer's heart."[41]
Lewis later revealed that Paramount was not happy about financing a "silent movie" and withdrew backing. Lewis used his own funds to cover the movie's $950,000 budget.The Bellboy turned out to be a hit, ranking with his better successes.Variety's Gene Arneel reported independent producerHall Bartlett's observation, "Lewis is the only star whose pictures all turn out in the black."[42]
Lewis continued to direct more films that he co-wrote with Bill Richmond, includingThe Ladies Man (1961), where Lewis constructed a three-story dollhouse-like set spanning two sound stages, with the set equipped with state-of-the-art lighting and sound, eliminating the need for boom microphones in each room. His next movieThe Errand Boy (1961), used the same formula asThe Bellboy, with Lewis turned loose in a movie studio for blackouts and sight gags.
Lewis was also somewhat active in television.NBC released him from a long-term contract in 1960; the official reason given was that Lewis was devoting more time to his motion pictures. A more probable reason was the difficulty in finding a weekly television vehicle for Lewis. (NBC did announce two series in development, "Permanent Waves" and "The Comedy Concert.")[43]
Lewis's TV appearances were usually guest shots. He appeared inThe Wacky World of Jerry Lewis,Celebrity Golf,The Garry Moore Show,The Soupy Sales Show,It's Only Money (1962) and guest hostedThe Tonight Show during the transition fromJack Paar toJohnny Carson in 1962, and his appearance on the show scored the highest ratings thus far in late night, surpassing other guest hosts and Paar.
The three major networks began a bidding war, wooing Lewis for his own talk show.[citation needed] Lewis then directed, co-wrote and starred inThe Nutty Professor (1963). A parody ofDr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, it featured him asProfessor Kelp, a socially inept scientist who invents a serum that turns him into a handsome but obnoxious ladies' man. It is often considered to be Lewis's best film.[44][45]
Following a cameo onThe Joey Bishop Show, he starred inThe Family Jewels (1965) about a young heiress who must choose among six uncles, one of whom is up to no good and out to harm the girl's beloved bodyguard who practically raised her. The six uncles and the bodyguard were all played by Lewis.[48]
In 1965, Lewis went onThe David Susskind Show, starred in his final Paramount-released filmBoeing Boeing (1965),[49] in which he received aGolden Globe nomination, then guest appeared onBen Casey,The Andy Williams Show andHullabaloo with sonGary Lewis. Lewis left Paramount in 1966, after 17 years, as the studio was undergoing a corporate shakeup, with the industrial conglomerateGulf + Western taking over the company. Gulf + Western, scrutinizing the balance sheets, noted the diminishing box office returns of Lewis's recent pictures and did not renew his contract.
Lewis would leave Columbia after his agreement with the studio lapsed, leaving him to produce his next movie independently.Which Way to the Front? (1970) was aWorld War II military comedy starring Lewis as a wealthy playboy who wants to enlist in the armed forces. Rejected, he forms his own volunteer army and infiltrates the enemy forces on the Italian front. The cast included many of Lewis's cronies, includingJan Murray,Steve Franken,Kathleen Freeman,Kenneth MacDonald,Joe Besser, and (in a broad caricature ofAdolf Hitler)Sidney Miller. The film received only a limited release byWarner Bros., and was not well received by the critics or the public. Lewis would later guest appeared on the NBC specialThe Klowns.
The Day the Clown Cried (1972), a drama directed by and starring Lewis and set in aNazi concentration camp, received only brief exposure. The film was rarely discussed by him, but he said that litigation over post-production finances and copyright prevented its completion and widespread theatrical release. He also said a factor for the film's burial was that he was not proud of the effort.[52][53] It was the earliest attempt by an American film director to address the subject ofThe Holocaust.[54][failed verification] Following this, Lewis took a break from the movie business for several years.[55]
His television appearances during this period includedGood Morning America,The Dick Cavett Show,NBC Follies,Celebrity Sportsman,Cher,Dinah!,Tony Orlando and Dawn. As Lewis continued to annually emceehis telethons, one of the most memorable was the 1976 show,[56] where on that broadcast, unrehearsed, Sinatra offered to bring an old friend on stage. From the wings came Dean Martin, as the audience cheered. Lewis was stunned by the surprise, but he embraced Martin and they exchanged jokes for several minutes.[57]
In 1976, producerAlexander H. Cohen signed Lewis to star in a revival ofOlsen and Johnson's musical-comedy revueHellzapoppin. "I do think that to succeed today, a comedy revue requires a larger-than-life comic", Cohen told syndicated columnistJack O'Brian. "That is why I have engaged Jerry Lewis to star in the new production ofHellzapoppin, which I'm preparing for the coming season."[58] Cohen had revivedHellzapoppin as a TV special in 1972, and was impressed by the contributions ofLynn Redgrave; he signed her to appear opposite Lewis. This was Lewis's first Broadway show, and was so eagerly awaited thatNBC-TV promised Cohen $1,000,000 for the rights to broadcast the opening night live on national television.
