The epitome of a comedy legend, Jerry Lewis died Sunday, August 20th in his home in Las Vegas. Lewis was 91 years old. Known as the side kick to the heartthrob crooner Dean Martin, Lewis was best-known for his roles in such movies as “The Bellboy” and “The Nutty Professor.”
His charitable work as the spokesperson for the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon that ran every Labor Day showed another side of this much loved comedic legend of the 20th century. His vaudeville acts, and his various roles transcended far into the many layers that were Jerry Lewis throughout his career.
Lewis’ slapstick comedy that made him famous in the 1950’s transcended through the years as he grew from his nightclub act with Dean Martin into bigger roles.
“After his break with Mr. Martin in 1956, Mr. Lewis went on to a successful solo career, eventually writing, producing and directing many of his own films,” shared The New York Times. “As a filmmaker of great personal force and technical skill, he made many contributions to the industry, including the invention in 1960 of a device — the video assist, which allowed directors to review their work immediately on the set — still in common use.”
His work with the Muscular Dystrophy Association garnered much attention to the various types of this disease and is said to have raised over $2 billion for medical research.
Lewis faced many health problems throughout his lifetime according to People. “Going back to 1982, Lewis had open-heart surgery, and after that had battled prostate cancer, diabetes, and viral meningitis. He also suffered from a debilitating depression triggered by a megadose of the steroid prednisone, prescribed to treat the lung ailment pulmonary fibrosis (a scarring of the lung tissue).”
This comedy king trail blazed through the hearts of millions with his unique style of comedy that will always be remembered. According to People, this phrase could best sum up Mr. Lewis, “As for Lewis’s enduring popularity, perhaps it is best explained in the advice he gave the actor Sean Hayes, who played Lewis in the 2002 TV movie Martin and Lewis. ‘Always play the 9-year-old kid,’ Lewis told Hayes, ‘and always hold onto that innocence.’”
