Jerry Lewis

At 91 years old, Jerry Lewis physical status not available right now. We will update Jerry Lewis's height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, and measurements.

Joseph Levitch (March 16, 1926-2017), better known by his stage name Jerry Lewis, was an American comedian, actor, comedian, film director, and humanitarian who was dubbed "The King of Comedy" and "The Total Filmmaker."

Lewis met fellow singer Dean Martin & Lewis in 1946 and the pair performed together for ten years until the union was acrimonious breakup in 1956.

Lewis, a solo filmmaker and comedian, delves into behind-the-scenes work as a producer, producer, and screenwriter, as well as a serial entrepreneur and writer, selling millions of copies as a writer.

He raised concerns for muscular dystrophy throughout his career, as well as being the national chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Lewis was also known for his friendship with Sammy Davis Jr.

Early life

Lewis was born Joseph Levitch, 1926, in Newark, New Jersey, to a Jewish family. Daniel "Danny" Levitch (1902–1988), a master of ceremonies and vaudevillian who performed under the stage name Danny Lewis, whose parents immigrated to the United States from Russia to New York, and Rachael "Rae" Levitch (1903-1983), a WOR radio pianist and Danny's music director, from Warsaw, were among his parents. Reports pertaining to his birth name are contradicting; in Lewis' 1982 autobiography, he said Joseph after his maternal grandfather, but his birth certificate, the 1930 U.S. Census, and the 1940 US Census all identified him as Jerome.

According to reports relating to the hospital in which he was born conflict as well, with biographer Shawn Levy claiming he was born at Clinton Private Hospital and others claiming Newark Beth Israel Hospital. Other aspects of his early life may have smuggish with family members' accounts, funeral records, and vital information.

Even in his teenage years, he was a "character" in his neighborhood, stealing fried chicken and pies from restaurants. In the tenth grade, he dropped out of Irvington High School. Lewis said that he stopped using the names Joseph and Joey as an adult to avoid being confused with Joe E. Lewis and Joe Louis.

Personal life

Lewis wed Patti Palmer (née Esther Grace Calonico; 1921-2021), a Ted Fio Rito musician, died on October 3, 1944. They had six sons together; five biological: Gary (born 1955), Christopher (born 1956), Anthony (born 1957), and Joseph (born 1949) Ronald (born 1949). It was an interfaith marriage; Lewis was Jewish and Palmer was Catholic.

In 2011, he openly pursued friendships with other women and gave unapologetic interviews about his infidelity, revealing his affair with Marilyn Monroe and Marlene Dietrich to People. Palmer filed for divorce after 35 years of marriage, quoting Lewis' lavish spending and infidelity on his part. Any of Lewis' children and grandchildren from his marriage to Palmer were forbidden from inheriting any part of his estate. Gary, Lewis' eldest son, has branded his father a "mean and evil person" and said that Lewis never showed him or his siblings any love or concern.

Sandra "SanDee" Pitnick, a University of North Carolina School of the Arts professionally trained ballerina and stewardess who arrived in Lewis after winning a little part in a dancing scene on his film Hardly Working, was Lewis' second wife. They were married on February 13, 1983, in Key Biscayne, Florida, and had one child together, an adopted daughter named Danielle (born 1992). They were married for 34 years before his death.

Gary Benson, a man from February 1994, was discovered to have been stalking Lewis and his family. Benson served four years in jail after being arrested.

Vanity Fair published a special issue in February 2022, four years after Lewis' death, accusing Lewis of numerous acts of sexual assault, bullying, and verbal abuse against actresses in the 1960s. Karen Sharpe, Hope Holiday, Anna Maria Alberghetti, and Lainie Kazan were among those who were identified.

Lewis suffered with a variety of persistent health issues, illnesses, and heroin use as a result of aging and a back injury sustained in a comedic pratfall. When performing at the Sands Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip on March 20, 1965, or during an appearance on The Andy Williams Show, the fall was described as either from a piano or from a piano. Lewis became addicted to Percodan for ten years in the wake of its demise. He said he had been off the drug since 1978. Lewis had a Medtronic "Synergy" neurostimulator implanted in his back in April 2002, which helped ease the pain. He was one of the company's top spokesmen.

