Here’s a look at the life of comedian and actor Jerry Lewis.
Personal:
Birth date: March 16, 1926
Death date: August 20, 2017
Birth place: Newark, New Jersey
Birth name: Joseph Levitch
Father: Daniel Levitch (Danny Lewis – stage name), entertainer
Mother: Rae (Brodsky) Levitch (Rae Lewis – stage name), piano player
Marriages: Sandra (Pitnick) Lewis (February 13, 1983-August 20, 2017, his death); Patti Palmer (1944-1982, divorced)
Children: with Sandra Lewis: Danielle; with Patti Palmer: Joseph, Anthony, Christopher, Scott, Ronald and Gary
Other Facts:
Made his debut at age five, singing “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” at a resort.
Was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1952, for Best Comedian.
Became a spokesperson for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in the 1940s.
Often talked about himself in the third person.
Timeline:
1946-1956 – Partners with Dean Martin for nightclub acts, television appearances and 16 movies.
1963 – The film, “The Nutty Professor,” in which Lewis acted and directed, is released.
1966 – Hosts his first televised Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Labor Day telethon. This becomes an annual event.
1967 – Teaches a graduate course in film at the University of Southern California.
1976 – Frank Sinatra orchestrates a surprise reunion between Lewis and Dean Martin on a MDA telethon.
1983 – The film “The King of Comedy,” which features Lewis’ first dramatic role, is released.
1984 – Inducted into the French Legion of Honor.
1995 – Makes his Broadway debut in “Damn Yankees.”
1995 – Begins traveling to medical schools to present, with Dr. Clifford Kuhn, a seminar on laughter and healing.
September 2005 – Receives the Governors Award at the Creative Emmy Awards in recognition for his work on behalf of muscular dystrophy.
June 11, 2006 – Suffers a mild heart attack on a flight from New York to San Diego.
September 3, 2007 – In the 18th hour of the annual Labor Day Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy, Lewis uses an anti-gay slur while cracking jokes. He later apologizes in a written statement.
February 22, 2009 – Receives the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy Awards ceremony.
May 16, 2011 – Announces his retirement as MDA telethon host.
August 3, 2011 – The MDA announces that Lewis is retiring as national chairman.
September 14, 2015 – The Library of Congress announces it has acquired Lewis’ personal archive.
August 20, 2017 – Dies after a brief illness, according to his publicist.
