Today the world of comedy lost one of its brightest stars. Jerry Lewis was no stranger to controversy during his decades-long career, but his impact on both Hollywood and comedy in general cannot be denied. From his early days as Dean Martin’s partner-in-crime to his career-capping turn in Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy — and countless box office success in the interim — Lewis’s impact on Hollywood will be a source of much discussion for years to come.
The long relationship between Jerry Lewis and MDA, in particular, the MDA Telethon is over. Lewis has helped MDA raise over $1 billion over the 45 years he has hosted the annual Labor Day Telethon.