Jerry Lewis

Biography

Jerry Lewis (March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, film producer, writer, film director and singer. He is best-known for his slapstick humor in stage, radio, screen, recording and television. Lewis is also known for his charity fund-raising telethons and position as national chairman for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Lewis won several awards for lifetime achievements from The American Comedy Awards, The Golden Camera, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and The Venice Film Festival, and he has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Career Overview

Jerry Lewis has 215 screen credits in a career dating back to 1949. Their work spans 8 cinematic universes — most prominently My Friend Irma Collection with 2 titles. Signature works include The King of Comedy, Arizona Dream, The Nutty Professor. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For: Acting
Gender: male
Known Credits: 215
Birth Date: 1926-03-16 00:00:00
Birth Place: Newark, New Jersey, USA

Known For

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 8 universes

My Friend Irma Collection (2 titles)
Nutty Professor (2 titles)
The Nutty Professor Collection (2 titles)
Till Luck Do Us Part Collection (1 titles)
Curious George Collection (1 titles)
Salt and Pepper Collection (1 titles)
March Forward Film Series (1 titles)
Road to... Collection (1 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

Howard Morris (2 collaborations)
Robert De Niro (1 collaborations)
Diahnne Abbott (1 collaborations)
Sandra Bernhard (1 collaborations)
Shelley Hack (1 collaborations)
Frederick de Cordova (1 collaborations)
Ed Herlihy (1 collaborations)
Lou Brown (1 collaborations)
Loretta Tupper (1 collaborations)
Peter Potulski (1 collaborations)

Credits

actors (145 credits)
- The Day the Clown Cried
  Helmut Doork
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- A Suite at the Sands
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- 100 Years of the Idiot: A Jerry Lewis Centenary
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- Stella Stevens: The Last Starlet
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2025
- From Darkness to Light
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2025
- Keep Your Sunny Side Up: The Ballad of Addie and Moze
  Self (Archival Footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2024
- Remembering Gene Wilder
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2024
- Mystery Reel
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2022
- The Dark Side of a Hollywood Icon
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2022
- Rat Pack
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2022
- Dean Martin: King of Cool
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2021
- Kreka: Dreamcatcher
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2021
- Mid-Century Memories in Kodachrome Stereo
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2020
- What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2017
- Dying Laughing
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2017
- Max Rose
  Max Rose
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- Jerry Lewis: The Man Behind the Clown
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- The Trust
  Jim's Father
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- The Last Laugh
  Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- The Clown
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- The Story of... The Day the Clown Cried
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- Inside Rupert Pupkin
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2014
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
  
  - Julianna Margulies, Jerry Lewis, Public Enemy (2014) ... Self actor actors
  
  2014
- Till Luck Do Us Part 2
  Bellboy
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2013
- The Trials of Muhammad Ali
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2013
- Close Up
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- Laurel & Hardy: Their Lives and Magic
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2011
- Method to the Madness of Jerry Lewis
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2011
- A Tribute to Laurel & Hardy
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2011
- Pierre Étaix, un destin animé
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2011
- Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey!
  Stationmaster (voice)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2009
- The Nutty Professor
  Professor Julius Kelp / Buddy Love
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2008
- Jerry Lewis - König der Komödianten
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2006
- Happy Birthday, Jerry Lewis
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2006
- Dean Martin: Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2005
- Los Angeles Plays Itself
  Jerome Littlefield in The Disorderly Orderly (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2004
- Hollywood Legenden
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2004
- A Tale of Two Sisters - Lorna Luft and Liza Minnelli
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2004
- Dean Martin: The One and Only
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2004
- A Shot at the Top: The Making of 'The King of Comedy'
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2002
- Edith Head: The Paramount Years
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2002
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
  
  - Uncle (2006) ... Andrew Munch actor actors
  
  1999
- The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1997
- Sports on the Silver Screen
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1997
- The View
  
  - Lewis/Warner (2005) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Hunt/Lewis (2004) ... Self actor actors
  
  - June 4, 2003 (2003) ... Self actor actors
  
  1997
- Jerry Lewis: The Last American Clown
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1996
- Shirley Maclaine: Kicking Up Her Heels
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1996
- Funny Bones
  George Fawkes
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1995
- Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey
  Sidney L. Pythias (archive footage) (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1995
- Inside the Actors Studio
  
  - Jerry Lewis (1999) ... Self actor actors
  
  1994
- Arizona Dream
  Leo Sweetie
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1993
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien
  
  - Jerry Lewis, Finesse Mitchell, Gogol Bordello (2005) ... Self - Guest actor actors
  
  - Jerry Lewis, Harland Williams, Buddy Guy (2003) ... Self - Guest actor actors
  
  1993
- Raw
  
  - Quebec Province Rules (1993) ... Jerry Lewis (archive footage) actor actors
  
  1993
- Mr. Saturday Night
  Jerry Lewis
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1992
- The Martin & Lewis Story: The Last Great Comedy Team
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1992
- Mad About You
  