Out-of-town tryouts were staged inWashington, D.C.,Baltimore, andBoston to excellent business but mixed reviews. There was turmoil behind the scenes, as comedy star Lewis dominated the production and had serious arguments with producer Cohen, co-star Redgrave, and writer-adaptorAbe Burrows. "Lewis and Miss Redgrave had been having a much-publicized feud", according to an account in thePittsburgh Press. "He would neither rehearse nor perform any songs with her, reports said."[59] The backstage chaos extended to several sudden cast changes during the Boston run.
On January 18, 1977, NBC executives flew to Boston to see the show, and their reactions were so negative that Cohen closed the show immediately and canceled both the Broadway engagement and the TV spectacular, forfeiting the million-dollar payment from NBC. "It's not ready for Broadway and cannot be made so in three remaining weeks before the opening", Cohen said. Cohen's spokesman subsequently announced that the stars would be replaced: "Recasting means recasting, and that's it."[60]
Following a syndicated talk show for Metromedia, Lewis directed an episode ofBrothers, appeared at the very firstComic Relief in 1986, where he was the only performer to receive a standing ovation, appeared forClassic Treasures,Fight for Life (1987), an ABC televised movie,[62] appeared onLas Vegas at 75: All-Star Tribute, hostedAmerica's All-Time Favorite Movies and came onSpeaking of Everything. While guest starring in five episodes ofWiseguy,[63] its filming schedule forced Lewis to miss theMuseum of the Moving Image's opening with a retrospective of his work.
Lewis "single-handedly created a style of humor that was half anarchy, half excruciation. Even comics who never took a pratfall in their careers owe something to the self-deprecation Jerry introduced into American show business."[73]
Jerry Lewis was the most profoundly creative comedian of his generation and arguably one of the two or three most influential comedians born anywhere in this century.
The King of Comedy, 1996
His comedy style was physically uninhibited, expressive, and potentially volatile. He was known especially for his distinctive voice, facial expressions, pratfalls, and physical stunts. Hisimprovisations and ad-libbing, especially in nightclubs and early television were revolutionary among performers. It was "marked by a raw, edgy energy that would distinguish him within the comedy landscape."[74] Will Sloan, ofFlavorwire wrote, "In the late '40s and early '50s, nobody had ever seen a comedian as wild as Jerry Lewis."[75] Placed in the context of the conservative era, his antics were radical and liberating, paving the way for future comediansSteve Martin,Richard Pryor,Andy Kaufman,Paul Reubens, andJim Carrey. Carrey wrote: "Through his comedy, Jerry would stretch the boundaries of reality so far that it was an act of anarchy ... I learned from Jerry",[76] and "I am because he was."[77]
Acting the bumblingeveryman, Lewis used tightly choreographed, sophisticated sight gags, physical routines, verbaldouble-talk andmalapropisms. "You cannot help but notice Lewis's incredible sense of control in regards to performing—they may have looked at times like the ravings of a madman but his best work had a genuine grace and finesse behind it that would put most comedic performers of any era to shame."[78] They are "choreographed as exactly as any ballet, each movement and gesture coming on natural beats and conforming to the overall rhythmic form which is headed to a spectacular finale: absolute catastrophe."[79]
Although Lewis made it no secret that he was Jewish, he was criticized for hiding his Jewish heritage. In several of his films—both with Martin and solo—Lewis'sJewish identity is hinted at in passing, and was never made a defining characteristic of his onscreen persona. Aside from the 1959 television movieThe Jazz Singer and the unreleased 1972 filmThe Day the Clown Cried, Lewis never appeared in a film or film role that had any ties to his Jewish heritage.[3] When asked about this lack of Jewish portrayal in a 1984 interview, Lewis stated, "I never hid it, but I wouldn't announce it and I wouldn't exploit it. Plus the fact it had no room in the visual direction I was taking in my work."[4]
