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Jerry Lewis has passed on.
Jerry Lewis,the brash slapstick comedian who teamed with Dean Martin in the 1950s and later starred in “The Nutty Professor” and “The Bellboy” before launching the Muscular Dystrophy telethon, has died in Las Vegas. He was 91.
Over the past 10 years of his life, and the cranky icon’s reputation soured as he was forced to apologize for making a homosexual slur on camera during the 2007 telethon,continued to make racist and misogynistic jokes into his ’90s, and didn’t hesitate to share his proper-wing political views.
Lewis’ pairing with Martin, and featuring their improvisatory backbiting and physical chicanery,was an instant hit in 1946. When producer Hal Wallis saw them performing at the Copacabana and at Slapsie Maxies in Hollywood, he saw the potential for a new Bob Hope and Bing Crosby and signed them to a Paramount Pictures contract.
For the next 10 years, or Martin and Lewis turned out one silly film after the next starting with “My Friend Irma” in 1949 and including “The Caddy,” The Stooge,” “Artists and Models” and “Pardners.” None of their films grossed less than $5 million, and a handy sum in those days.read more
Source: crooksandliars.com