  - The Billionaire (1993) ... Freddy Statler actor actors
  
  1992
- Something a Little Less Serious: A Tribute to 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World'
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1991
- Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1990
- Cookie
  Arnold Ross
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1989
- The Simpsons
  
  - Treehouse of Horror XIV (2003) ... Professor John Frink, Sr. (voice) actor actors
  
  1989
- An Evening with Sammy Davis, Jr. & Jerry Lewis
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1988
- Fight for Life
  Dr. Bernard Abrams
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1987
- Sacrée soirée
  
  - Episode 6 (1993) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 17 (1992) ... Self (archive footage) actor actors
  
  - Episode 13 (1989) ... Self actor actors
  
  1987
- Rickles... On the Loose
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1986
- Classic Comedy Teams
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1986
- How Did You Get In? We Didn't See You Leave
  Clovis Blaireau
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1984
- The Defective Detective
  Jerry Logan
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1984
- Smorgasbord
  Warren Nefron / Dr. Perks / Gangster / Speed Armeter
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1983
- The King of Comedy
  Jerry Langford
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1982
- Slapstick of Another Kind
  Wilbur Swain / Caleb Swain
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1982
- Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1982
- Champs-Elysées
  
  - Episode 32 (1987) ... Self actor actors
  
  1982
- Late Night with David Letterman
  
  - 821005 (1982) ... Self - Guest actor actors
  
  1982
- Rascal Dazzle
  Self - Narrator (voice)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1981
- Hardly Working
  Bo Hooper
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1980
- Gay, Gay Hollywood
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1980
- The Hollywood Clowns
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1979
- NBC: The First Fifty Years
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1976
- Saturday Night Live
  
  - Jerry Lewis/Loverboy (1983) ... Self - Host actor actors
  
  1975
- Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
  
  - Episode 14 (1980) ... Self actor actors
  
  1975
- Omnibus - Cuckoo: A Celebration of Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1974
- Spécial cinéma
  
  - Episode 3 (1977) ... Self (archive footage) actor actors
  
  1974
- Jeanne Moreau : Vive le cinéma !
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1972
- Medicine Ball Caravan
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1971
- Which Way to the Front?
  Brendan Byers III
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1970
- One More Time
  Bandleader (voice)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1970
- Hook, Line and Sinker
  Peter J. Ingersoll / Fred Dobbs
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1969
- The Jack Benny Birthday Special
  Self (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1969
- Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River
  George Lester
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1968
- The Dick Cavett Show
  
  - Jerry Lewis (1973) ... Self - Guest actor actors
  
  1968
- The Big Mouth
  Gerald Clamson
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1967
- The Carol Burnett Show
  
  - Jerry Lewis and Leslie Uggams (1971) ... Self actor actors
  
  1967
- Way... Way Out
  Pete Mattemore
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1966
- Three on a Couch
  Christopher Pride / Warren / Ringo / Rutherford / Heather
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1966
- Boeing, Boeing
  Robert Reed
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1965
- Red Line 7000
  Driver (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1965
- The Family Jewels
  Willard Woodward / James Peyton / Everett Peyton / Julius Peyton / Eddie Peyton / Skylock Peyton / Bugs Peyton
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1965
- The Disorderly Orderly
  Jerome Littlefield
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1964
- Soap Opera
  Self in Commercial (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1964
- The Patsy
  Stanley Belt
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1964
- Who's Minding the Store?
  Norman Phiffer
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1963
- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
  Driver Who Runs Over Hat (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1963
- The Nutty Professor
  Professor Julius F. Kelp / Buddy Love / Baby Kelp
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1963
- It's Only Money
  Lester March
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1962
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
  
  - Episode 108 (1983) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 165 (1982) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 123 (1975) ... Self - Guest Host actor actors
  
  - Episode 120 (1975) ... Self - Guest Host actor actors
  
  - Episode 119 (1975) ... Self - Guest Host actor actors
  
  1962
- The Merv Griffin Show
  
  - Episode 185 (1966) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 173 (1966) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 141 (1966) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 134 (1966) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 79 (1966) ... Self actor actors
  
  1962
- The Errand Boy
  Morty S. Tashman
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1961
- The Ladies Man
  Herbert H. Heebert / Mama Heebert
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1961
- The Mike Douglas Show
  
  - Episode 185 (1978) ... Self - Co-Host actor actors
  
  - Episode 53 (1976) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 61 (1975) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 115 (1975) ... Self - Co-Host actor actors
  
