Legendary Comedian, Humanitarian Jerry Lewis Dies at 91

Legendary Comedian, Humanitarian Jerry Lewis Dies at 91
Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin (Public Domain)
Jack Phillips
8/20/2017
Updated:
8/20/2017

Jerry Lewis, the longtime comedian and humanitarian, has died, it was reported Sunday, Aug. 20. He was 91.

Lewis, who starred in the original “The Nutty Professor” and “The Bellboy,” died at his Las Vegas home at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday, reported the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He died peacefully of natural causes, the report said, citing a statement from his family.

He starred in more than 50 films, including “My Friend Irma,” “Cinderfella,” and “The King of Comedy.” He also starred in a number of TV shows as well—including one alongside Dean Martin called the “Colgate Comedy Hour.”

He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Jerry Lewis in 2005 (<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Pattymooney">Pattymooney</a>/ via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license)
Jerry Lewis in 2005 (Pattymooney/ via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license)

Lewis was particularly known for the “Muscular Dystrophy Telethon” held every Labor Day weekend, that raised money for 24 hours straight. Over the years, he helped raise almost $2 billion for the cause.

“Jerry Lewis is a world-class humanitarian and we’re forever grateful to him for his more than half century of generous service to [Muscular Dystrophy Association] MDA,” MDA Board Chairman R. Rodney Howell said.

“The important thing is that I do it, not the why,” Lewis told the Los Angeles Times.

He’s also known for raising money for children’s issues.

In 1944, he married Patti Palmer with whom he had five sons: Gary, Scott, Anthony, Christopher, and Joseph. They adopted another son, Ronnie. 

He adopted a daughter, Danielle Sara Lewis, with his second wife, Sandra “SanDee” Pitnick, who he married in 1983.

U.S. humorist, comedian, director, and singer Jerry Lewis poses with his wife SanDee Pitnick during a press conference on April 10, 1989 in Paris. (JEAN-PIERRE MULLER/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. humorist, comedian, director, and singer Jerry Lewis poses with his wife SanDee Pitnick during a press conference on April 10, 1989 in Paris. (JEAN-PIERRE MULLER/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. comedian and actor Jerry Lewis in the 1951 movie "Sailor Beware." (FILES/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. comedian and actor Jerry Lewis in the 1951 movie "Sailor Beware." (FILES/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. comedian, director, and singer Jerry Lewis jokes with photographers on Sept. 23, 1965, upon his arrival at the International Cannes Film Festival. (STF/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. comedian, director, and singer Jerry Lewis jokes with photographers on Sept. 23, 1965, upon his arrival at the International Cannes Film Festival. (STF/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. comedian, director, and singer Jerry Lewis grimaces as he rehearses his show at l'Olympia in Paris on April 15, 1974. (STF/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. comedian, director, and singer Jerry Lewis grimaces as he rehearses his show at l'Olympia in Paris on April 15, 1974. (STF/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. humorist, comedian, director, and singer Jerry Lewis holds a glass of beer with his mouth on Nov. 27, 1987 during a press conference in Paris. (JEAN-LOUP GAUTREAU/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. humorist, comedian, director, and singer Jerry Lewis holds a glass of beer with his mouth on Nov. 27, 1987 during a press conference in Paris. (JEAN-LOUP GAUTREAU/AFP/Getty Images)

 

 

Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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