Lewis's physical movements in films received some criticism because he was perceived as imitating or mocking those with a physical disability.[80] Through the years, the disability that has been attached to his comedic persona has not been physical, but mental. Neuroticism and schizophrenia have been a part of Lewis's persona since his partnership with Dean Martin; however, it was in his solo career that these disabilities became important to the plots of his films and the characters. In films such asThe Ladies Man (1961),The Disorderly Orderly (1964),The Patsy (1964) andCracking Up (1983), there is either neuroticism, schizophrenia, or both that drive the plot. Lewis was able to explore and dissect the psychological side of his persona, which provided a depth to the character and the films that was not present in his previous efforts.[81]
During the 1960 production ofThe Bellboy, Lewis pioneered the technique of using video cameras and multiple closed circuit monitors,[82] which allowed him to review his performance instantly. This was necessary since he was acting as well as directing. His techniques and methods of filmmaking, documented in his book and his USC class, enabled him to complete most of his films on time and under budget since reshoots could take place immediately instead of waiting for thedailies.[citation needed]
Man in Motion,[83] afeaturette forThree on a Couch, features the video system, named "Jerry's Noisy Toy"[84] and shows Lewis receiving the Golden Light Technical Achievement award for its development. Lewis stated he worked with the head ofSony to produce the prototype. While he initiated its practice and use, and was instrumental in its development, he did not hold a patent.[85][86]
Lewis screened Spielberg's early filmAmblin' and told his students, "That's what filmmaking is all about."[87] The class covered all topics related to filmmaking, including pre and post production, marketing and distribution and filming comedy with rhythm and timing.[88] His 1971 bookThe Total Film Maker, was based on 480 hours of his class lectures.[89] Lewis also traveled to medical schools for seminars on laughter and healing with Clifford Kuhn and also did corporate and college lectures, motivational speaking and promoted the pain-treatment companyMedtronic.[90]
"Americans are the people who, when the French decided that Jerry Lewis was a genius, never stopped to ask why, but immediately branded France a nation of idiots." —BiographerJeanine Basinger inSilent Stars (1999).[91]
While Lewis was popular in France for his duo films with Dean Martin and his solo comedy films, his reputation and stature increased after the Paramount contract, when he began to exert total control over all aspects of his films. His involvement in directing, writing, editing and art direction coincided with the rise ofauteur theory in French intellectual film criticism and theFrench New Wave movement. He earned consistent praise from French critics in the influential magazinesCahiers du Cinéma andPositif, where he was hailed as an ingenious auteur.[51]
His singularmise-en-scène, and skill behind the camera, were aligned withHoward Hawks,Alfred Hitchcock andSatyajit Ray. Appreciated too, was the complexity of his also being in front of the camera. The new French criticism viewedcinema as an art form unto itself, and comedy as part of this art. Lewis is then fitted into a historical context and seen as not only worthy of critique, but as an innovator and satirist of his time.[92]Jean-Pierre Coursodon states in a 1975Film Comment article, "The merit of the French critics, auteurist excesses notwithstanding, was their willingness to look at what Lewis was doing as a filmmaker for what it was, rather than with some preconception of what film comedy should be."[93]
Curricula at universities or art schools,film studies andfilm theory were not yetavant-garde in early 1960s America. Mainstream movie reviewers such asPauline Kael, were dismissive of auteur theory, and others, seeing only absurdist comedy, criticized Lewis for his ambition and "castigated him for his self-indulgence" and egotism. Despite this criticism being often held by American film critics, admiration for Lewis and his comedy continued to grow in France.[94]
