Jerry Lewis (born Joseph Levitch; March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, singer, filmmaker and humanitarian, who appeared in over 60 films and other media, from the days of Martin & Lewis to his solo era. Lewis not only worked behind the scenes as director, producer and screenwriter, but helped develop and popularize “video assist”, the closed-circuit apparatus enabling film directors to see what had been shot without waiting for developed film footage.
Throughout his career, Lewis raised awareness for muscular dystrophy while as national chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He is widely regarded as a comedic genius, a true giant in the film industry and internationally celebrated for his vast contributions to humanity.