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• Jerry Lewis is a renowned comedian, actor and filmmaker known for his slapstick style of humor and for his contributions to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Though he is renowned internationally, he has reaped the most critical acclaim in France. His work as a philanthropist has been most visible in the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon, which he has hosted since 1966. He was given the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award by the Academy Awards or his charity work in 2009.

• Fast Facts

  1. Born: March 16, 1926
  2. Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey
  3. Birth Name: Joseph Levitch
  4. Lewis was on "The Tonight Show" 24 times
  5. Lewis helped establish the Muscular Dystrophy Association in 1952
  6. Lewis is the father of 1960s pop musician Gary Lewis From Gary Lewis and the Playboys
  7. DNA tests show that he is likely the father of comedian Suzan Lewis

• 2009 Oscars

  Jerry Lewis was honored with a special recognition Oscar during the 2009 Academy Awards.VOA News: Lewis to be Honored with Humanitarian Oscar (February 17, 2009) The awards was to honor to his massive historical humanitarian work, especially for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He has remained a strong support for the disabled community and a celebrity face for various successful charity fundraisers.

• Career

  In the late 1940s, Lewis gained popularity as a TV and film star as half the comedy team Martin and Lewis, with singer/actor Dean Martin. When the pair split up in the mid-1950s, Lewis went on to a career as one of the world's top comic actors, directing and starring in his own films, and peaking in popularity with his signature outing, 1963's The Nutty Professor (remade by Eddie Murphy in 1996).

• Criticism

  • The Day the Clown Died—a 1972 film for which Lewis serves as director, star and co-writer—was never released, due in part to public criticism. In it, Lewis plays a circus clown swept into the events of the Holocaust. Some of those who viewed the film in rough-cut form reported that the comedy it contained was out of place, belittling the subject matter. Comedian Harry Shearer likened it to the following scenario: "If you flew down to Tijuana and suddenly saw a painting on black velvet of Auschwitz."

  Though Lewis was a longtime supporter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, he was criticized by members of the disabled community in both 1990 and 2001, for statements perceived as insensitive. Lewis has also been accused of homophobia and misogyny.

• Caught with Gun

  On July 29, 2008, Lewis was cited with carrying an unloaded concealed weapon in his carry-on bag at the Las Vegas airport. While Lewis claimed he didn't know the gun was in his bag, his manager stated that the gun was a hollowed-out prop gun.OK! Magazine: Jerry Lewis Caught with Gun at Airport (July 29, 2008)

• Paternity Test

  According to DNA test results released on an episode of Inside Edition in March 2009, there is a 88.7 percent chance that Philadelphia comedian Suzan Lewis is related to Lewis' son, Gary Lewis. For years, Suzan Lewis has attempted to get Jerry Lewis to acknowledge his paternity.Philly.com: Dan Gross: Why won't director admit he went to Temple?

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Dean Martin | Frank Sinatra | Judy Garland | Robert De Niro | Sandra Bernhard | Ed McMahon | Andy Williams | The King of Comedy | Bob May | The Nutty Professor | Oscars 2009 | Suzan Lewis | Gary Lewis

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