Editing Jerry Lewis (section)

==Career==
===Teaming with Dean Martin===
{{Main|Martin and Lewis}}
[[File:Lewis and Martin.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Lewis with [[Dean Martin]] in 1950]]
In 1945, Lewis was 19 when he met 27-year-old singer [[Dean Martin]] at the Glass Hat Club in New York City, where the two performed until they debuted at [[Atlantic City]]'s [[500 Club]] as [[Martin and Lewis]] on July 25, 1946. The duo gained attention as a double act with Martin serving as the [[straight man]] to Lewis's zany antics. The inclusion of ad-libbed improvisational segments in their planned routines added a unique quality to their act and separated them from previous comedy duos.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin: Inside the Beloved Comedy Duo's Bitter Split and Long-Awaited Reunion|url=https://people.com/movies/jerry-lewis-dean-martin-inside-bitter-split-and-reunion/|access-date=September 2, 2020|website=PEOPLE.com|archive-date=March 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319014559/https://people.com/movies/jerry-lewis-dean-martin-inside-bitter-split-and-reunion/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Lewis and Martin quickly rose to national prominence, first with their popular nightclub act, then as stars of their radio program ''[[The Martin and Lewis Show]].''<ref name="varietyobit" /> The two made their television debut on CBS' ''Toast of the Town'' (later renamed as ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'') June 20, 1948.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/comedy-icon-jerry-lewis-dies-91/story?id=49323636|title=Comedy icon Jerry Lewis dies at 91|last=McKenzie|first=Joi-Marie|date=August 20, 2017|website=ABC News|access-date=August 20, 2017|archive-date=August 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820214528/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/comedy-icon-jerry-lewis-dies-91/story?id=49323636|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1950, they signed with NBC to be one of a series of weekly rotating hosts of ''[[The Colgate Comedy Hour]],'' a live Sunday evening broadcast. Lewis, writer for the team's nightclub act, hired [[Norman Lear]] and Ed Simmons as regular writers for their ''Comedy Hour'' material.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/features/norman-lear-recalls-early-days-as-tv-comedy-writer-1201629371/|title=Norman Lear Looks Back on Early Days as TV Comedy Writer|first=Tim|last=Gray|date=October 30, 2015|access-date=December 13, 2017|archive-date=February 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206002704/https://variety.com/2015/tv/features/norman-lear-recalls-early-days-as-tv-comedy-writer-1201629371/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZgoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA12-IA1|magazine=Billboard|title=52G to Simmons, Lear to do five Martin-Lewis TV shows|date=October 31, 1953|via=Google Books}}</ref> By 1951, with an appearance at the [[Paramount Theatre (New York City)|Paramount Theatre]] in New York, they were a hit. The duo began their film careers at [[Paramount Pictures]] as ensemble players, in ''[[My Friend Irma (film)|My Friend Irma]]'' (1949) and its sequel ''[[My Friend Irma Goes West]]'' (1950). Followed by their own series of 14 new movies, ''[[At War with the Army]]'' (1950), ''[[That's My Boy (1951 film)|That's My Boy]]'' (1951), ''[[Sailor Beware (1952 film)|Sailor Beware]]'' (1952), ''[[Jumping Jacks]]'' (1952), ''[[The Stooge]]'' (1952), ''[[Scared Stiff (1953 film)|Scared Stiff]]'' (1953), ''[[The Caddy]]'' (1953), ''[[Money from Home]]'' (1953), ''[[Living It Up]]'' (1954), ''[[3 Ring Circus]]'' (1954), ''[[You're Never Too Young]]'' (1955), ''[[Artists and Models]]'' (1955), ''[[Pardners]]'' (1956) and ''[[Hollywood or Bust]]'' (1956). The two appeared on the ''Olympic Fund Telethon'' and cameoed in ''[[Road to Bali]]'' (1952).