Appreciation of Lewis by "the French" became something of a stereotype and was often the object of jokes in American pop culture.[95] "That Americans can't see Jerry Lewis's genius is bewildering", says N. T. Binh, a French film magazine critic. Such bewilderment was the basis of the bookWhy the French Love Jerry Lewis.[96]
After meeting with Paul Cohen, founder of theMuscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), Lewis and Martin made their first appeal in early December 1951 on the finale ofThe Colgate Comedy Hour, followed by another in 1952. Lewis foughtRocky Marciano in a boxing bout for MDA's fund drive in 1954.[98] In 1956, the duo hosted MDA's first telethon from June 29 to June 30, until the end of their comedy act on July 25 and Lewis becoming MDA's national chairman soon after. TwoThanksgiving specials were helmed in 1957 and 1959.[99]
The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon made its premiere in late 1966. Since its first broadcast on one station that year, the annual telethon aired live everyLabor Day weekend for 44 years over five decades, originating from different locations including New York, Las Vegas, Hollywood and Chicago, becoming the most watched and most successful fundraising event in the history of television.[100]
The telethon (a portmanteau of television and marathon) was the first to: raise over $1 million, in 1966;[101] be shown entirely in color, in 1967; become a networked telethon, in 1968; go coast-to-coast, in 1970; be seen outside the continental U.S., in 1972. It raised the largest sum ever in a single event for humanitarian purposes, in 1974; had the greatest amount ever pledged to a televised charitable event, in 1980 (from theGuinness Book of World Records); was the first to be seen by 100 million people, in 1985; celebrated its 25th anniversary, in 1990; saw its highest pledge in history, in 1992; and was the first seen worldwide via internet simulcast, in 1998.[102]
By 1990, societal views of disabled individuals and the telethon format had shifted. Lewis's and the telethon's methods were criticized by disability rights activists who believed the show was "designed to evoke pity rather than empower the disabled."[103] The activists said the telethon perpetuated prejudices and stereotypes, that Lewis treated those he said he was helping with little respect, and that he used offensive language when describing them.[104] Lewis rebutted the criticism and defended his methods saying, "If you don't tug at their heartstrings, then you're on the air for nothing."[105]
During Lewis's lifetime, MDA-funded scientists discovered the causes of most of the diseases in the Muscular Dystrophy Association's program, developing treatments, therapies and standards of care that have allowed many people living with these diseases to live longer and grow stronger.[106] Lewis received aNobel Peace Prize nomination, a Lifetime Achievement Award from theAmerican Medical Association, a Governors Award and theJean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.[107]
On August 3, 2011, MDA announced that Lewis would no longer host its telethons[108] and that he was no longer associated with MDA. The 2011 telethon (which originally was to be Lewis's 46th and final show with MDA) featured a tribute to Lewis. In May 2015, MDA said it was discontinuing its telethon in view of "the new realities of television viewing and philanthropic giving."[109]
In early 2016, at MDA's brand relaunch event atCarnegie Hall in New York City, Lewis broke a five-year silence during a special taped message, marking his first (and as it turned out, his final) appearance in support of MDA since his final telethon in 2010 and the end of his tenure as national chairman in 2011.[110]
Lewis wed Patti Palmer (née Esther Grace Calonico; 1921–2021), a singer withTed Fio Rito, on October 3, 1944.[5][111][112][113][114][115] They had six sons together; five biological:Gary (born 1945),[2][116][117][118][119] Scott (born 1956), Christopher (born 1957), Anthony (born 1959) and Joseph (1964–2009);[120] and oneadopted: Ronald (born 1949).[121] It was aninterfaith marriage; Lewis was Jewish and Palmer was Catholic.
