Jerry Lewis - a lifetime of laughter
Since first stepping onstage at age five, US comedian Jerry Lewis kept audiences howling for nearly a century. DW looks at the career highlights of the actor, director, producer and philanthropist who died on August 20.
Joseph or Jerome?
The son of two vaudeville entertainers, Jerome or Joseph Levitch was born in 1926 in New Jersey. (It's not clear which one was his legal first name.) He started performing at age five and by 15 had developed his own comedy act using the stage name Jerry Lewis. He dropped out of high school and started performing in nightclubs without any sustained success.
The Martin and Lewis Show
Fate stepped in when Lewis (right) met young crooner Dean Martin (left). The two formed a comedy duo in 1946 that drew laughs from their improvised mad-cap interactions rather than scripted sets. Lewis described the comedians' on-stage relationship as "sex and slapstick." Lewis and Martin performed together in clubs, radio shows, 16 films and on their own NBC show until splitting in 1956.
Earning laughs in 'The Nutty Professor'
Lewis' solo career took him to Hollywood, where he directed and starred in dozens of films. One of his biggest hits was "The Nutty Professor" from 1963 (above), a split personality tale in which Lewis alternated between a shy chemistry professor and a bravado-exuding nightclub singer. The film drew laughs, box office profits, and critical acclaim for its combination of comedy and psychology.
A dramatic turn in 'The King of Comedy'
But Lewis' talent as an actor went beyond antics and slapstick. In 1982, Lewis (left) starred in Martin Scorsese's dark satire "The King of Comedy," playing the dramatic role of a talk show host who is stalked by an unstable wanna-be comedian, played by Robert de Niro (right). Critics enjoyed the movie as a whole, describing it as creepy and unsettling, but it didn't do well at the box office.
He who laughs, lasts
Lewis continued to perform on and off into his 80s, despite battling various health issues such as prostate cancer. His last in-screen appearance was "Max Rose," which was presented at Cannes in 2013, the same year the festival honored Lewis' lifetime contribution to film. His advice to aspiring comedians was simple: "Be a hit. Score. Get the audience laughing and happy. That's the secret."
Charity fundraiser
Throughout his career, Lewis was a vocal advocate for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), hosting the organization's annual Labor Day telethon fundraiser from 1966 through 2010. In his 61 years as MDA national chairman, Lewis helped raise over $1.5 billion (1.3 billion euros). Lewis, who married twice, is survived by five sons and one daughter.