Jerry Lewis, Legendary Comedian And Entertainer, Dies At 91

LAS VEGAS, NV — Jerry Lewis, the legendary comedian and filmmaker known for his slapstick style and creativity, has died at the age of 91. His death was first confirmed by John Katsilometes, a columnist with the Las Vegas-Review Journal.

Katsilometes posted a statement to Twitter that said Lewis passed away at his home Sunday with family by his side.

Lewis was first thrust into the public eye in the 1950s when he teamed with Dean Martin. The two became a sensation performing at various venues and appearing together in movies and on television before a sour split in 1956. They first appeared together in Atlantic City in 1946 and after the two split, Lewis went on his own path. He starred in such movies as "The Nutty Professor" and "The Bellboy." His later movie roles included Martin Scorsese's "The King of Comedy" in 1982 and more recently, he starred in the 2016 movie "Max Rose."

Watch: Comic Legend Jerry Lewis Dies At 91

In his comedy Lewis played a character he called "the Idiot," the clumsy and bumbling character that defined his brand of humor.

"They called me Idiot because of my joking," Lewis told Rolling Stone Magazine in 1982, referring to his high school days when he was nicknamed Id. "It made me popular. There is always one character who's more popular than the others for whatever the reasons."

His contribution to film went beyond his comedic abilities, as he created the "video assist," which allowed him to view on-screen performances before the film was developed. "Video assist" is still in use today. Known not only for his movies, Lewis hosted the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon, which aired every Labor Day before being discontinued in 2015. Lewis emceed the event through 2010, raising an enormous amount of money in donations for the organization.

While Lewis was well regarded for his work in film, he largely became associated with the telethon later in his life. From the 1960s onward, the telethons raised some $1.5 billion, including more than $60 million in 2009. He announced in 2011 that he would step down as host, but would remain chairman of the association he joined some 60 years ago. It was on the telethon in 1976 that Lewis was reunited with his one-time partner Martin by their mutual friend Frank Sinatra.

Lewis also battled a drug addiction after he injured his back in 1965. He also faced litigation in relation to a failed chain of movie cinemas and filed for bankruptcy in 1974. Later in life, he battled a series of illnesses, including diabetes and spinal meningitis.

For his work in philanthropy, Lewis was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2009 and in France, where he amassed a following, Lewis was inducted into the Légion D'Honneur.

While he was revered by many, Lewis also made statements that tarred his reputation. In 2007, he used a gay slur on television during the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon and said on at least a few occasions that he didn't think women could be funny.

Born Joseph Levitch in Newark, New Jersey in 1926, he was the son of performers and made his stage debut at the age of 5. He changed his name to Jerry Lewis because he did not want to be confused with the comedian Joe E. Lewis. He had six sons with his first wife Patti Lewis before she filed for divorce in 1982. One of their sons, Gary Lewis, was a singer with the group "Gary Lewis & The Playboys." In his 50s, Lewis married 32-year-old Sandra Pitnick with whom he had a daughter, Dani.

Reporting from The Associated Press was used in this story.

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