Lewis suffered with heart disease throughout his life; he revealed in 2011's documentary Method to the Madness of Jerry Lewis that he suffered his first heart attack while filming Cinderfella in 1960. He suffered his second heart attack in December 1982 at the age of 56. Lewis underwent open-heart double-bypass surgery two months later in February 1983. Lewis suffered his third heart attack on June 11, 2006, while en route to San Diego from New York City on a cross-country commercial airline flight. It was discovered that he had pneumonia as well as a severely wounded heart. He had a cardiac catheterization the day after the heart attack, and two stents were inserted into one of his coronary arteries, which was 90 percent blocked. The surgery resulted in increased blood flow to his heart, allowing him to recover from earlier lung injuries. Lewis had to postpone several significant activities from his schedule due to his cardiac catheterization, but he recovered in a matter of weeks.

Lewis' Australian tour was cut short in 1999 when he had to be hospitalized in Darwin with viral meningitis. He had been sick for more than five months. He had failed to pay his medical bills, according to the Australian newspaper. Lewis, on the other hand, argued that his health insurer was to blame for the payment confusion. He sued his insurer for US$100 million as a result of poor publicity.

Lewis had prostate cancer, type 1 diabetes, and pulmonary fibrosis as a result of his decades-long heart disease. Lewis was treated with prednisone for pulmonary fibrosis in the late 1990s, resulting in significant weight gain and a startling change in his appearance. Lewis was unable to attend a planned London charity dinner at the London Palladium in September 2001. He was the headline act and was on stage but did not appear onstage. He had suddenly been sick, evidently with heart disease.

He was then admitted to the hospital. Lewis began an arduous, months-long therapy that weaned him off prednisone, and he shed a significant amount of the weight while on the drug. He returned to work after receiving the therapy. He was treated and released from a hospital after suffering from hypoglycemia at a New York Friars Club function on June 12, 2012. He was forced to cancel a performance in Sydney due to his illness. Lewis admitted that he could not act in any more films given his advanced age, while simultaneously admitting that dying would leave his wife and daughter alone. Lewis was hospitalized in Las Vegas, California, with a urinary tract infection in June 2017.

Lewis died at his Las Vegas, Nevada, home at the age of 91. The cause was end-stage cardiac disease and peripheral artery disease. Lewis was cremated. Lewis left his estate to his second wife of 34 years, SanDee Pitnick, and their daughter, and they've specifically disinherited his children from his first marriage and their children.

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Early career

He had written his "Record Act" miming songs by age 15, before a phonograph performed offstage. He was given a job at a burlesque house in Buffalo, but his appearance was uneventful and no one was able to book any more shows. Lewis performed at the Paragraph Theatre and as a theater usher for Suzanne Pleshette's father Gene at the Both in New York City and Loew's Capitol Theatre.

Max Coleman, a veteran burlesque comedian who had worked with Lewis' father years before, advised him not to try again. The following summer, Lewis' mime performance at Brown's Hotel in Loch Sheldrake, New York, was a hit, and the audience erupted enough that Kaye became Lewis' manager and guardian for Borscht Belt appearances. He was refused military service during WWII due to a heart murmur.

Career

Lewis was 19 when he met 27-year-old singer Dean Martin at the Glass Hat Club in New York City, where the two performed until they debuted at the 500 Club in Atlantic City on July 25, 1946, as Martin and Lewis. With Martin appearing as the straight man to Lewis' zany antics, the pair attracted a lot of attention. They performed to each other and had ad-libbed improvisational segments within their planned routines, giving them a unique sense of their performance and distinguishing them from previous comedy duos.

Martin and Lewis came to national prominence, first as stars of their popular nightclub act and then as stars of their radio show The Martin and Lewis Show. On CBS' Toast of the Town (later renamed as The Ed Sullivan Show) on June 20, 1948, the two made their television debut (later renamed as The Ed Sullivan Show). On October 3, 1948, it was followed by an appearance on Welcome Aboard, followed by a stint on Texaco Star Theater in 1949.

