Shari Lewis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shari Lewis
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Lewis with Lamb Chop in June 1993
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| Born |
Phyllis Naomi Hurwitz
January 17, 1933 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | August 2, 1998 (aged 65) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Ventriloquist, puppeteer, author, children's television show host, singer |
| Years active | 1952–1998 |
| Spouse(s) |
Stan Lewis
(m. 1953; div. 1957)Jeremy Tarcher
(m. 1958) |
| Children | Mallory Tarcher |
Shari Lewis (born Phyllis Naomi Hurwitz; January 17, 1933 – August 2, 1998) was a super talented American entertainer. She was a ventriloquist (someone who makes puppets talk), a puppeteer, and a host of children's TV shows. Shari Lewis was most famous for her amazing sock puppet, Lamb Chop. Lamb Chop first appeared on TV in 1956 on Captain Kangaroo. Later, Lamb Chop became a star on shows like Hi Mom.
Contents
Early Life and Talents
Shari Lewis was born Phyllis Naomi Hurwitz in New York City. Her parents were Ann and Abraham Hurwitz. Her dad was a professor and even New York City's "official magician" for a while! He taught Shari special magic tricks when she was only 13.
Shari's parents really encouraged her to learn many things. She took lessons in acrobatics, juggling, ice skating, and playing the piano and violin. All these skills helped her become a fantastic performer.
Becoming a TV Star
In 1952, Shari Lewis won first prize on a TV show called Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts with her puppets. This was a big start for her! Soon, she began hosting children's TV shows in New York.
Her first show was Facts N'Fun in 1953. On this show, she played games, taught crafts, sang songs, and told stories. She also performed funny skits with her puppets, Samson and Taffy Twinkle.
Shari then moved to another TV station, WPIX. There, she hosted Kartoon Klub, which later changed its name to Shari & Her Friends and then Shariland. She won Emmy Awards for her work on Shariland and another show called Hi Mom. On Hi Mom, she introduced more famous puppets: Charlie Horse, Hush Puppy, and Wing Ding.
Her most famous puppet, Lamb Chop, first appeared on Captain Kangaroo in 1956. Lamb Chop was just a sock with eyes, but Shari made her seem so real and sassy!
In 1960, NBC gave Shari her own national TV show, The Shari Lewis Show. It took the place of The Howdy Doody Show. On her show, Lamb Chop was the main puppet, often acting as Shari's funny sidekick. Hush Puppy was a shy puppet with a Southern accent, and Charlie Horse was a bit goofy.
Shari also appeared in other TV shows like Car 54, Where Are You? and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. She even wrote an episode for the famous science fiction show Star Trek called "The Lights of Zetar" with her husband!
Later Career and Legacy
In the 1990s, Shari Lewis created a very popular show called Lamb Chop's Play-Along on PBS. This show encouraged kids to get up and play along, not just sit on the couch! After that, she and her husband created The Charlie Horse Music Pizza. They wanted to help kids learn about music, especially since many schools were cutting music classes.
Shari was also a talented musician. She conducted big orchestras in the United States, Japan, and Canada. She wrote over 60 books for children and made many home videos.
Shari Lewis passed away in 1998 at the age of 65. Even after her death, her daughter, Mallory Lewis, continued her mother's work with Lamb Chop. Mallory now performs with Lamb Chop, keeping the magic alive for new generations of children.
Awards and Recognitions
Shari Lewis received many awards for her amazing work, including:
- 12 Emmy Awards
- A Peabody Award in 1960
- The Monte Carlo Prize for the World's Best Television Variety Show
- The John F. Kennedy Center Award for Excellence and Creativity
- Several Parents' Choice Awards
- In 1998, she was given the Women in Film Lucy Award for her creative work that helped improve how women were seen on TV.
Television Shows and Specials
Shari Lewis starred in and created many popular TV shows and specials:
- Shariland (1956–1958)
- Hi Mom (1957–1959)
- The Shari Lewis Show (1960–1963)
- The Shari Lewis Show (BBC) (1969–1976)
- Lamb Chop's Play-Along (1992–1997)
- The Charlie Horse Music Pizza (1998–1999)
She also appeared in many Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade specials over the years, bringing joy to millions of viewers.
Images for kids
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Lewis with her puppets, Lamb Chop and Charlie Horse, 1960
See also
In Spanish: Shari Lewis para niños
