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Jerry Lewis
Starring in The Nutty Professor and performing with Dean Martin.
The Bellboy · The Nutty Professor
- Born
- 16 March 1926
- Birthplace
- Newark, USA
- Died
- 20 August 2017
More people
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis was an American comedian, actor and filmmaker whose physical comedy grew from nightclub and variety performance. After a famous partnership with Dean Martin, he became a solo star and director.
Early life
Performing family
His parents worked in entertainment, and he appeared on stage as a child.
Nightclub beginnings
Developed a comic act based on miming to records.
Career
- 1946–1956
Martin and Lewis
Teamed with Dean Martin in clubs, radio, television and films.
- Late 1950s
Solo career
Established himself independently after the partnership ended.
- 1960s
Actor-director
Directed and starred in a succession of elaborate comedies.
- Later career
Character roles
Combined stage appearances with occasional dramatic film performances.
Selected work
The Bellboy
A largely wordless comedy set in a hotel.
The Nutty Professor
A timid professor transforms himself into an abrasive charmer.
The King of Comedy
A television host targeted by an obsessive would-be comedian.
Beyond work
Fundraising
Hosted long-running telethons for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Teaching
Taught filmmaking and wrote The Total Film-Maker.
Sources & photo credit
Life and career ↗Institutional or specialist reference ↗Photo: According to Bonhams, the reverse side was stamped with " Paramount Photo by Bud Fraker". According to mptvimages.com , Fraker was born in 1916, died in 2002, and worked as Director of Still Photography at Columbia and later Paramount.. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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