While married to Palmer, Lewis likely fathered a daughter, Suzan (born 1952) with Lynn Dixon Kleinman.[122][123]DNA testing indicated an 88.7 percent probability that Suzan is related to Lewis' acknowledged son Gary.[124] Lewis openly pursued relationships with other women and gave unapologetic interviews about hisinfidelity, revealing his affairs withMarilyn Monroe andMarlene Dietrich toPeople in 2011.[125] Palmer filed for divorce from Lewis in 1980, after 35 years of marriage, citing Lewis's extravagant spending and infidelity on his part, and it was finalized in 1983.[126][127][128] All of Lewis's children and grandchildren from his marriage to Palmer were excluded from inheriting any part of his estate.[129][130] His eldest son, Gary, publicly called his father a "mean and evil person" and said that Lewis never showed him or his siblings any love or care.[129]
Lewis's second wife was Sandra "SanDee" Pitnick,[131] aUniversity of North Carolina School of the Arts professionally trained ballerina andstewardess, who met Lewis after winning abit part in a dancing scene on his filmHardly Working. They wed on February 13, 1983, inKey Biscayne, Florida,[132] adopted a daughter, Danielle (born 1992), and were married for 34 years until Lewis's death on August 20, 2017.[133][134][135]
After opening a camera shop in 1950, Lewis agreed to lend his name to "Jerry Lewis Cinemas" in 1969, offered by National Cinema Corporation, as a franchise business opportunity for those interested in theatrical movie exhibition. Jerry Lewis Cinemas stated that their theaters could be operated by a staff of as few as two with the aid of automation and support provided by the franchiser in booking film and other aspects of film exhibition. A forerunner of the smaller rooms typical of later multi-screen complexes, a Jerry Lewis Cinema was billed in franchising ads as a "mini-theatre" with a seating capacity of between 200 and 350.[136]
In addition to Lewis's name, each Jerry Lewis Cinema bore a sign with a cartoon logo of Lewis in profile.[137] Initially 158 territories were franchised, with a buy-in fee of $10,000 or $15,000 depending on the territory, for what was called an "individual exhibitor." For $50,000, Jerry Lewis Cinemas offered an opportunity known as an "area directorship", in which investors controlled franchising opportunities in a territory as well as their own cinemas.[138] The success of the chain was hampered by a policy of only booking second-run, family-friendly films. Eventually the policy was changed, and the Jerry Lewis Cinemas were allowed to show more competitive movies. But after a decade the chain failed and both Lewis and National Cinema Corporation declared bankruptcy in 1980.[139]
In 1973, Lewis appeared on the 1st Annual 20-hour Highway Safety Foundation Telethon, then in 1990, wrote and directedBoy, a short film forUNICEF'sHow Are The Children? anthology,[140] meeting up with seven-year-old Lochie Graham in 2010, who shared his idea for "Jerry's House", a place for vulnerable and traumatized children[141][142] and in 2016, would lend his name and star power toCriss Angel's HELP (Heal Every Life Possible) charity event.[143]
Lewis kept a low political profile for many years, having taken advice reportedly given to him by PresidentJohn F. Kennedy, who told him, "Don't get into anything political. Don't do that because they will usurp your energy."[147] Nevertheless, he campaigned and performed on behalf of both JFK andRobert F. Kennedy, and was a supporter of thecivil rights movement. For his 1957 NBC special, Lewis held his ground when southern affiliates objected to his friendship with Sammy Davis, Jr.[148] In a 1971Movie Mirror magazine article, Lewis spoke out against theVietnam War. He vowed to leave the country rather than send another of his sons.[citation needed]
Lewis observed that political speeches should not be at theOscars. He stated, "I think we are the most dedicated industry in the world. And I think that we have to present ourselves that night as hard-working, caring and important people to the industry. We need to get more self-respect as an industry."[149] In a 2004 interview withThe Guardian, Lewis was asked what he was least proud of, to which he answered, "Politics."[150]
He mocked citizens' lack ofpride in their country, stating, "PresidentBush is my president. I will not say anything negative about the president of the United States. I don't do that. And I don't allow my children to do that. Likewise, when I come to England don't you do any jokes about 'Mum' to me. That is theQueen of England, you moron. Do you know how tough a job it is to be the Queen of England?"[151]