[[Bing Crosby|Crosby]] and [[Bob Hope|Hope]] would do the same in ''Scared Stiff'' a year later. Attesting to the duo's popularity, [[DC Comics]] published ''[[The Adventures of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis]]'' from 1952 to 1957. The team appeared on ''[[What's My Line?]]'' in 1954, the 27th annual [[Academy Awards]] in 1955, ''[[The Steve Allen Show]]'' and ''[[The Today Show]]'' in 1956.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}} Martin's participation became an embarrassment in 1954 when ''[[Look (American magazine)|Look]]'' magazine published a publicity photo of the team for the magazine cover but cropped Martin out.<ref>{{cite news|last=Clark|first=Mike|title='Dean & Me' really is a love story|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/books/reviews/2005-10-25-dean-and-me_x.htm|access-date=January 15, 2013|newspaper=usatoday.com|date=October 25, 2005|archive-date=August 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802131250/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/books/reviews/2005-10-25-dean-and-me_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

The duo did their final live nightclub act together at the [[Copacabana (nightclub)|Copacabana]] on July 24, 1956. Both Lewis and Martin went on to have successful solo careers, but neither would comment on the split nor consider a reunion. Martin surprised Lewis on his appearance on ''[[The Eddie Fisher Show]]'' on September 30, 1958, appeared together at the 1959 Academy Awards closing, reunited several times publicly and sometimes privately according to interviews they gave to magazines.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}

===Solo performances and live shows ===
After ending his partnership with Martin in 1956, Lewis and his wife Patty took a vacation in Las Vegas to consider the direction of his career. He felt his life was in a crisis state: "I was unable to put one foot in front of the other with any confidence. I was completely unnerved to be alone."<ref name=Lewis /> While there, he received an urgent request from his friend [[Sidney Luft|Sid Luft]], who was [[Judy Garland]]'s husband and manager, saying that she couldn't perform that night in Las Vegas because of [[Streptococcal pharyngitis|strep throat]],<ref name=Lewis /> and asking Lewis to fill in. Lewis had not sung alone on stage since he was five years old, twenty-five years before.

He delivered jokes and clowned with the audience while Garland sat off-stage, watching. He then sang a rendition of a song he had learned as a child, "[[Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody]]" along with "[[Come Rain or Come Shine]]." Lewis recalled, "When I was done, the place exploded. I walked off the stage knowing I could make it on my own."<ref name=Lewis /> At his wife's urging, Lewis used his own money to record the songs on a single.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RfVeOpw-NPY/hqdefault.jpg|title=Image of record cover for Jerry Lewis single recording of "Rock-A-Bye Baby"|access-date=April 16, 2017|archive-date=August 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821191454/https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RfVeOpw-NPY/hqdefault.jpg|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Decca Records]] heard it, liked it and insisted he record an album for them.<ref name=Muncie>"Jerry Lewis 'Goes Over' in a Big Way", ''The Star Press'' (Muncie, Indiana), December 2, 1956, p. 23</ref> The single of "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby" went to No. 10 and the album ''Jerry Lewis Just Sings'' went to No. 3 on the ''Billboard'' charts, staying near the top for four months and selling a million and a half copies.<ref name=Lewis /><ref name=Lewis2>Lewis, Jerry. [https://jolsonville.net/2011/03/24/rock-a-bye-helps-jerry-lewis-become-a-singer/ "''Rock-a-Bye'' helps Jerry Lewis become a singer"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103165554/https://jolsonville.net/2011/03/24/rock-a-bye-helps-jerry-lewis-become-a-singer/ |date=January 3, 2017 }}</ref>
[[File:Jerry Lewis 1958.JPG|thumb|180px|right|Lewis in 1958]]
With the success of that album, he recorded additional albums ''More Jerry Lewis'' (an EP of songs from this release was released as ''Somebody Loves Me''), and ''Jerry Lewis Sings Big Songs for Little People'' (later reissued with fewer tracks as ''Jerry Lewis Sings for Children''). Non-album singles were released, and ''[[It All Depends On You]]'' hit the charts in April and May 1957, but peaked at only No. 68. Further singles were recorded and released by Lewis into the mid-1960s. But these were not Lewis's first forays into recording, nor his first appearance on the hit charts. During his partnership with Martin, they made several recordings together, charting at No. 22 in 1948 with the 1920s ''That Certain Party'' and later mostly re-recording songs highlighted in their films.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}

