Hollywood comedy legend and actor Jerry Lewis dies at age of 91
Jerry Lewis, the rubber-faced comedian who starred in many hit movies, has died.
Mr Lewis died on Sunday morning of natural causes, aged 91, in Las Vegas, with his family by his side, his publicist Candi Cazau said.
Mr Lewis first became a star in a duo with Dean Martin, entertaining audiences in nightclubs, on television and in the movies.
After their split in 1956, he starred in and directed a number of hit films such as The Nutty Professor.
Later generations knew him primarily as the conductor of weekend telethons to raise funds for victims of muscular dystrophy.
The funnyman retired from making movies in 1995, but returned as star of the 2016 drama Max Rose.
William Shatner was among a host of stars who paid tribute to Lewis. He said on Twitter: “Condolences to the family of Jerry Lewis. The world is a lot less funnier today.”
Also paying tribute was fellow Star Trek actor George Takei, who said: “We have lost a great comedian and even greater heart. Thank you for the laughs and the feels.”
Magician Penn Jillette said he would be missed “so much”. He tweeted: “I can’t believe I got to meet him and spend time with him. How did my life get good enough that Jerry Lewis would smile at me? And how sad to lose him. Goodbye to the real, no irony, king of comedy.”