They joined NBC in 1950 to be one of a line of weekly rotating hosts of The Colgate Comedy Hour, a live Sunday evening broadcast. Norman Lear and Ed Simmons, the team's nightclub columnist, and Lewis, the team's nightclub writer, were paid as regular writers for their Comedy Hour articles. Their Comedy Hour performances featured stand-up comedy, song, and dance from their nightclub performance and movies, backed by Dick Stabile's big band, slapstick and satirical sketch comedy, Martin's solo projects, and Lewis' solo pantomimes or physical numbers.

They often fell short of their appearance, ad-libbing, and breaking the fourth wall. The Comedy Hour demonstrated charismatic energy between the team and established their fame around the country, despite not entirely capturing the orchestrated mayhem of their nightclub performance. They were a cultural phenomenon by 1951, with a appearance at the Paramount Theatre in New York. In My Friend Irma (1949) and its sequel My Friend Irma Goes West (1950), the twosome began their film careers at Paramount Pictures as ensemble participants.

They starred in their own series of 14 new films, At War with the Army (1951), Jumping Jacks (1953), The Caddy (1954), We're Never Too Young (1954), and Hollywood or Bust (1956), all produced by Hal B. Wallis.

The team appeared on What's My Line?

Their films were extremely popular with viewers and Paramount's financial success was a big win. Both Lewis and Martin expressed disappointment with Wallis' formulaic and trite film choices in later years, limiting them to narrow, repeating roles. The relationship came under strain as Martin's roles in their films became less important over time, and Lewis received the majority of critical acclaim. Martin's participation in 1954 became a shame when Look magazine published a publicity photograph of the team for the magazine cover, but Cropped Martin was omitted.

Both Lewis and Martin went on to have lucrative solo careers after their partnership came to an end with their last nightclub performance on July 24, 1956. Neither Lewis or Martin would discuss a reunion. They were regularly seen at the same public functions and then reunited on stage for 15 minutes to perform their old act together in 1960 at The Sands hotel. On September 30, 1958, Dean surprised Jerry on his appearance on The Eddie Fisher Show, and the two of them appeared on television together at the 1959 Academy Awards closing. According to interviews they gave to magazines, they reunited several times publicly and some privately.

However, the break was too early for them to fully recover until the late 1980s. Sinatra shocked Lewis by onstage during the Jerry Lewis Telethon in September 1976, twenty years after their breakup. Lewis returned the gesture in 1989 when attending Martin's 72nd birthday.

Lewis and his partner Patty took a trip in Las Vegas to consider the course of his career after ending his marriage with Martin in 1956. "I was unable to put one foot in front of the other with any conviction," he said. I was completely unnerved to be alone. While waiting, Sid Luft, Judy Garland's husband and boss, said she couldn't perform that night in Las Vegas due to strep throat and demanding Lewis to fill in.

Lewis had not performed alone on stage since he was five years old, twenty-five years ago, but he appeared before a thousand-strong audience, laughing and joking with the audience, though Garland sat off-stage, watching. "Rock-a-Body Your Baby With a Dixie Melody" followed him as a child, as well as "Come Rain or Come Shine." "When I was done, the place exploded," Lewis said. Knowing that I could make it on my own, I walked off the stage."

Lewis performed the songs on a single during his wife's pleaded guilty. Decca Records heard it, loved it, and begged that they should record an album dedicated to them. Rock-a-Bye Your Baby's single debuted at No. 1. Jerry Lewis Just Sings went to No. 10 on the album Jerry Lewis Just Sings. 3 on the Billboard charts, remained at the top for four months and sold a million and a half copies.

Due to the success of the album, Jerry Lewis Sings Big Kids (an EP of songs from this release) and Jerry Lewis Sings for Children (later reissued with fewer tracks as Jerry Lewis Sings for Children). There were non-album singles, and It All Depends On You reached the top charts in April and May 1957, but only No. 1 was released. 68. Lewis released further singles and released them in the mid-1960s.

However, these were not Lewis' first forays into recording nor his first appearance on the hit charts. They made several recordings together during Martin's time as a team, charting at No. 58. With the 1920s tumultuous That Certain Party and later mainly re-recording songs highlighted in their films, 22 people were born in 1948. During their marriage, as well as statistics that were primarily intended for the children's industry, Martin achieved numerous novelty-comedy numbers for adults.

