Quick Facts
Also Known As: Joseph Levitch
Died At Age: 91
Family:
Spouse/Ex-: SanDee Pitnick (m. 1983), Patti Palmer (m. 1944–1980)
father: Daniel Levitch
mother: Rachel Levitch
children: Anthony Lewis, Christopher Joseph Lewis, Danielle Sarah Lewis, Gary Lewis, Joseph Lewis, Ronald Lewis, Scott Lewis
Born Country: United States
Jewish Actors Jewish Comedians
Height: 6'0" (183 cm), 6'0" Males
Died on: August 20, 2017
place of death: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Diseases & Disabilities: Heart Disease
Ancestry: Russian American
Cause of Death: Peripheral Artery Disease
Notable Alumni: Irvington High School
U.S. State: New Jersey
City: Newark, New Jersey
More Facts
education: Irvington High School
Childhood & Early Life
Jerry Lewis’s name at birth was Joseph Levitch. His father Daniel was an actor and master of ceremonies who performed under the name Danny Lewis. His mother Rachael was a piano player for the New York City radio station.
He started performing along with his parents when he was five years old. He dropped out of the Irvington High School to pursue a career as a full-time entertainer and started using the stage name Jerry Lewis.
Career
He developed a comedic routine called the ‘Record Act’ in which he mimed the lyrics of popular songs while a phonograph played the songs offstage. He was given a chance to perform at a burlesque house which flopped. Unable to get any more shows he worked at odd jobs to make ends meet.
His father’s friend, Max Coleman helped him book a performance at Brown’s Hotel in New York. This time his show was a big success and motivated him to further his career in this field.
While performing at nightclubs in 1945, he met a singer Dean Martin. This meeting proved to be fortuitous and the two went on to form the comedic pair Martin and Lewis in 1946. Their initial routine consisted of Martin singing a song which Lewis interrupted with ad-libbed insults.
Lewis played the comedian while Martin served as the straight man. The pair developed a routine characterized by ad-libbing and impromptu jokes instead of planned rehearsals. By the late 1940s the pair had a prominent national presence.
The duo made many appearances on early live television in 1948, making their debut on Ed Sullivan’s ‘Toast of the Town’. The very next year they had their own regular radio show called ‘The Martin and Lewis Show’.
Paramount producer Hal Wallis had seen them in performance and was quite impressed by them. He booked them to a film contract and Lewis and Martin made their big screen debut with ‘My Friend Irma’ in 1949.
Together they starred in 16 films including ‘At War with the Army’ (1950), ‘Living it Up’ (1954), and ‘You’re Never Too Young’ (1955), most of which became extremely popular. The famous duo also continued appearing on radio and television.
Over the years their relationship became strained and their partnership ended in 1956. ‘Hollywood or Bust’ (1956) was their last movie together. After ending their partnership, both the comedians embarked on solo careers.
Lewis appeared in his first film without Martin in 1957. The movie, titled ‘The Delicate Delinquent’ was a big hit and gave him the confidence to move on as a solo artist.
He turned director with the 1960 film ‘The Bellboy’ which he also wrote and starred in. Over the next three decades he directed and acted in several films like ‘The Nutty Professor’ (1963), ‘The Big Mouth’ (1967), ‘One More Time’ (1970), and ‘Cracking Up’ (1983).
He has also made several appearances on stage. He made his Broadway debut as a replacement cast member in the revival of the baseball musical, ‘Damn Yankees’ in 1994. Apart from the U.S. he is also a much respected artist all over Europe.
Major Works
He rose to international prominence as a part of the comedy duo ‘Martin and Lewis’ which he had formed with Dean Martin. The pair was the hottest act in America during the 1950s and used to perform in nightclubs before venturing into radio, television and films. They appeared together in 16 super hit movies.
Awards & Achievements
He was presented with the Jefferson Award for the ‘Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged’ in June 1978.
He was honored with the prestigious Hubert H. Humphrey Humanitarian Award in 1980. The award is given to individuals who best exemplify the ideals and courage of the late Vice President.
Personal Life & Legacy
He married Patti Palmer, a singer, in 1944. The couple divorced after several years in 1980.
His second marriage was to a much younger woman, SanDee Pitnick, a Las Vegas dancer, in 1983. He was 56 and she was 32 at the time of the wedding.
He has a total of seven children.
He served as national chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) from the 1950s until 2011. He has raised over $2.6 billion for the cause.
Facts About Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis was known for his incredible talent as a comedian and actor, but he also had a passion for philanthropy. He famously hosted the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Labor Day telethon for many years, raising millions of dollars for the organization.
Lewis had a unique talent for physical comedy and was known for his slapstick humor, often incorporating exaggerated facial expressions and wild gestures into his performances.
In addition to his work in film and television, Lewis was also a successful writer and director. He directed and starred in many of his own films, showcasing his versatility as a performer.
