Jerry Lewis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jerry Lewis
Lewis in the 1960s
Born	Joseph Levitch (1926-03-16)March 16, 1926 Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	August 20, 2017(2017-08-20) (aged 91) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Cause of death	Cardiovascular disease
Resting place	Cremated, ashes given to family
Occupation	Comedian actor singer humanitarian film director film producer screenwriter
Years active	1946–2017
Spouse(s)	Patti Palmer ​ ​ (m. 1944; div. 1980)​ SanDee Pitnick ​ (m. 1983)​
Children	7, including Gary Lewis
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Jerry Lewis (born Joseph Levitch, March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was a very famous American comedian, actor, and film director. He was known for his funny, physical comedy, often called slapstick humor. People even called him the "King of Comedy"!

Jerry Lewis was part of a super popular comedy team called Martin and Lewis with singer Dean Martin. They worked together from 1946 to 1956. After their team split up, Jerry Lewis became a big solo star in movies. He also performed in nightclubs, on TV shows, and sang in music albums.

Outside of his amazing career, Jerry Lewis spent 60 years helping to raise money for muscular dystrophy research. He was the main spokesperson for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. For 44 years, he hosted a live TV show called The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon every Labor Day weekend to raise money.

Jerry Lewis was one of the most successful performers ever. His movies earned over $800 million around the world! He was loved for his special way of doing both comedy and serious acting. From 1951 to 1965, he was voted Hollywood's top box-office star, first with Dean Martin, and later on his own.

Life and Career of Jerry Lewis

Jerry Lewis for his NBC television program 1958

Jerry Lewis was born in Newark, New Jersey. He started performing when he was just five years old! He often performed with his parents in the Borscht Belt area of New York. Even as a teenager, he was a prankster. He dropped out of Irvington High School in tenth grade. During World War II, he couldn't join the military because of a heart condition.

The Martin & Lewis Comedy Team

Jerry Lewis first became famous as part of the Martin & Lewis team with singer Dean Martin. They worked together for ten years. They were a huge hit on stage, radio, television, and in movies. Their films were very successful and loved by audiences.

Jerry Lewis poses 1957

The partnership ended on July 24, 1956, which was their 10th anniversary. Both Martin and Lewis went on to have very successful solo careers. They didn't often talk about why they split up, but they were sometimes seen at the same public events.

Jerry Lewis as a Director

Jerry Lewis directed many of his own movies. He was a pioneer in filmmaking! He was the first director to use video cameras along with movie cameras. This helped him check scenes right away. Movie film takes time to develop, but videotape can be watched instantly. This saved a lot of time and work if a scene needed to be filmed again. Other directors quickly started using his smart technique, and it's still used today!

During the 1970s, Jerry Lewis's movies became less popular. He took a break from acting and directing. But in the 1990s, he returned to performing on stage. He continued to perform into the 2000s.

Jerry Lewis's Legacy and Influence

Lewis' motion picture star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6821 Hollywood Blvd

Jerry Lewis is known as a comedy genius. He influenced many comedians, writers, performers, and filmmakers who came after him. Many people see him as the link between old-fashioned Vaudeville comedy and modern comedy. He was one of the most creative and important comedians of his time.

Jerry Lewis's comedy style was very physical and expressive. He was famous for his unique voice, funny facial expressions, and amazing physical stunts. His improvisations (making things up on the spot) and ad-libbing (speaking without a script), especially in nightclubs and early TV, were revolutionary. He had a raw, energetic style that made him stand out in the world of comedy.

Martin and Lewis Films

Here are some of the movies Jerry Lewis made with Dean Martin:

Jerry Lewis Solo Films

Here are some of the movies Jerry Lewis starred in or directed on his own:

Images for kids

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  Lewis with Dean Martin in 1950

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  Lewis as Professor Kelp, with co-star Stella Stevens, in The Nutty Professor (1963)

See also

In Spanish: Jerry Lewis para niños