He began performing regularly at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, beginning in late 1956, which marked a turning point in his life and career. The Sands signed him to six weeks a year, paying him the same as a team, Martin and Lewis. "Jerry was wonderful," the critics wrote about him: "Jerry was wonderful." One of the books said, "He has demonstrated that he can be a success by himself." He continued with club appearances in Miami, New York, Chicago, and Washington.

Live performances became a staple of his career, and over the years he appeared at casinos, theaters, and state fairs from coast to coast, he has performed at casinos, theaters, and state fairs. During this time, he followed Garland at the Palace Theater in New York in February, and Martin called him on the phone to wish him the best of luck. Lewis said, "I've never been happier." "I have calm for the first time." Lewis became a solo artist on television, beginning with the first of six appearances on What's My Line. From 1956 to 1966, and then guest starred on The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show from 1956 to 1966.

He appeared on both Tonight Starring Jack Paar and The Ed Sullivan Show and also in a number of NBC solo television specials. He appeared in his Startime adaptation of "The Jazz Singer." Lewis performed the Academy Awards three times, including in 1956, 1957, and the 31st Academy Awards in 1959, which fell short of Lewis' time, requiring him to improvise and fill time. DC Comics, from Martin and Lewis, also published The Adventures of Jerry Lewis, a new comic book series that ran from 1957 to 1971.

Lewis stayed at Paramount and began his debut with his first solo effort The Delicate Delinquent (1957), which later appeared in his new film The Sad Sack (1957). Lewis' brand of humour was embraced by Frank Tashlin, who appeared as a Looney Tunes cartoon director. Lewis made new films with him, first with Rock-A-Bye Baby (1958) and then The Geisha Boy (1958). Lewis wanted Lewis to play the lead role in Some Like It Hot, but the singer turned down the offer.

He appeared in Don't Give Up The Ship (1959), then arrived in Li'l Abner (1959). Lewis had several films under his belt, eager to stretch his creative muscle and eager to practice his pathos, and he was able to develop his comedy with pathos, according to the artist. A pie in the face is amusing, but I wanted more." A deal between Paraphrasedoutput and Jerry Lewis Productions was signed in 1959, guaranteeing a sum of $10 million more than half of the profits for 14 films in less than seven years.

Lewis was the highest paid individual Hollywood actor to date, and it was unprecedented in that he had full creative control, including final cut and restoration of film rights after 30 years. Lewis' clout and box office were so good (his films had already earned Paramount $100 million in rentals) that Barney Balaban, head of Paramount's production at that time, told the public, "If Jerry wants to burn down the studio I'll give him the match."

He had completed his film with Visit to a Small Planet (1960) and wrapped up production on his own film Cinderfella (1960), directed by Tashlin, and was delayed until a Christmas 1960 release. Lewis was forbidden from making a quickie film for its summer 1960 schedule. As a result, he made his debut as film director of The Bellboy (1960), which he also appeared in.

Lewis shot the film during the day and performed at the hotel in the evenings at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami, on a small budget and with a tight shooting schedule. Bill Richmond appeared on several of the sight gags with him. Paramount was not thrilled with funding a "silent film" and later announced that it did not want to invest, and had a loyal following. Lewis borrowed money from his own account to pay for the movie's $950,000 budget. In the meantime, he sent an unsold pilot for Permanent Waves.

Lewis continued to produce more films co-written with Richmond, including The Ladies Man (1961), where Lewis designed a three-story dollhouse-like set spanning two sound stages, eliminating the need for boom mics in each room and his forthcoming film The Errand Boy (1961), one of the first films about movie-making, made use of all of Paramount's backlot and offices.

Lewis appeared in The Wacky World of Jerry Lewis, Celebrity Golf, The Garry Moore Show, and Tashlin's It's Only Money (1962), later becoming the host of The Tonight Show during Jack Paar's meteoric decline in late night, outraising other guest hosts and Paar. Lewis was wooing Lewis for his own talk show, which premiered the following year.

