Jerry Lewis Biography
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Born Joseph Levitch on March 16, 1926, in Newark, New Jersey.

When only five years old Jerry made his debut in New York's Borscht Circuit singing "Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?" By the time he was fifteen, he had perfected a comic routine, miming and silently mouthing lyrics of operatic and popular songs to a phonograph located off-stage.

on July 25, 1946, Jerry began a show business partnership with Dean Martin, an association that would soon skyrocket both to fame. It started when Jerry was performing at the 500 Club in Atlantic City and one of the other entertainers quit suddenly. Lewis, who had worked with Martin at the Glass Hat in New York City, suggested Dean as a replacement. At first they worked separately, but then ad-libbed together, and the rest is history. In less than eighteen weeks their salaries soared from $250.00 a week to $5,000.00

When the motion picture producer Hal Wallis watched the two perform at the Copacabana in New York City, he offered them a contract with Paramount Pictures. Of their first film, "My Friend Irma" (1949)

For ten years Martin and Lewis sandwiched sixteen money making films between nightclub engagements, personal appearances, recording sessions, radio shows, and television bookings. Their last film together was "Hollywood or Bust" (1956).

From then on, Lewis recorded several records and albums. With increased confidence, Lewis plunged into screen writing, directing, producing as well as acting. In 1965 Lewis moved to Columbia Pictures where he produced, directed and starred in "Three On A Couch". He then wrote, produced, directed and starred in "The Big Mouth" and "Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River." His next project was to direct Peter Lawford and Sammy Davis, Jr. in "One More Time" (a sequel to "Salt and Pepper") in England.

In 1967 Jerry became a professor at the University of Southern California, where he taught graduate students a course in film direction. "The Total Film-Maker", based on recordings of 480 hours of his classroom lectures, was edited by Jerry and published by Random House in 1971.

1977 marked the year that the highest honor ever bestowed upon an entertainer, would recognize the tireless efforts Lewis has displayed since 1949, in his fight against Muscular Dystrophy, and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

In June, 1985, the Department of Defense presented him with the highest award it can bestow upon a civilian... the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, recognizing Lewis's work in the fight against Muscular Dystrophy. In June, 1987, Lewis was further honored when he received a Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Mercy College, headquartered in Westchester, New York.

One of the most successful performers in show business history, box office gross receipts of his films total about $800 million.

In January of 1991, Lewis was surprised by the National Academy of Cable Programming when emcee Whoopi Goldberg presented him with the Comic Life Achievement Award (the "ACE" award). The telecast was seen around the world. In April of 1991, Jerry was inducted into the Broadcast Hall of Fame by the National Association of Broadcasters, at the NAB convention in Las Vegas.

Lewis has five sons: Gary, Ron, Scott, Chris and Anthony, seven grandchildren, and one great granddaughter, thanks to his granddaughter Sara Jane Spence.

On February 13, 1983, Jerry married SanDee "Sam" Pitnick of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They have one daughter, Danielle Sara born March, 1992.