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RIPKing of Comedy Jerry Lewis Dies at 91 Years Old
Hollywood just lost another icon. Comedy legend Jerry Lewis passed away on Sunday, Aug. 20 at his home in Las Vegas. The actor was 91 years old and had suffered from various health issues until his death, and now stars are taking to social media to mourn the loss of the king of comedy.
“Famed comedian, actor and legendary entertainer Jerry Lewis passed away peacefully today of natural causes at 91 at his home in Las Vegas with his family by his side,” read a obtained by the Las Vegas Review Journal.
Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
Jerry (real name Joseph Levitch) was born on March 16, 1926 in Newark, NJ to parents who were vaudeville performers. Jerry followed in their footsteps and in 1946, he joined forces with fellow comedian Dean Martin and the duo was known as Martin and Lewis. They went on to star together in their own films throughout the 1950s, in various titles like At War with the Army, That’s My Boy, and The Stooge. By the 1960s, Martin and Lewis were so popular that they were able to embark on their own solo careers, and Jerry went on to produce some of his most iconic films — like 1960’s The Bell Boy and 1963’s The Nutty Professor.
MORE: Deana Martin Honors Late Father Dean Martin on His 100th Birthday
He was also a philanthropist. In 1966, he founded The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon and he continued to host the event until 2010. Over the course of nearly six decades, he managed to raise nearly $2.5 billion to fund medical research for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Throughout the day, touching tributes for Jerry poured in via social media. Jamie Lee Cutis tweeted, “Jerry Lewis loomed large in my family. Many movies with my mom & he made home movies with Janet and Tony. He made me and many laugh.” Keep scrolling below to see more tributes.
Jerry Lewis loomed large in my family. Many movies with my mom & he made home movies with Janet and Tony. He made me and many laugh. #rip pic.twitter.com/4LbEbc9FCT
— Jamie Lee Curtis (@jamieleecurtis) August 20, 2017
Jerry Lewis passed today,millions around the world loved him,millions of kids he helped w/his telethons. R.I.P. &condolences 2 his family
— Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) August 20, 2017
Jerry Lewis was a genius comedian, actor, director, inventor, humanitarian and, as a Las Vegan, what I miss most..https://t.co/R0uLkPOwyU
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) August 20, 2017
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