When I was a kid, I saw all the new Jerry Lewis movies. The Delicate Delinquent (1957), The Bellboy (1960), The Ladies Man (1961), Who's Minding the Store? (1963), and The Disorderly Orderly (1964) were among my favorites. I was too young for the Martin & Lewis comedies (I was still in single digits when they broke up), so my fondest memories are of Jerry by himself, playing basically the same character every time -- a lovable goofball who I could relate to because it's how I often felt inside.

I eventually outgrew that guy, but Jerry has kept on keeping on, experiencing ups and downs, controversy and praise for his yearly telethons, and continued adoration from the French. He is and always has been unique, and his contributions to the movie comedy genre cannot be denied.

Born Joseph Levitch in Newark, New Jersey on March 16, 1926, Lewis began performing as a child, and says he went into vaudeville right out of high school. In 1946, after performing at various comedy venues, he joined up with Dean Martin to create a nightclub act that was successful enough to get them a comic bit in My Friend Irma (1949), which led to a sequel, My Friend Irma Goes West (1950). After that their movies together were big hits, though the onscreen formula did not quite approach the groundbreaking craziness of their live performances. The Martin & Lewis films included At War with the Army (1950), Sailor Beware (1951), That's My Boy (1951), The Stooge (1953), Living It Up (1954), You're Never Too Young (1955), and Artists and Models (1955), among others.

Their relationship was notoriously stormy, and eventually ended in 1956. Jerry's ensuing solo career was a smash, with films like The Delicate Delinquent, The Sad Sack (1957), Rock-a-Bye Baby (1958), The Geisha Boy (1958), and Don't Give Up the Ship (1959). He made his directorial debut with The Bellboy (1960), and after that directed many of his own films, including The Nutty Professor (1963), generally considered his highest achievement. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy/Musical for Boeing (707) Boeing (707) (1965). He also found time to record an album and play professional baseball.

After the 60s his film popularity in the United States declined, though he was still wildly popular in Europe. He tried television, but with mixed success. A comeback in the 80s produced a number of non-comic performances, including a startling role in The King of Comedy (1983) with Robert DeNiro, which resulted in a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor, as well as a number of other parts that did not involve high-pitched whining and spastic dancing!

Of course, in addition to his entertainment career, Jerry has produced his well-known yearly Labor Day MDA telethon, first broadcast in 1966 on one TV station. Today it raises tens of millions of dollars every year, and he has persevered in spite of health problems, including open heart surgery in 1983, prostate cancer surgery in 1992, and his fight with diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis. In 2003 he entered the hospital to fight an addiction to the steroids used in the treatment of the latter disease, which contributed to a noticeable weight gain. He became a frequent talk-show guest, discussing his health and his career.

Jerry has received numerous awards for his charitable work, including the French Legion of Honor and a Nobel Prize nomination. Although Oscar has snubbed him, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the American Comedy Awards in 1998. We want to wish him a happy and healthy 80th birthday, and hope that you enjoy the rest of this tribute, including links to other Web sites, reviews, and places to purchase movies and posters.

Part I: Introduction

Part II: Jerry Lewis Tributes and Other Pages

Part III: Movie Reviews & Where to Find His Movies

Part IV: Books, Photos, Art and Posters