In late 1956, Lewis began performing regularly at the [[Sands Hotel and Casino]] in Las Vegas, which marked a turning point in his life and career. The Sands signed him for five years to perform six weeks each year and paid him the same amount they had paid Martin and Lewis as a team.<ref name=Muncie /> Live performances became a staple of Lewis's career and over the years he performed at casinos, theaters, and state fairs. In February 1957, Lewis followed Garland at the [[Palace Theatre (Albany, New York)|Palace Theater]] in New York and Martin called on the phone during this period to wish him the best of luck.<ref name=Muncie /> "I've never been happier", said Lewis. "I have peace of mind for the first time."<ref name=Muncie /> Lewis established himself as a solo act, starting with the first of six appearances on ''What's My Line?'' from 1956 to 1966, then guest starred on ''[[The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show]]'', ''[[Tonight Starring Jack Paar]]'' and ''The Ed Sullivan Show''.

In January 1957, Lewis did a number of solo specials for NBC and starred in his adaptation of "[[The Jazz Singer]]" for ''[[Startime (American TV series)|Startime]]'', then hosted the Academy Awards three times, in 1956, 1957 and 1959. The third telecast, which ran twenty minutes short, forced him to improvise to fill time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=2riKdGOdU3E| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/2riKdGOdU3E| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|title=Jerry Lewis Ad Libs at the Oscars|last=1959 Academy Awards|date=1959|publisher=The Oscars|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Lewis remained at Paramount and started off with his first solo film ''[[The Delicate Delinquent]]'' (1957) then starred in ''[[The Sad Sack]]'' (1957). [[Frank Tashlin]], whose background as a ''[[Looney Tunes]]'' cartoon director (for [[Warner Bros.]]) suited Lewis's brand of humor and came on board. The pair did new films, first with ''[[Rock-A-Bye Baby (film)|Rock-A-Bye Baby]]'' (1958) and then ''[[The Geisha Boy]]'' (1958). [[Billy Wilder]] asked Lewis to play the lead role of an uptight jazz musician, who winds up on the run from a mob in ''[[Some Like It Hot]],'' but he turned it down.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}} Lewis then appeared in ''[[Don't Give Up the Ship (film)|Don't Give Up The Ship]]'' (1959) and cameoed in ''[[Li'l Abner (1959 film)|Li'l Abner]]'' (1959).

A 1959 contract between Paramount and Jerry Lewis Productions specified a payment of $10&nbsp;million plus 60% of the profits for 14 films over seven years.<ref>{{cite book |last=Krutnik|first=Frank |title=Inventing Jerry Lewis |publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press |year=2000 |page=105 |isbn=978-1560983699}}</ref> This made Lewis the highest paid individual Hollywood talent to date and was unprecedented in that he had unlimited creative control, including final cut and the return of film rights after 30 years. Lewis's clout and box office were so strong<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.archive.org/stream/variety215-1959-06#page/n91/mode/1up|title=Jerry Lewis' Foreseeable $10-Mil From Paramount During Next 7 Years|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=June 10, 1959|page=28|access-date=June 15, 2019|via=[[Archive.org]]}}</ref> that [[Barney Balaban]], head of production at Paramount, told the press, "If Jerry wants to burn down the studio I'll give him the match!"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wearemoviegeeks.com/2014/01/method-madness-jerry-lewis-dvd-review/|title=Method to The Madness of Jerry Lewis the DVD Review|first=Sam|last=Moffitt|date=January 20, 2014|publisher=wearemoviegeeks.com|access-date=March 1, 2018|archive-date=March 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302050125/http://www.wearemoviegeeks.com/2014/01/method-madness-jerry-lewis-dvd-review/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Paramount films ===
[[File:Jerry Lewis show.jpg|thumb|180px|left|Publicity photo of Lewis for ''The Jerry Lewis Show'']]
Lewis ended his association with Hal Wallis, their last joint venture being ''[[Visit to a Small Planet]]'' (1960). His next film was ''[[Cinderfella]]'' (1960), directed by Frank Tashlin; it was supposed to be Lewis's summer release, but Paramount withheld it in preparation for a Christmas 1960 release. Paramount, needing a quickie movie for its summer 1960 schedule, insisted that Lewis must produce one.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jerry-lewis-dead-nutty-professor-bellboy-star-was-91-721408|title=Jerry Lewis, Nonpareil Genius of Comedy, Dies at 91|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=August 20, 2017|archive-date=May 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511190847/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jerry-lewis-dead-nutty-professor-bellboy-star-was-91-721408|url-status=live}}</ref>