In a December 2015 interview on EWTN'sWorld Over with Raymond Arroyo, Lewis expressed opposition to the United States letting inSyrian refugees, saying, "No one has worked harder for the human condition than I have, but they're not part of the human condition if 11 guys in that group of 10,000 areISIS. How can I take that chance?"[152] In the same interview, he criticized PresidentBarack Obama for not being prepared for ISIS, while expressing support forDonald Trump, saying he would make a good president because he was a good "showman." He also added that he admiredRonald Reagan's presidency.[153][154][155]
In February 1994, a man named Gary Benson was revealed to have been stalking Lewis and his family.[156] Benson subsequently served four years in prison.[157]
Lewis suffered from a number of chronic health problems, illnesses and addictions related both to aging and a back injury sustained in a comedicpratfall. The fall has been stated as being either from a piano while performing at theSands Hotel and Casino on theLas Vegas Strip on March 20, 1965,[161][162] or during an appearance onThe Andy Williams Show.[6][163] In its aftermath, Lewis became addicted to the painkillerPercodan for thirteen years.[161] He said he had been off the drug since 1978.[162] In April 2002, Lewis had aMedtronic "Synergy"neurostimulator implanted in his back,[164] which helped reduce the discomfort. He was one of the company's leading spokesmen.[162][164]
Lewis suffered numerous heart problems throughout his life; he revealed in the 2011 documentaryMethod to the Madness of Jerry Lewis that he suffered his first heart attack at age 34 while filmingCinderfella in 1960.[165][166] In December 1982, at age 56, he suffered his second heart attack and that same month underwentopen-heartdouble-bypass surgery.[167][168] En route to San Diego from New York City on a cross-country commercial airline flight on June 11, 2006, Lewis suffered his third heart attack at age 80.[169] It was discovered that he hadpneumonia, as well as a severely damaged heart. He underwent acardiac catheterization days after the heart attack, and twostents were inserted into one of his coronary arteries, which was 90 percent blocked.[170] The surgery resulted in increased blood flow to his heart and allowed him to continue his rebound from earlier lung problems. Having the cardiac catheterization required him to cancel several major events from his schedule, but he fully recuperated in a matter of weeks.[171]
In 1999, Lewis's Australian tour was cut short when he had to be hospitalized inDarwin with viralmeningitis.[172][173] He was ill for more than five months. It was reported in the Australian press that he had failed to pay his medical bills. However, Lewis maintained that the payment confusion was the fault of his health insurer. The resulting negative publicity caused him to sue his insurer for US$100 million.[174]
In addition to his decades-long heart problems, Lewis hadprostate cancer,[175]type 1 diabetes,[162][176] andpulmonary fibrosis.[161] In the late 1990s, Lewis was treated withprednisone[161] for pulmonary fibrosis, which caused considerable weight gain and a startling change in his appearance. In September 2001, Lewis was unable to perform at a planned London charity event at theLondon Palladium. He was the headlining act, and was introduced, but did not appear onstage. He had suddenly become unwell, apparently with cardiac problems.[177]
He was subsequently taken to a hospital. Some months thereafter, Lewis began an arduous, months-long therapy that weaned him off prednisone, and he lost much of the weight gained while on the drug. The treatment enabled him to return to work. On June 12, 2012, he was treated and released from a hospital after collapsing fromhypoglycemia at aNew York Friars Club event. This forced him to cancel a show in Sydney.[178] In an October 2016 interview withInside Edition, Lewis acknowledged that he might not star in any more films, given his advanced age, while admitting, through tears, that he was afraid of dying, as it would leave his wife and daughter alone.[179] In June 2017, Lewis was hospitalized at a Las Vegas hospital for aurinary tract infection.[180]
Lewis died at his home inLas Vegas, Nevada, on August 20, 2017, at the age of 91.[26] The cause was end-stage cardiac disease andperipheral artery disease. Lewis wascremated.[181][182] In hiswill, he left his estate to his second wife of 34 years, SanDee Pitnick, and their daughter, and explicitlydisinherited his children from his first marriage.[183]
In 1998, at theAspen U.S. Comedy Arts Festival, when asked which women comics he admired, Lewis answered, "I don't like any female comedians. A woman doing comedy doesn't offend me but sets me back a bit. I, as a viewer, have trouble with it. I think of her as a producing machine that brings babies in the world."[184] He went on to praiseLucille Ball as "brilliant" and saidCarol Burnett is "the greatest female entrepreneur of comedy." On other occasions, Lewis expressed admiration for female comediansTotie Fields,Phyllis Diller,Kathleen Freeman,Elayne Boosler,Whoopi Goldberg, andTina Fey.
