Just finished watching this interview. His thought, discussion, and details were so vivid and clear. Tremendous interview. Also I miss the old CNN which is now a political circus.
I had the privilege of waiting on Jerry Lewis. He was awesome and gave me $100. Tip on a $80. Check and called me "Captain" Thanks for the memory and laughs...
He was sweet and sour, a real human. He loved and cared for people. His own children betrayed him (son sued him and kids backed up the lawsuit) we never knew the full picture. People will scapegoat this man as some monster. He wasn’t. We loved him.
I have watched Jerry in a stack of interviews, and I've come to the very simple conclusion that how he was with you was determined, very simply, by the mood he was in right at that moment. I hear and read stories from people who've met him at an event. Others, in a restaurant. Others, either professional journalists or new, up-and-coming amateurs... And, with each of these you hear a completely different story about him from every separate one of those people - so much so that it's as though you're hearing about five or six different celebrities in the one person. The guy was unpredictable. Extremely talented. But, unpredictable.
Yes he actually comforts me when I hear his voice he's been my all time favorite actor comedian n everything person since I was a little girl in elementary school n he's why I always wanted go to Hollywood to this day my heart has been there became a housekeeper can you believe that my grandma said I was nuts to feel for this gorgeous precious GENIUS n taught me to clean instead go figure o loved it all these years but never forgot him a very special man🎀 I wish he was alive I wanted to finally meet him RIP my man
I miss Jerry Lewis so much since his passing in August he was my hero my idol best comedian ever he made our world better because he made us laugh and his humanitarianism was inspiring and made us care and cry i know heaven is laughing more than ever with Jerry Lewis
Jerry was a fascinating guy, truly a show biz icon. He was one of a kind, no one else like him. What he did to help the MDA and "his kids" was impressive. Was he a perfect man? No, not at all, but no one is.
Jerry Lewis was a real person as contrasted with the slick shrink-wrapped phonies that populate the entertainment industry today. I never get tired of watching interviews with him.
R.I.P. Jerry I will always appreciate and adore you for being honest which as a little kid I think lots of us kids back then just saw you for you and that child within you. We will miss you, and will always love. Till we see you again. XOX
Great interview! I really love Jerry's honesty in all the interviews I've watched of him. He was very well spoken and very intelligent. Also when he was talking about possibly missing his daughter's graduation, well he'd live 20 more years after this interview so he didn't miss it after all.
GregT, absolutely! He was mesmerizing! Such a an intelligent and talented man! Don't care about the nasty comments some people make about him..he was a wonderful man!
The only thing better than watching his films was watching his interviews. Had the pleasure of seeing him in Damn Yankees in NY. So good. Rest in Peace, you did a good job here, Jerry.
My mother knew Jerry Lewis , they both lived in Irvington New Jersey back in the 1920's , 30's and 40's. She used serve Mr. Lewis soda and ice cream at Woolworth's 5 & 10 ! Mr. Lewis did his part to cure MD , it is our effed up corporate medical system that will not approve a method and timing to allow a combination treatment to be used !
Interesting interview and what he said about his brother Dean Martin was lovely at 9:51 It's great they had private moments and they are together forever❤️. Thank you for sharing
My BFF Channel Dean was NOT his brother. Jerry never had any siblings, he was an only child and even his parents were hardly ever in his life. They were both on the road all the time and used to dump him on various relatives when he was growing up. According to Jerry himself, the only semi-consistent adult in his life as a child who really cared about him was his Grandmother, and even she died when he was a young teenager, leaving him alone and lonely again. It’s hardly surprising that he clung to Dean so desperately as the father/older brother figure he had never had before. But Dean was not looking for that kind of relationship: he already had a brother and had grown up in a traditional stable and loving family. He was also 10years older and married with children of his own. He was his own man and quite happy to be Jerry’s friend but nothing more than that. I think that’s what Jerry found hard to accept - Deana wrote in her book that he admitted many years later to being jealous of Dean’s relationship with Jeannie ; “he was my partner and I wanted him all to myself.” He probably also felt the same way about Deans closeness with his family, as that was something he had never had himself.
