News

King of Comedy Jerry Lewis Dies at 91 Years Old

Emma Hernandez

Published

on

Jerry lewis dies death
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 04: Comedian Jerry Lewis attends Friars Club Salute To Joan Collins at The Friars Club on May 4, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

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 jerry lewis getty

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

MORE: Rat Pack Legends Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin's Kids Open Up About Their Incredible Bond — "You Could Feel Their Energy"

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.

jerry lewis getty

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.

https://twitter.com/jamieleecurtis/status/899335707935752193

https://twitter.com/WhoopiGoldberg/status/899337448425172992

Trending News

Soap Opera5 days ago

‘General Hospital’s’ Gary James Fuller Remains in Good Spirits After Multiple Surgeries

Celebrity News4 days ago

Kirsten Storms Breaks Silence on Personal Struggles and ‘General Hospital’ Future

Soap Opera6 days ago

3 ‘General Hospital’ Characters Who Need to Return Today

John Travolta 1996 John Travolta 1996
Nostalgia5 days ago

46 Years Ago, Many Doubted John Travolta Could Pull Off This Role, but Then He Proved Them Wrong

Soap Opera3 days ago

Kelly Kruger Joins ‘General Hospital’ in Major Legacy Recast

Health6 days ago

Dietitians Are Begging People To Stop Taking This Common Supplement With Magnesium

Soap Opera5 days ago

This Unexpected ‘Days of our Lives’ Love Triangle Leaves Fans Divided

Susan Boyle Britain Talent Susan Boyle Britain Talent
Celebrity6 days ago

‘Britain’s Got Talent’ Star Susan Boyle Explains Her ‘New Era’ After Major Health Setback

Soap Opera5 days ago

Why Harrison Chase Has ‘General Hospital’ Fans in a Fury

Celebrity Couples7 days ago

Heather Locklear Breaks Silence on Lorenzo Lamas Romance, Calls Him ‘Everything’

Soap Opera6 days ago

The Courtroom Confession That Changed Everything For ‘General Hospital’s’ Michael Corinthos

Celebrity News6 days ago

Paul McCartney Reflects on His Relationship With John Lennon: ‘I Don’t Feel Like I Have to Be Respectful’