During the 2007 MDA Telethon, Lewis used the slur "fag" in a joke, for which he apologized.[185] Lewis used the same word the following year on Australian television.[186]
In a 2022Vanity Fair article, actressesKaren Sharpe,Hope Holiday,Renée Taylor,Jill St. John,Anna Maria Alberghetti andLainie Kazan accused Lewis of sexual assault and harassment. According to Sharpe, Lewis assaulted her during a wardrobe fitting, while Holiday alleged Lewis locked her in his dressing room, then began talking graphically and masturbating in front of her. Alberghetti and Kazan alleged Lewis sexually harassed them. ComedianAmy Schumer also alleged that she had to physically resist Lewis trying to lower her onto the stage to perform a mock sex act at a 2014 Friars Roast.[187]
From the late 1940s to the mid-1960s, Lewis was considered a significant force in American popular culture."[188] He influenced generations of comedians, comedy writers, performers and filmmakers.[189] After his death, actors such asJim Carrey andJeffrey Tambor paid tribute.Carl Reiner wrote, "All comedians watch other comedians, and every generation of comedians going back to those who watched Jerry on theColgate Comedy Hour were influenced by Jerry. They say that mankind goes back to the first guy ... which everyone tries to copy. In comedy that guy was Jerry Lewis."[190]
Some critics have argued that Lewis' career as a director is underappreciated.Richard Brody ofThe New Yorker said Lewis was "one of the most original, inventive, ... profound directors of the time" and "one of the most skilled and original comic performers, verbal and physical, ever to appear on screen."[191]Dave Kehr, a film critic and film curator for theMuseum of Modern Art, wrote inThe New York Times that Lewis was "one of the great American filmmakers."[192]
As a filmmaker who insisted on the personal side of his work—who was producer, writer, director, star, and over-all boss of his productions in the interest of his artistic conception and passion—he was anauteur by temperament and in practice long before the word traveled Stateside.
In 2017, Lewis with others inaugurated and founded Legionnaires of Laughter and Legacy Awards, and the first Legacy Award held in Downtown, New York.[195] On August 21, 2017, multiple hotel marquees on theLas Vegas Strip honored Lewis with a coordinated video display of images of his career as a Las Vegas performer and resident.[196]
Between 1952 and 1957,DC Comics published a 40-issue comic book series with Martin & Lewis as the main protagonists, titledThe Adventures of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.[197] They continued the series under the new titleThe Adventures of Jerry Lewis after the team split up, running until issue #124 in 1971.[198]
InThe Simpsons, the character ofProfessor Frink is based on Lewis's Julius Kelp fromThe Nutty Professor.[199] Lewis himself would later voice the character's father in the episode "Treehouse of Horror XIV." InAnimaniacs, Lewis is parodied in the form of a recurring character named Mr. Director (voiced by series writerPaul Rugg), who initially appears as a comedy director whose appearance and mannerisms are based around those of Lewis, complete with frequent exclamations of faux-Yiddish. While he is typically depicted as a caricature of Lewis, on some occasions Mr. Director has also been seen as a caricature ofMarlon Brando and as a birthday clown, although still retaining the voice and mannerisms inspired by Lewis.
InFamily Guy, Peter recreates Lewis's 'chairman of the board' scene fromThe Errand Boy. Additionally, when questioned of his knowledge of the French language, the character Quagmire claims that he is loved in France: cutting to a scene in which a French audience enthusiastically watch a comedy film starring Quagmire which parodies several of Lewis' films. Comedian, actor and friend of Lewis,Martin Short, satirized him on the seriesSCTV in the sketches "The Nutty Lab Assistant", "Martin Scorsese presents Jerry Lewis Live on the Champs Elysees!", "The Tender Fella", and "Scenes From an Idiots Marriage",[200][201][202] as well as onSaturday Night Live's "Celebrity Jeopardy!."[203]
John Saleeby, writer forNational Lampoon has a humor piece "Ten Things You Should Know About Jerry Lewis."[209] In the animated cartoonPopeye's 20th Anniversary, Martin and Lewis are portrayed on the dais.[210] The animated seriesAnimaniacs satirized Lewis in several episodes. The voice and boyish, naive cartoon characterSpongeBob SquarePants is partially based on Lewis, with particular inspiration from his filmThe Bellboy.[211][212] In 1998, TheMTV animated showCelebrity Deathmatch had a clay-animated fight to the death between Dean Martin and Lewis. In a 1975 re-issue ofMAD Magazine the contents of Lewis's wallet is satirized in their on-going feature "Celebrities' Wallets."[citation needed]
Similarly, varied musicians have mentioned Lewis in song lyrics including,Ice Cube,The Dead Milkmen,Queen Latifah, andFrank Zappa.[213] Thehip hop music bandBeastie Boys have an unreleased single "The Jerry Lewis", which they mention, and danced to, on stage in Asheville, North Carolina in 2009.[214] In their filmPaul's Boutique—A Visual Companion, clips fromThe Nutty Professor play to"The Sounds of Science".[215] Over the years, countless actors and performers have regularly impersonated or portrayed Lewis in various tribute shows, most notably Nicholas Arnold, Tony Lewis, David Wolf, and Matt Macis.[216][217][218][219]
Lewis, Jerry (1962).Instruction Book For ..."Being a Person" or (Just Feeling Better). Self-published.ISBN978-0-937-539743.{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) (ISBN is for the 2004 Mass Market Edition)
^Kehr, Dave (August 20, 2017)."Jerry Lewis, mercurial comedian and filmmaker, dies at 91".The New York Times.Archived from the original on June 27, 2019. RetrievedAugust 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 biographyKing of Comedy: The Life and Art of Jerry Lewis, unearthed a birth record that gave his first name as Jerome.