Jerry and his first wife Patti were very close to Dean's first wife Betty. When Jeannie came along poor Betty lost everything and turned to drink. Yes, Jerry was jealous of her, who was quite a force, but she also said that she was jealous of what 'Dean and Lewis' had together. She was also keen for Dean to go it alone. Dean was nearly 40 and growing bored with doing the endless films by then. Jerry would have sensed that and played up more - he could be his own worst enemy at times. He did have a fear of abandonment and Dean telling him that he was nothing but a f.....g dollar sign to him was aimed to hit his oversensitive partner hard, even though he didn't mean it. Years later Dean admitted that he was as devastated and scared as Jerry at the split, he just didn't show it to anyone. They had magic for 10 years, and their closeness was obvious, but it was time to move on while they were still at the top. They did see other during the next 20 years, but I suppose that side will always remain private now.
One problem was that Jerry and his first wife Patti were close to Dean's first wife Betty. When Jeannie came along poor Betty lost everything and turned to drink. Yes, Jerry was jealous of Jeannie, who was quite a force, but she also said that she was jealous of the relationship Dean and Lewis had together. She was keen for Dean to go it alone. At almost 40 Dean was growing tired of doing the endless films. Jerry would have sensed that and played up more - he could be his own worst enemy at times. He did have a fear of abandonment and Dean telling J that he was 'nothing but a f.....g dollar sign' to him was aimed to hit his oversensitive partner hard, even though he didn't really mean it. Years later Dean admitted that he was as devastated and scared as Jerry at the split, he just didn't show it to anyone. They had magic for 10 years, and their closeness was obvious, but it was time to move on while they were still at the top. They did see other during the next 20 years, but I suppose that side will always remain private now.
I think people like Larry King must have loved interviewing Jerry because he was and is so articulate, and knows how to express what he feels. I have never seen a bad interview of Jerry, because he knows how to talk.
Mary Cage Depends upon your definition and judgement of character. I see a man singing his own praises....with the potential to get rather sore and angry. Ready to take on opposition. Unfortunately for me (because I normally find his extraordinary lack of charm and humility entertaining and astounding) this one doesn't reveal the chip on his shoulder as much as I'd like. But I've seen several interviews now on RU-vid here where he becomes obnoxious and unnecessarily confrontational. Not just once or twice, several...and for sustained periods, misery for whole twenty minute, thirty minute, multi-chaptered interviews.
Jerry was a amazing person he was honest out spoken told it like it is that's what made him who he was he's a wonderful man with a great heart and so funny he's a great entertainer with a kind heart but he don't back down he's a doer and don't give up God bless you Jerry and all you've done your amazing a wonderful human being
When Jerry Lewis was young , I thought he was gorgeous , that black hair and green eyes, man, he was hot , smart man , hard working , inventive , glad his daughter made him so happy , thrilling for him to have a lovely daughter. RIP Jerry Lewis your missed, will always be missed.
Thank you Jerry for your charity work. Shame on those people who talk your work down. My son is disabled and serving him and his welfare is a true calling and full time job!
I love that he gushed about how much he enjoyed doing Damn Yankees. I just watched it tonight here on a post or RU-vid or something. I just loved his performance, particularly the musical numbers. How wonderful that the producers gave him the liberty to sprinkle just a little "Jerry" into it. He was 70 when the show started its run, and he nailed it better than lots of others could possibly have done. LOVE you, Jerry! May you rest in peace, dear, wonderful, flawed, brash, b@!!&-to-the-wall, funny-as-hell, passionate, compassionate, intelligent and loving man.
Ohhh yes! Dr. Joel Wallach found that MD is caused by a vitamin deficiency and when the proper vitamins are supplied, the person with MD is cured. When he gave the proof to Jerry, he went right to the MDA with the evidence and the MDA FIRED HIM! A cure would mean an end to all the cash the MDA gets from donations.
in 1976 Dean came on the telethon, most people thought it was the first time since they broke up in 1956 that they were together, but they met a couple of times again before 1976
Like those others who made it from his generation, he was very hard working and very, very street smart as well as a natural comedy genius. A master of his trade, credit where its due!
Interesting interview indeed especially at 27:01 where he claims: “ Everybody should take care of their family”. Guess his first children doesn’t recognize that since they were left out of his will!! Best interview with him can be read in Peter Bogdanovich’s fine book “ Who the Hell’s In It”.