Lewis later co-wrote, co-wrote, and appeared in the smash hit The Nutty Professor (1963). It turned out that Professor Kelp, a socially inept scientist who invents a serum that turns him into a handsome but obnoxious ladies man, was featured in a parody of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Lewis' best film is often thought to be Lewis' best film. In 2004, it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. The film spawned a franchise that also includes a 1996 remake starring Eddie Murphy in the title role and a stage musical version.

He appeared in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), and then in Tashlin's Who's Minding the Store? (1963) and hosted The Jerry Lewis Show, a lavish 13-week big-budget show that aired on ABC from September to December in 1963, but the show was marred by technical and other obstacles, including the assassination of then US President John F. Kennedy, which left the nation in a somber mood.

Lewis' next film appearance in The Patsy (1964), his final Hollywood film-making venture, was in a cameo by Tashlin's The Disorderly Orderly (1964) about a young heiress who must choose among six uncles, one of whom is up to no good and out to hurt the girl's beloved bodyguard who literally raised her. Lewis played all six uncles and the bodyguard.

Lewis appeared on The David Susskind Show in 1965 and later appeared in Boeing Boeing (1965), his last film for Paramount, based on the French stage play in which he was awarded a Golden Globe nomination; an episode of Ben Casey; and Hullabaloo with his son Gary Lewis. Lewis left Paramount in 1966 after 17 years and with no explanation, and with no explanation, he left Columbia Pictures, where he reimagined himself in more sophisticated roles.

He went on to star in Three on a Couch (1966), The Merv Griffin Show, Way Out (1966), a new version of The Jerry Lewis Show, a pilot for Sheriff Who, a new version of The Jerry Lewis Show, run for Your Life, and The Danny Thomas Hour (1967).

Lewis appeared in Don't Raise the Bridge (1968), Playboy After Dark (surprising buddy Sammy Davis Jr.), Hook, Line & Sinker (1969), and Will the Real Jerry Lewis appeared on The Mike Douglas Show and directed an episode of The Bold Ones.

Lewis appeared on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, The Engelbert Humperdinck Exhibition, The Irv Kupcinet Show, The Real Tom Kennedy Exhibition, A Christmas Night with the Stars (1970), in which he performed his first (and only) off-screen presence as a bandleader in Which Way to the Front? (1970) and appeared on The Carol Burnett Exhibition, The Rolf Harris Exhibition, and The Kraft Music Hall.

Lewis produced and appeared in the partly unveiled The Day the Clown Cried (1972), a tragedy set in a Nazi concentration camp. Lewis's film was rarely discussed, but he said that litigation over post-production funds and copyright prevented its completion and theatrical debut. During his book tour for Dean and Me, he also said that one of the film's deaths was that he was not proud of the cause.

In an interview with an Australian documentary film crew, Lewis explained why and the emotional rigor of the project as well as the subject's emotional complexities. In 2016, Lewis fan Kay Brown/Donazify's 31-minute edited compilation of the film's scenes went viral on the internet and became popular on the internet after the clip was shown on the German television station ARD in the film Der Clown. It was later released on DVD and screened at the Deutsche Filminstitute. The film was the first attempt by an American film producer to explore The Holocaust. Major rumors surround the film. Lewis took a break from film for many years after this.

Lewis appeared on Good Morning America, The Dick Cavett Show, NBC Follies, Cher, Dinah! Tony Orlando and Dawn. Lewis surprised Sinatra and Martin after stepping onto the Aladdin stage in Las Vegas during their performance and exchanged jokes for several minutes. He appeared in a revival of Hellzapoppin with Lynn Redgrave but the show was not long before he hit Broadway. In 1979, he appeared as the Ringmaster of the Circus of the Stars.

After an 11-year absence from film, Lewis guest appeared on Pink Lady in 1980 and then returned to the big screen in Hardly Working (1981). Despite being panned by critics, the film made $50 million before it was sold. Lewis appeared on Late Night with David Letterman and in The King of Comedy as a late-night TV host plagued by two ardent fans, winning wide praise and a BAFTA award for his crucial dramatic role in 1982 and 1983.

Lewis appeared in Saturday Night Live, Star Search, Cracking Up (1983), Slapstick (Of A Kind) (1984), To Catch a Cop (1984), and How Did You Get In? We Didn't See You Leave (1984), the two previous films from France that were released under Lewis' direction and said that they would never be available in American movie theaters and in home media. He appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson at one point.

