American comedy legend Jerry Lewis dies at 91

Jerry Lewis, the iconic American comedian and filmmaker, died on August 20, 2017, at his home in Las Vegas at the age of 91. Born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1926 to Russian Jewish parents, Lewis began his career as an usher in a Brooklyn cinema, where his short skits between screenings were noticed. His first tour was in 1944, and soon after he formed a legendary duo with Dean Martin. Together they made 16 films, including 'Sailor Beware' (1952), 'Scared Stiff' (1953), 'You're Never Too Young' (1955), 'Artists and Models' (1955), and 'Hollywood or Bust' (1956). The partnership ended in 1956, after which Lewis became a director and star of his own films, such as 'The Bellboy' (1960), 'The Ladies Man' (1961), 'The Errand Boy' (1961), 'The Nutty Professor' (1963), and 'The Patsy' (1964). For his 90th birthday in 2016, the Museum of Modern Art in New York held a retrospective titled 'Happy Birthday, Mr. Lewis: The Kid Turns 90,' curated by Dave Kehr and Robert Furmanek, showcasing his films in 35mm. The Museum of the Moving Image also organized a reunion with Martin Scorsese.