Jerry Lewis, an iconic film funnyman both as a partner with actor-crooner Dean Martin and solo performer, as well as a champion fundraiser to fight muscular dystrophy, has passed away at age 91.
Jerry Lewis was born Joseph Levitch on March 16, 1926, to Daniel and Rachel Levitch in Newark, New Jersey.
The duo was so popular that DC published the comic book series The Adventures of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, which ran from 1952 to 1957 (which was followed by DC’s The Adventures of Jerry Lewis comic book series from 1957 to 1971).
When he became a performer, Joseph took the surname Lewis, which was also the stage name of his Vaudeviller performer father.