  - Episode 113 (1975) ... Self - Co-Host actor actors
  
  1961
- Ben Casey
  
  - A Little Fun to Match the Sorrow (1965) ... Dr. Dennis Green actor actors
  
  1961
- Cinderfella
  Cinderfella
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1960
- The Bellboy
  Stanley / Jerry Lewis
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1960
- Visit to a Small Planet
  Kreton
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1960
- Li'l Abner
  Cameo / Itchy McGrathy
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1959
- The Jazz Singer
  Joey Robin / Joey Rabinowitz
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1959
- Don't Give Up the Ship
  John Paul Steckler I / John Paul Steckler IV / John Paul Steckler VII
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1959
- The Geisha Boy
  Gilbert Wooley
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1958
- Rock-a-Bye Baby
  Clayton Poole
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1958
- The Sad Sack
  Private Meredith C. Bixby
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1957
- The Delicate Delinquent
  Sidney L. Pythias
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1957
- Hollywood or Bust
  Malcolm Smith
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1956
- Pardners
  Wade Kingsley Jr. / Wade Kingsley Sr.
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1956
- Artists and Models
  Eugene Fullstack
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1955
- You're Never Too Young
  Wilbur Hoolick
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1955
- 3 Ring Circus
  Jerry Hotchkiss
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1954
- Living It Up
  Homer Flagg
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1954
- Miss Glucksman Visits Hollywood
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1954
- Money from Home
  Virgil Yokum
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1953
- The Caddy
  Harvey Miller
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1953
- Scared Stiff
  Myron Mertz
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1953
- The Oscars
  
  - The 31st Annual Academy Awards (1959) ... Self actor actors
  
  - The 29th Annual Academy Awards (1957) ... Self actor actors
  
  - The 28th Annual Academy Awards (1956) ... Self actor actors
  
  1953
- Road to Bali
  Woman in Lala's Dream (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1952
- Jumping Jacks
  Hap Smith
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1952
- Sailor Beware
  Melvin Jones
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1952
- Come Back Little Shiksa
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1952
- The Stooge
  Ted Rogers
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1951
- That's My Boy
  'Junior' Jackson
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1951
- Fairfax Avenue
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1951
- At War with the Army
  Private Korwin
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1950
- My Friend Irma Goes West
  Seymour
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1950
- What's My Line?
  
  - Episode 818 (1966) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 619 (1962) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 522 (1960) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 336 (1956) ... Self - Panelist actor actors
  
  - Episode 320 (1956) ... Self actor actors
  
  1950
- My Friend Irma
  Seymour
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1949
- How to Smuggle a Hernia Across the Border
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1949
directing (26 credits)
- The Day the Clown Cried
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2026
- A Suite at the Sands
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2026
- Boy
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1992
- How Are The Kids?
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1992
- Smorgasbord
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1983
- Hardly Working
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1980
- Which Way to the Front?
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1970
- One More Time
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1970
- The Big Mouth
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1967
- Three on a Couch
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1966
- The Family Jewels
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1965
- The Patsy
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1964
- The Nutty Professor
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1963
- The Errand Boy
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1961
- The Ladies Man
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1961
- Ben Casey
  
  - A Little Fun to Match the Sorrow (1965) ... director directing
  
  1961
- The Bellboy
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1960
- Nightmare
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1956
- An Eye for an Eye
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1952
- Come Back Little Shiksa
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1952
- The Re-Inforcer
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1951
- Fairfax Avenue
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1951
- A Spot In The Shade
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1951
- Nightmare
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1951
- Watch On The Lime
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1951
- How to Smuggle a Hernia Across the Border
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1949
writing (20 credits)
- The Day the Clown Cried
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  2026
- The Nutty Professor
  
  characters
  
  writing
  
  2008
- Nutty Professor II: The Klumps
  
  characters
  
  writing
  
  2000
- The Nutty Professor
  
  original film writer
  
  writing
  
  1996
- Boy
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1992
- How Are The Kids?
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1992
- Smorgasbord
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1983
- Hardly Working
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1980
- Saturday Night Live
  
  - Jerry Lewis/Loverboy (1983) ... writer writing
  
  1975
- The Big Mouth
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1967
- The Family Jewels
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1965
- The Patsy
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1964
- The Nutty Professor
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1963
- The Errand Boy
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1961
- The Ladies Man
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1961
- The Bellboy
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1960
- The Re-Inforcer
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1951
- Fairfax Avenue
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1951
- Watch On The Lime
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1951
- How to Smuggle a Hernia Across the Border
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1949
production (18 credits)
- Method to the Madness of Jerry Lewis
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2011
- Nutty Professor II: The Klumps
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2000
- The Nutty Professor
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1996
- Which Way to the Front?
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1970
- Hook, Line and Sinker
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1969
- The Big Mouth
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1967
- Three on a Couch
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1966
- The Family Jewels
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1965
- The Disorderly Orderly
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1964
- The Ladies Man
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1961
- Cinderfella
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1960
- The Bellboy
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1960
- The Geisha Boy
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1958
- Rock-a-Bye Baby
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1958
- The Delicate Delinquent
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1957
- The Re-Inforcer
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1951
- A Spot In The Shade
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1951
- Nightmare
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1951
camera (5 credits)
- An Eye for an Eye
  
  director of photography
  
  camera
  
  1952
- The Re-Inforcer
  
  director of photography
  
  camera
  
  1951
- A Spot In The Shade
  
  director of photography
  
  camera
  
  1951
- Nightmare
  
  director of photography
  
  camera
  
  1951
- Watch On The Lime
  
  director of photography
  
  camera
  
  1951
crew (1 credits)
- Fairfax Avenue
  
  cinematography
  
  crew
  
  1951

Content sources

Related entry on Wikidata (Q294927), public domain (CC0).