Jerry Lewis (born March 16, 1926 ) is an American comedian, actor, film producer, writer and film director known for his slapstick humor and his charity fund-raising telethons for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Lewis has won many prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from The American Comedy Awards, The Golden Camera, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, The Venice Film Festival and he has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Lewis currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Lewis was originally paired up in 1946 with Dean Martin, and formed the comedy team of Martin and Lewis. In addition to the team's popular nightclub work, they starred in a successful series of comedy films for Paramount. The act broke up ten years later.

Charles Jeremy Lewis (born October 21 1934), an American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1979, representing the .

He is currently the ranking Republican member on the House Appropriations Committee. He served as its chairman during the 109th Congress. In August 2007, Lewis announced that he would run for re-election in 2008. The U.S. Attorney's Los Angeles office has been conducting a criminal investigation focusing on Lewis' ties to lobbyists and recipients of federal grants since mid-2006. Guy McCarthy, "FBI eyes county records; Sources: Feds probe lobbyist tied to Lewis", San Bernardino County Sun, June 1, 2006

ening Song: There goes Jerry Lewis. [applause] But he's right over here. [laughter] Which one is he really? It's not very clear. For he's here, there, everywhere Up the street, down the stair Comin' goin' yes-and-knowin'. There he goes a-overflowin'. Getting wet, in a jet, dancing to the castanets. Lookin' round for a spy, there he goes, private eye. Who is he really? What is he doing now?

Claims he was thrown out of high school for punching out his principal who had offended him with an anti-Semitic remark. Then went directly into vaudeville. An episode of "Seinfeld" (1990) makes use of plot point based on Lewis'(alleged) real-life strategem of secretly leaving an audiotape recorder running in a briefcase he intentionally leaves behind him in meetings to see what some people may be saying about him.

Born at 12:15pm-EST

Had open heart surgery in 1983.

Underwent surgery for prostate cancer in 1992.

Jerry took his last name from his actor-father's stage name.

He is known as a clothes horse. He gives away suits rather than having them cleaned and refuses to wear a pair of socks more than once.

He was presented the French Legion of Honor in 1984 and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977.

He taught a class in film at the University of California.

In 1995, he became the highest paid performer in Broadway history for his role as the Devil in "Damn Yankees".

Son of Danny Lewis (I).

Oldest son Gary Lewis (I) and his soft-rock group The Playboys had several pop hits in the 1960s, including "This Diamond Ring".

He and Dean Martin (I) were the world's top box-office earners from 1950-56. Lewis, on his own, also ruled as #1 movie draw in 1957, 1959, and 1961 to 1964!

Nominated for Nobel Prize for his 50 years raising money to fight muscular dystrophy.

First filmmaker to develop and use video-assist device on location.

Wrote 10 scripts in 10 years.

Says there is no gap between comedy and tragedy.

In Italy, Lewis has been given the nickname 'Picchiatello' (which means something like "nut" or "crazy"). At least three of his movies use the word in their Italian title: You're Never Too Young (1955) which became "Il Nipote Picchiatello" ("The Crazy Nephew"), Hardly Working (1980) ("Bentornato Picchiatello", or "Welcome Back Crazy") and Cracking Up (1983)("Qua La Mano Picchiatello". pr "Shake My Hand, Crazy").

He was a big fan of The Catcher in the Rye and strongly identified with the main character Holden Caulfield. He planned to direct a movie version but failed to aquire the rights from the book's reclusive author J.D. Salinger.

Suffers from diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis.

Children with Patti Palmer : Gary (b. 1945), Ronald (b. 1949), Scott (b. 1956), Christopher (b. 1957), Anthony (b. 1959)and Joseph (b. 1964). With SanDee Pitrick a daughter Danielle (b. 1992).

In 1969, Lewis announced the bold project of franchising a series of Jerry Lewis Cinemas. A firm believer in family entertainment, he said that the one inviolate rule of the chain would be that nothing other than family-oriented films would be shown. The theaters were to be state-of-the-art, easy to operate, and franchised to individuals who could meet the chain's investment requirements. Changing tastes in popular entertainment coupled with internal mismanagement caused the project to collapse within just a few years, and several lawsuits that could have resulted in jail time for Lewis and his associates were settled out of court.

The character Professor John Frink in "Simpsons, The" (1989) is based on his role of Professor Kelp in Nutty Professor, The (1963). Also some of Krusty the Clown's off-stage antics are based on him.

Starred (with Dean Martin (I)) on NBC Radio's "The Martin and Lewis Show" (1949-1953).

13 October 2003 - Entered a Las Vegas hospital to kick steroids used in the treatment of his pulmonary fibrosis.

Wrote, produced, and acted in the film Day the Clown Cried, The (1972), which was never released. The film purports to tell the tale of a clown at Auschwitz during WWII.

Father of 5 sons with his first marriage. Adopted daughter, Danielle, during his second marriage.

Was teamed up with Dean Martin (I) from 1946-56.

His film class students included Steven Spielberg (I) and George Lucas.

Sammy Davis Jr. called him the "greatest white faker" as a dancer.

Was voted the 50th Greatest Director of all time by Entertainment Weekly. Although he is at the bottom of this list, perhaps a bit shockingly, Charles Chaplin didn't even make the list.

Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume Two, 1945-1985". Pages 586-593. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1988.

Came upon his long-time theme song, "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby (With a Dixie Melody)," by accident. In 1956 he had to cover for an indisposed Judy Garland (I) at a performance in Las Vegas, which included singing several of her songs. His performance of "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby," using Garland's arrangement, went over so well with the audience that Lewis has used it as his theme song ever since.

Despite never having much of a singing voice (biographer Arthur Marx once likened his singing to "the croaking of a parched parrot"), his album, "Jerry Lewis Just Sings" (American Decca: 1956), was a best-seller upon its release, securing a place in the top-20 on the Billboard Album Charts.

Has been in constant back pain since miscalculating on a pratfall on "Andy Williams Show, The" (1962) in 1965. Percodan, an addictive morphine substitute, left him an addict for almost two decades. He now uses an implant device that dulls nerve impulses and can be controlled by a hand-held remote control.

Although critics usually referred to him as "the little guy" throughout his career, Lewis was about the same height or slightly shorter than Dean Martin (I) (both were a little under 6 feet tall). To try to make himself look more diminutive next to his partner, Lewis frequently hunched and also shaved a few inches off the heels of his shoes and added them to Martin's.

Besides Dean Martin (I), Lewis says the closest friend he ever had was Sammy Davis Jr. Davis would call Lewis in tears at times because of the racial slurs people would say to him about his relationship with Swedish actress May Britt.

Claims to have never seen Hollywood or Bust (1956), the last film he made with his partner, Dean Martin (I), saying it's much too painful for him to watch.

Contrary to belief, the 1976 MDA telethon was not the first reconciliation of the legendary comedy team. In 1960, four years after they split, Martin & Lewis briefly reunited. Both were performing their own separate acts at the Sands hotel in Las Vegas, a club they frequently played while they were together. Lewis caught Martin's closing act and Martin introduced his former partner to the audience, bringing him on stage. For about fifteen minutes, they joked a bit and sang a duet of "Come Back to Me". Unfortunately, the reunion was only a one time thing. Later when Lewis was too exhausted to perform his act, Martin generously replaced him.

Encouraged Christopher Walken to act. Walken met Lewis while he was on "Colgate Comedy Hour, The" (1950) and Lewis suggested to the young boy that he pursue a career in show business.

Norman Lear (creator of "All in the Family" (1971)) co-wrote many of Martin & Lewis' "Colgate Comedy Hour, The" (1950) shows.

Says his favorite Martin & Lewis film is _Stooge, The (1953)_ because "it came closest to capturing what Dean and I had as a team".

Some have said that if Lewis hadn't pursued a career in show business, he would have been a professional baseball player for the Dodgers. He played with the team a few times at charity events and was apparently very good.

Was best friends with Tony Curtis (I) and Janet Leigh. They starred in Lewis' home movies after Curtis complained about the parts he was being offered by his studio.

Was close friends with comic Lenny Bruce.

Was offered the role of Jerry/Daphne in Some Like It Hot (1959), directed by his friend Billy Wilder. He declined because he didn't want to dress in drag. The part, of course, eventually went to Jack Lemmon (I) and he received an Oscar nomination for his performance. Lewis says that Lemmon would send him chocolates every year to thank him and he now regrets not taking the role.

Diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2001.

Pronounced clinically dead from a massive heart attack in December 1982, after completing King of Comedy, The (1983) with Robert De Niro.

145 IQ.

Society of Operating Cameramen, (SOC) Honorary Member(1981) Lewis was honored for his contribution and development the first "Video Assist" for the motion picture camera in 1966. This allowed him to view his performance while directing himself in his films. This is used extensively today in filmmaking, known as "Video Village."

Collapsed at a London show in September 2002.

Is portrayed by Sean Hayes (I) in Martin and Lewis (2002) (TV)

He and Dean Martin (I) recorded a radio spot promoting their film Caddy, The (1953), and noticing the tape was still rolling, decided to improvise additional radio spots, with Jerry slipping profanities into his dialog. The unedited master recording was surreptitiously taken from the studio and made into a "bootleg" record that sold briskly among collectors.

For his 80th birthday in 2006, he was given a medal and induction into the Legion of Honor by France, given the honorary title of "Legion Commander." He apologized for not speaking French at the ceremony but said that "even if the French people cannot hear my language, they have always heard my heart."

Lewis changes white sweatsocks several times a day, always putting on a brand-new pair, and he gives the used ones to charity.

Jerry suffered a minor heart attack on June 11, 2006 which caused him to postpone his comeback in Las Vegas

Suffered a mild heart attack on the flight home to San Diego on June 11, 2006.

Appointed Honorary Ambassador of Peace for the Harvey Ball Foundation along with Brooke Shields, Jackie Chan (I), A.V.T. Shankardass, Prince Albert of Monaco, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Phil Collins (I), Jimmy Buffett, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Darrell Waltrip, Heather Mills (II), Yoko Ono (I), Patch Adams, Sergei Khrushchev and Winnie Mandela.

He is nominated in the inaugural 2007 New Jersey Hall of Fame for his services to entertainment and to charity.