^abUnited States Census, 1940", database with images,FamilySearch (March 15, 2018)Archived April 4, 2023, at theWayback Machine, Rae Lewis in household of Daniel Lewis, Ward 2, Irvington, Irvington Town, Essex, New Jersey, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 7-174B, sheet 4B, line 49, family 95, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790–2007, RG 29. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2334.
^Sragow, Michael (June 9, 1996)."Funny Bones".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Archived from the original on July 8, 2019. RetrievedJuly 8, 2019.
^Levy, Shawn (1997).King of Comedy: The Life and Art of Jerry Lewis. St. Martin's Press.ISBN978-0312168780.[page needed]
^"It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World".Rotten Tomatoes.Virtually every lead, supporting, and bit part in the picture is filled by a well-known comic actor: the laugh spinning lineup also includes Carl Reiner, Terry-Thomas, Arnold Stang, Buster Keaton, Jack Benny, Jerry Lewis, and The Three Stooges, who get one of the picture's biggest laughs by standing stock still and uttering not a word.
^Silverstein, Elliot (March 23, 1987),Fight for Life (Drama), Jerry Lewis, Morgan Freeman, Jaclyn Bernstein, Fries Entertainment, retrievedJune 27, 2025
^"Jerry Lewis".Television Academy Interviews. October 22, 2017. RetrievedJune 27, 2025.
^"United States Census, 1940", database with images,FamilySearchArchived September 13, 2021, at theWayback Machine March 15, 2018), Ester Calonico in household of John Farinno, Tract 911, Highland Park, Highland Park City, Wayne, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 82–155, sheet 15B, line 60, family 46, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790–2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1832.
^Lewis, Patti; Coleman, Sarah Jepson (1993).I laffed till I cried: thirty-six years of marriage to Jerry Lewis. WRS.OCLC028417657.
^Hattenstone, Simon (April 8, 2004)."'My dream is to be perfect'".The Guardian.Archived from the original on September 13, 2014. RetrievedSeptember 4, 2024.What is he least proud of? Politics, he says. Not his politics, but the world's politics - the madness, the destruction, the general lack of respect.
^Brody, Richard (August 29, 2017)."Postscript: Jerry Lewis".The New Yorker.Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. RetrievedFebruary 9, 2018.
^Kehr, Dave (December 31, 2004)."The Disc's Coming of Age, From Noir to Seinfeld".The New York Times.Archived from the original on December 21, 2022. RetrievedDecember 20, 2022.Is it finally time to stop with the French-love-him jokes and acknowledge that Jerry Lewis is one of the great American filmmakers? The 10 Lewis films released by Paramount this fall, all in fine transfers and with additional material drawn from Mr. Lewis's extensive archives, reveal both the fierce creativity of his comic performances and the extreme formal sophistication of his direction.
^Jerry Lewis in Scenes From an Idiots Marriage. CBC Television.
^"Celebrity Jeopardy!".Saturday Night Live. Season 22. Episode 8. NBC Television. December 7, 1996.Archived from the original on February 7, 2018. RetrievedFebruary 7, 2018.
Hayde, Michael J. (2018).Side by Side:Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis on TV and Radio. BearManor Media.ISBN9781629333526.
Krutnik, Frank (2001). "Jerry Lewis:deformation of the comic". In Rickman, G. (ed.).The Film Comedy Reader. New York: Limelight Editions.ISBN9780879102951. Also, Film Quarterly, Vol. 48, No. 1 (Autumn, 1994), pp. 12–26 University of California Press
Krutnik, Frank (2000).Inventing Jerry Lewis. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press.ISBN9781560983668.
Krutnik, Frank (Spring 1995). "The Handsome Man and His Monkey".Journal of Popular Film & Television. Vol. 23, no. 1.
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