This resulted in Lewis's sudden transformation from movie clown to all-around filmmaker. He produced, directed, co-wrote, and starred in ''[[The Bellboy]]'' (1960). Using the [[Fontainebleau Miami Beach|Fontainebleau Hotel]] in Miami as his setting—on a small budget, with a very tight shooting schedule—Lewis shot the film during the day and performed at the hotel in the evenings.<ref name=":0" /> [[Bill Richmond (writer)|Bill Richmond]] collaborated with him on many of the episodic blackouts and sight gags. The film presented a new approach for the usually frenetic and highly vocal comedian: in ''The Bellboy'' Lewis doesn't speak at all—he only whistles—until a punchline at the very end of the film.

This was really a time-saving device; by concentrating on visual action, Lewis could film the scenes faster without bothering to remember written dialogue. Another time-saver was his innovative use of "[[video assist]]"—instant video playback, which allowed Lewis to review each scene on videotape immediately after filming it, thus eliminating film-laboratory delays and expenses. Trade reviewer Pete Harrison noted the sight gags but felt that Lewis was not a true pantomime artist: "As a mute, there are only brief moments of his work coming close to [[Charlie Chaplin|Chaplin]], [[Jacques Tati]], or [[Harpo Marx]]. Lewis, always laughed at, fails to win the viewer's heart."<ref>Pete Harrison, ''Harrison's Reports'', July 20, 1960, p. 119.</ref>

Lewis later revealed that Paramount was not happy about financing a "silent movie" and withdrew backing. Lewis used his own funds to cover the movie's $950,000 budget. ''The Bellboy'' turned out to be a hit, ranking with his better successes. ''Variety'''s Gene Arneel reported independent producer [[Hall Bartlett]]'s observation, "Lewis is the only star whose pictures all turn out in the black."<ref>Gene Arneel, "Down to a Slapstick Single—And All Lewis Pix B.O. Clix", ''Variety'', Sept. 7, 1960, p. 3.</ref>

Lewis continued to direct more films that he co-wrote with Bill Richmond, including ''[[The Ladies Man]]'' (1961), where Lewis constructed a three-story dollhouse-like set spanning two sound stages, with the set equipped with state-of-the-art lighting and sound, eliminating the need for boom microphones in each room. His next movie ''[[The Errand Boy]]'' (1961), used the same formula as ''The Bellboy'', with Lewis turned loose in a movie studio for blackouts and sight gags.

Lewis was also somewhat active in television. [[National Broadcasting Company|NBC]] released him from a long-term contract in 1960; the official reason given was that Lewis was devoting more time to his motion pictures. A more probable reason was the difficulty in finding a weekly television vehicle for Lewis. (NBC did announce two series in development, "Permanent Waves" and "The Comedy Concert.")<ref>NBC press release, Aug. 25, 1960.</ref>

Lewis's TV appearances were usually guest shots. He appeared in ''The Wacky World of Jerry Lewis,'' ''Celebrity Golf,'' ''[[The Garry Moore Show]],'' ''The Soupy Sales Show,'' ''[[It's Only Money]]'' (1962) and guest hosted ''[[The Tonight Show]]'' during the transition from [[Jack Paar]] to [[Johnny Carson]] in 1962, and his appearance on the show scored the highest ratings thus far in late night, surpassing other guest hosts and Paar.

