Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis | |
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![]() Lewis in 1957 | |
Born | Joseph Levitch March 16, 1926 Newark, New Jersey,U.S. |
Died | August 20, 2017 Las Vegas, Nevada,U.S. | (aged 91)
Occupations |
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Years active | 1931–2017[1] |
Spouses |
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Children | 7, includingGary |
Website | jerrylewiscomedy |
Signature | |
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Jerry Lewis,born asJosephLevitch,(March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, singer, director and humanitarian. He was ofJewishdescent. He was best known for acting incomedymoviesin the 1950s and 1960s such asThe Nutty Professor.He also helped to raise money for people withmuscular dystrophy,through the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Lewis was born inNewark, New Jersey.He studied atIrvington High Schoolthough he dropped out in his sophomore year.
Lewis first became famous as part ofMartin & Lewis,working with singerDean Martin.They worked together for ten years. They appeared on stage,radioandtelevision,and in movies. They stopped working together in 1956 and did not speak for years. They reunited a few times from the 1970s to the 1990s.
Lewis directed of many of his movies. He was the first director to usevideocameras with movie cameras, to help with filming scenes. Film takes time to process, but videotape can be played back right away, saving time and work if a scene needs to be redone. Other directors soon started using his technique, and it is still used today.
During the 1970s, Lewis' movies became less popular. He moved away from acting and directing. In the 1990s, he returned to performing onstage. He continued to perform during the 2000s.
Lewis was aRepublicanthough he was friends with PresidentJohn F. Kennedy.[2]He supported PresidentsRonald ReaganandDonald Trump.[3]
Lewis died at his home inLas Vegas,Nevadaat 9:15 AM ofcardiomyopathyon August 20, 2017 at the age of 91.[4]
Movies
[change|change source]Jerry Lewis acted in many movies, including:
- The Stooge(1952)
- Hollywood or Bust(1956)
- The Bellboy(1960)
- The Errand Boy(1961)
- The Patsy(1964)
- The Disorderly Orderly(1964)
- Three on a Couch(1966)
- Way... Way Out(1966)
- Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River(1967)
- The Big Mouth(1967)
- Silent Treatment(1968)
- Hook, Line & Sinker(1969)
References
[change|change source]- ↑Hirschberg, Lynn (October 28, 1982)."What's So Funny About Jerry Lewis?".Rolling Stone.
- ↑Elfman, Doug (August 31, 2008)."How Jack Kennedy Talked Jerry Lewis Out Of A $500 Million Charity Loan".RetrievedDecember 20,2016.
- ↑"Jerry Lewis Praises Donald Trump, Says Syrian Refugees 'Should Stay Where the Hell They Are' (Video)".RetrievedDecember 20,2016.
- ↑Natale, Richard; Dagan, Carmel (August 20, 2017)."Jerry Lewis, Comedy Legend, Dies at 91".Variety.RetrievedAugust 20,2017.
Other websites
[change|change source]- Official Jerry Lewis websiteArchived2006-08-30 at theWayback Machine
- Jerry LewisonIMDb
- Italian Jerry Lewis fansiteArchived2009-05-20 at theWayback Machine
- 1926 births
- 2017 deaths
- Actors from New Jersey
- American movie actors
- American movie directors
- American movie producers
- Philanthropists from Nevada
- American screenwriters
- American television actors
- American television personalities
- American television presenters
- American voice actors
- Deaths from cardiomyopathy
- Comedians from Newark, New Jersey
- Humanitarians
- Jewish American actors
- Jewish American musicians
- Jewish American writers
- Jewish businesspeople
- Jewish philanthropists
- Republicans (United States)
- Singers from New Jersey
- Writers from New Jersey
- Businesspeople from Newark, New Jersey
- Businesspeople from Las Vegas
- Actors from Las Vegas
- Writers from Las Vegas
- Singers from Las Vegas
- Comedians from Las Vegas