He then hosted a new syndicated version of The Jerry Lewis Show, this time as a talk show for Metromedia, which was not extended beyond the scheduled five shows. Lewis produced an episode of Brothers in 1985, where he was the first performer to receive a standing ovation.

Lewis performed his second double act with Davis Jr. at Bally's in Las Vegas in 1987, then attending his funeral, resulting in a greater peace with Martin. Lewis appeared on America's All-Time Favorite Movies in 1988, and Howard Cosell interviewed him on Speaking of Everything. He appeared in five episodes of Wise's Wise as a child actor.

Lewis was forced to miss the Museum of the Moving Image's opening with a retrospective of his work due to the show's filming schedule. Lewis performed on stage for Martin's last live performance at Bally's Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 1989. On Martin's 72nd birthday, Lewis wheeled out a cake, sang "Happy Birthday" to him, and joked, "Why we broke up, I'll never know." Their appearance together made news. In Cookie (1989), he appeared for the first time.

Lewis spent two years as the director of Super Force and Good Grief in 1990 and 1991, before appearing in Mr. Saturday Night (1992), The Whoopi Goldberg Exhibition, and Inside The Comedy Mind. Martin & Lewis: Their Golden Age of Comedies, a three-part series that aired on The Disney Channel in 1992, highlighting Lewis' time as a member of a team with Martin and as a soloist.

Lewis appeared in both the national and London runs of the musical, as a replacement cast member playing the devil in Arizona Dream (1993) and Funny Bones (1995). He appeared in only three shows in more than four years, one of which was at Martin's funeral, his comedy partner of ten years.

Lewis appeared on Inside the Actors Studio in 1996, the 12th annual American Comedy Awards in 1998 and 2000s, Russell Gilbert Live, Your World With Conan O'Brien, and Conan O'Brien's "Time After Time" with Deana Martin on her album Memories Are Made of This and Curious George 2 (2009).

Till Luck Do Us Part 2 (2013), the actor who made his last few appearances for the 81st Academy Awards, 50 Years of Movies & Music, Before David Cameron, The Life Over With Raymond Arroyo, his last film Max Rose (2016), WTF with Marc Maron and Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.

Non-career activities

In 1950, Lewis opened a camera store. He decided to lend his name to "Jerry Lewis Cinemas," a National Cinema Corporation service offered as a franchise opportunity for those interested in the performance of a theatrical movie display in 1969. Jerry Lewis Cinemas claimed that with the assistance of automation and training offered by the franchiser in booking film and other aspects of the film show, theatres could be operated by as few as two people. In franchising ads, a Jerry Lewis Cinema, a forerunner of the smaller rooms typical of later multi-screen cinemas, was described as a "mini-theatre" with a seating capacity of between 200 and 350.

Each Jerry Lewis Cinema bore a sign with a cartoon logo of Lewis in profile, in addition to Lewis' name. Initially, 158 territories were franchised, with a buy-in fee ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 per territory for what was described as a "individual exhibitor." Jerry Lewis Cinemas provided an opportunity to be a "area directorship," in which investors controlled franchising opportunities in a region as well as their own cinemas. The chain's success was hampered by a policy that restricted the booking of second-run, family-friendly films. The Jerry Lewis Cinemas were able to screen more competitive films in the future. However, the chain suffered for a decade, and Lewis and National Cinema Corporation declared bankruptcy in 1980.

Lewis appeared on the 1st annual 20-hour Highway Safety Foundation telethon, hosted by Davis Jr. and Monty Hall in 1973. Lewis wrote and directed a short film for UNICEF's How Are The Children in 1990. Anthology is a worldwide study of children's rights. The eight-minute segment, titled Boy, was about a young white boy in a black world who was exposed to silence, insidious bigotry, and outright racial bullying.

Lewis met Lochie Graham, a seven-year-old boy who shared his proposal for "Jerry's House," a place for homeless and traumatized children in 2010. Lewis and Graham formed an Australian and a U.S.-based charity, pooling funds to build the Melbourne facility. Lewis contributed his name and star power to Criss Angel's HELP (Heal Every Life Possible) charity on September 12, 2016.

