Jerry Lewis (born Joseph Levitch; March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017), nicknamed "The King of Comedy", was an American comedian, actor, singer, filmmaker and humanitarian, who appeared in over sixty films and other media, from the Martin & Lewis partnership with singer Dean Martin to on his own as a soloist.
In addition to his work behind the scenes as director, producer and screenwriter, Lewis helped develop and popularize "video assist", the closed-circuit apparatus enabling film directors to see what had been shot without waiting for developed film footage. He raised awareness for muscular dystrophy while as national chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association for 55 years.
Last Updated: June 9, 2021