I think it's unwise to judge... family dynamics can be complicated, as most of us know firsthand... the media would always take bytes of info and expound upon them even they were taken out of context; they do that on any celebrity. I've heard the stories about Jerry and his sons falling out, but I'm just saying that we don't know everything.
and in the reunion moment Jerry also went off when Frank said 'bye Jerry', but I think Frank knew what was right. He broke the ice. Martin and Lewis was insane. Please watch the clips you can. It was a fun time and it was HOW they did the comedy. Lewis tells his heart here.
In this interview, Jerry was probably the least "full of himself" of any interview he's ever given. He has confidence without egotism, praises everything and everyone in Damn Yankees, without claiming much credit for himself. I think Jerry was at a nicely balanced point in his life, when this was broadcast.
JLeWis. the One and Only in our hearts...American Icon of All Times...DMarTin beside JeRRy gave us a knowledge of history of comedy... our highest appreciation to them!!
Because of many accounts of him being rude and condescending in situations most people aren't. He can be a gifted and intelligent man and also have negative tendencies as well.
Because people hear rumors and choose to believe them all. At one time or another we are ALL rude or have situations we didn't handle perfectly, so they want to listen to the crap and ignore the artist. I don't give a shit if he may have hurt someone's feelings I care about the job he did in comedy. I don't throw stones unlike some dip shits out there.
When this man died, he left NOTHING to any of his children, or any family member! He left ALL things to his 2nd wife (40yrs younger than him) and adopted daughter.
@beatsAsshholes - Your a ignorant one aren't you. Lewis career ENDED by 1971 we was DONE, over with. Those Telethons he did we was paid literal $millions$ and those last 5yrs he did the Telethons he was paid Tens of $Millions$ - he was an asshole type of person. People that have worked with him said the same
If I had enough information to comment on the mans personal life I would. I can tell you this. The man made millions of dollars for MDA and consequently made millions of childrens lives easier emotionally and physically. I know. One was my sister. That is irrefutable. I wonder who among us here if any can make the claim of helping that many people in one life time. I would love to hear your story if you have one. Bless.
And Lewis is right they are originals and they will never be another one like them and the same goes with Lewis. We will never see another of his kind.
His $50 million was net worth, not actual money in the bank. He wasn't able to finance movie projects he wanted to, since the 80's after he went bankrupt. He did some films just for the money. Sure he was richer than most people, but he always spent more than his means, and all the money he had that went to his daughter and wife, was there to pay bills. His daughter and wife had to sell off most of his belongings at auction, to pay his debts. His daughter said on her blog and a video now deleted from youtube, that she spent her savings during the pandemic when she lost her job. Jerry had set up trusts for his sons, according to his son Chris. There are a lot of reasons why he disowned some of his sons. His son Anthony stole from money that Jerry was sending to care for his first wife, Patti. The care facility alerted Jerry that they weren't getting paid, and Jerry confronted his son about it. Jerry didn't prosecute, but really didn't talk to him much after that. Probably why Anthony decided to do a spite interview after his dad passed away. They had been somewhat close for years prior, and Anthony had been closer to his dad after his parents divorce. In her book, Patti Lewis claimed that Anthony shut her out, and didn't allow her to see her grandchildren for years. Other sons did other things, which he should have disowned them over. But he gave them jobs throughout the years, and they had trusts set up.
As great as Jerry was, i think Jerry was a VERY emotional dramatic man. i doubt if Dean felt that deep about their partnership. Dean once said to an interviewer, "we were just two guys f****ing around'. I think a lot of this 'it came from love, love this love that..' was in Jerry's mind.True, they were friends and worked very well 2 gether, but it wasnt a deep thing like hes makin' out 2 be. Just my opinion.
I agree. Jerry has his heart on his sleeve and he operates from the power of love. However, I think to the extent that Dean could.... he loved Jerry. It's just that Dean kept his emotions and heart more private. Even Deanna his daughter said that. I believe they both loved each other to the extent they could both love, and that's different for other people. That is why when Dino, his son died, how he felt, how he accessed his heart changed. He could then let Jerry in more, because his heart was so hurt... he couldn't close off the love and hurt for his son, and it made it easier for him to open back up his love for Jerry. That's when they truly reconciled. Do I think he loved love Jerry the exact way that Jerry loved him? No.... but I do think there was love there, just different, for both of them. I love them both, and even more, I love what they were together, and that love and purity and joy onstage. I still cry when I see them, and I just found out about them! That relationship and intense connection is so rare to find! We should all cherish our relationships.... I thank them for all the love and joy they gave us as their dynamic duo on stage, just loving connection on stage.
