Murió el cómico Jerry Lewis a sus 91 años
Jerry Lewis Remembered On Hollywood Walk Of Fame
Jerry Lewis Remembered On Hollywood Walk Of Fame
Jerry Lewis, el célebre cómico de la década de los 50 y protagonista de “The Bellboy” (1960) o “The Nutty Professor” (1963), falleció hoy en Las Vegas (Nevada) a los 91 años de edad, confirmó la oficina de su representante.
John Katsilometes, el columnista del diario Las Vegas ReviewJournalreported, había adelantado minutos antes que el actor había fallecido en su casa a las 16.15 GMT.
Aunque no se han concretado las causas de su muerte, en junio el actor fue hospitalizado en Las Vegas después de desarrollar una infección del tracto urinario, lo último en su largo historial de problemas de salud, como el ataque al corazón del que se repuso 2006.
Lewis alcanzó por primera vez la gloria junto a Dean Martin, con el que desde 1946 triunfó en todos los escenarios para formar una de las parejas más memorables del humor estadounidense.
Durante los siguientes 10 años, ambos protagonizaron numerosos filmes cómicos como “My Friend Irma” (1949), “The Stooge” (1952), “The Caddy” (1953), “Artists and Models” (1955) y “Pardners” (1956), recaudando varios millones de dólares.
Tras años de intenso trabajo y éxitos, las diferencias entre ambos empezaron a surgir y en 1956, después de su película “Hollywood o Bust”, hicieron su última aparición conjunta.
Lewis dejó en gran medida el mundo del cine a finales de los años 60 y fue más activo con su teletón anual para recaudar fondos para la Distrofia Muscular coincidiendo con el Día del Trabajo en Estados Unidos, en el que se calcula que recaudó más de 2.450 millones antes de ser relevado en 2011. ENGLISH HOLLYWOOD, CA – Jerry Lewis died at his Las Vegas home earlier Sunday at the age of 91. Tributes are pouring in, and fans are leaving flowers or other offerings at his two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – at 6150 and 6821 Hollywood Blvd.
Lewis' handprints and footprints are immortalized in cement at the TCL Chinese Theater at 6925 Hollywood Blvd., where the lights of its famous forecourt were dimmed Sunday evening to honor Lewis. It is the 13th time the iconic theater has offered that tribute to a departed performer.
Lewis' publicist, Candi Cazau, released the following statement: "Famed comedian, actor, and legendary entertainer Jerry Lewis passed away peacefully today of natural causes at 91 at his home in Las Vegas with his family by his side."
Many celebrities are sharing their thoughts about the prolific entertainer on Twitter.
"That fool was no dummy," wrote actor Jim Carrey. "Jerry Lewis was an undeniable genius (and) an unfathomable blessing, comedy's absolute! I am because he was."
"Jerry Lewis was a genius comedian, actor, director, inventor, humanitarian..." talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel tweeted.
Comedian and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres tweeted, "Jerry Lewis was a comic and philanthropic icon. I send love to his family today."
"#JerryLewis was one of a kind, my comedy hero when I was growing up," wrote author and film critic Leonard Maltin, "Can't believe I got to spend so much time with him over the years. RIP."
Born on March 16, 1926, in Newark, New Jersey, Lewis rose to fame in the late 1940s as part of the famed Martin and Lewis comedy team. Lewis and singer Dean Martin packed nightclubs for years, also teaming up for a series of hit comedy films.
The act broke up after 10 years and Lewis went on to a significant solo film career, directing and starring in several films in the 1950s and '60s, including "The Nutty Professor" and "The Bellboy."
Lewis was considered an innovative director, and is credited with pioneering the use of "video assist," in which a video camera records the same scenes as the film cameras. The video can then be played back instantly, allowing filmmakers a much quicker look at the footage than they were used to when they had to wait 24 hours for the film to be developed.
Lewis' film work was especially beloved in France, where he received the Ministry of Culture's Legion of Honour in 2006.