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Awards, nominations, and other honors

• 1952 – Photoplay Award
• 1952 – Primetime Emmy Award Nomination for Best Comedian or Comedienne
• 1954 – Most Cooperative Actor, Golden Apple Award
• 1958 – Golden Laurel Nomination for Top Male Star
• 1959 – Golden Laurel Nomination for Top Male Star
• 1960 – Golden Laurel Nomination for Top Male Star
• 1960 – Two stars (one for film and one for television) on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
• 1961 – Golden Laurel Nomination for Top Male Comedy Performance for Cinderfella
• 1961 – Golden Laurel Nomination for Top Male Star
• 1962 – Golden Laurel Nomination for Top Male Star
• 1963 – Golden Laurel Nomination for Top Male Star
• 1963 – Cahiers du Cinéma's Top 10 Film Award Nomination for Best Film for The Nutty Professor
• 1964 – Golden Laurel Nomination for Top Male Star
• 1965 – Golden Laurel, Special Award – Family Comedy King
• 1965 – Cahiers du Cinéma's Top 10 Film Award Nomination for Best Film for The Family Jewels
• 1966 – Golden Laurel Nomination for Comedy Performance (Male) for Boeing Boeing
• 1966 – Golden Light Technical Achievement Award for his 'video assist'
• 1966 – Golden Globe Nomination for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical
• 1966 – Fotogramas de Plata Best Foreign Performer
• 1967 – Cahiers du Cinéma's Top 10 Film Award Nomination for Best Film for The Big Mouth
• 1970 – Jerry Lewis Award for Outstanding achievement in being a "Person" and "Performer" for Which Way to the Front
• 1970 – The Michael S. McLean Happy Birthday and Thank You Award for Which Way to the Front
• 1977 – Nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, for his work on behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Association
• 1978 – Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged, a Jefferson Awards annual award.
• 1981 – Stinker Award Nomination for Worst Actor for Hardly Working
• 1981 – Stinker Award Nomination for Worst Sense of Direction for Hardly Working
• 1983 – British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for The King of Comedy
• 1983 – Cahiers du Cinéma's Top 10 Film Award Nomination for Best Film for Cracking Up
• 1984 – Chevalier, Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur, France
• 1985 – Razzie Award Nomination for Worst Actor for Slapstick (Of Another Kind)
• 1991 – Comic Life Achievement Award
• 1991 – Induction into the Broadcast Hall of Fame
• 1991 – Lifetime Achievement Award, The Greater Fort Lauderdale Film Festival
• 1992 – Induction into the International Humor Hall of Fame
• 1995 – Theatre World Award, for Outstanding Broadway Debut for Damn Yankees
• 1997 – American Comedy Awards Lifetime Achievement Award
• 1999 – Golden Lion Honorary Award
• 2002 – Rotary International Award of Honour
• 2004 – Los Angeles Film Critics Association's Career Achievement Award
• 2005 – Primetime Emmy Governor's Award
• 2005 – Goldene Kamera Honorary Award
• 2006 – Medal of the City of Paris, France
• 2006 – Satellite Award for Outstanding Guest Star on Law and Order SVU
• 2006 – Commandeur, Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur, France
• 2009 – Induction into the New Jersey Hall of Fame
• 2009 – Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 81st Academy Awards
• 2009 – International Press Academy's Nikola Tesla Award in recognition of visionary achievements in filmmaking technology for his "video assist".
• 2010 – Chapman University Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters during the 2010 MDA Telethon
• 2011 – Ellis Island Medal of Honor
• 2013 – Homage from the Cannes Film Festival, with the screening of Lewis's latest film Max Rose
• 2013 – Honorary Member of the Order of Australia (AM), for service to the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation of Australia and those affected by the disorder
• 2014 – "Forecourt to the Stars" imprints at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood
• 2014 – New York Friars Club renames clubhouse building The Jerry Lewis Monastery
• 2014 – Publicists Guild of America Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2015 – National Association of Broadcasters Distinguished Service Award
• 2015 – Casino Entertainment Legend Award