The three major networks began a bidding war, wooing Lewis for his own talk show.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}} Lewis then directed, co-wrote and starred in ''[[The Nutty Professor (1963 film)|The Nutty Professor]]'' (1963). A parody of ''[[The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde|Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde]],'' it featured him as [[The Nutty Professor (character)|Professor Kelp]], a socially inept scientist who invents a serum that turns him into a handsome but obnoxious ladies' man. It is often considered to be Lewis's best film.<ref>Jones, Kenneth. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120819030200/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/169188-Producers-of-Nutty-Professor-Hope-to-Earn-Broadway-Tenure-for-New-Marvin-Hamlisch-Rupert-Holmes-Show "Producers of ''Nutty Professor'' Hope to Earn Broadway Tenure for New Marvin Hamlisch-Rupert Holmes Show"], ''Playbill'', August 17, 2012, accessed August 19, 2013</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertaiment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-nutty-professor-jerry-lewis-musical-nashville-20120801,0,4021683.story|title=Jerry Lewis' Nutty Professor' musical opens in Nashville|last=Ng|first=David|date=August 2, 2012|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=August 18, 2013}}</ref>

[[File:The Nutty Professor 1963 (publicity photo, Lewis and Stevens - cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Lewis as [[The Nutty Professor (character)|Professor Kelp]], with co-star [[Stella Stevens]], in ''[[The Nutty Professor (1963 film)|The Nutty Professor]]'' (1963)]]
In 1963, he had a cameo in ''[[It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World]]'' (1963),<ref>{{Cite web |title=It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/its_a_mad_mad_mad_mad_world |website=Rotten Tomatoes |quote="Virtually every lead, supporting, and bit part in the picture is filled by a well-known comic actor: the laugh spinning lineup also includes Carl Reiner, Terry-Thomas, Arnold Stang, Buster Keaton, Jack Benny, Jerry Lewis, and The Three Stooges, who get one of the picture's biggest laughs by standing stock still and uttering not a word."}}</ref> fully starred in ''[[Who's Minding the Store?]]'' (1963) and hosted ''[[The Jerry Lewis Show]],'' a lavish 13-week, big-budget show which aired on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] from September to December in 1963.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2, 2008 |title=The Nostalgia Collection: Jerry Lewis - The Jerry Lewis Show |website=Amazon |url=https://www.amazon.com/The-Nostalgia-Collection-Jerry-Lewis/dp/B0011E9NTS#productDescription_secondary_view_pageState_1427615912201}}</ref> Lewis next starred in ''[[The Patsy (1964 film)|The Patsy]]'' (1964), his satire about the Hollywood star-making industry and ''[[The Disorderly Orderly]]'' (1964), the only film executive produced by Lewis and his final collaboration with Tashlin.

Following a cameo on ''[[The Joey Bishop Show (TV series)|The Joey Bishop Show]]'', he starred in ''[[The Family Jewels (film)|The Family Jewels]]'' (1965) about a young heiress who must choose among six uncles, one of whom is up to no good and out to harm the girl's beloved bodyguard who practically raised her. The six uncles and the bodyguard were all played by Lewis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sensesofcinema.com/2016/jerry-lewis/the-family-jewels/|title=The Family Jewels (1965) • Senses of Cinema|website=sensesofcinema.com|access-date=February 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227153422/http://sensesofcinema.com/2016/jerry-lewis/the-family-jewels/|archive-date=February 27, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1965, Lewis went on ''[[The David Susskind Show]],'' starred in his final Paramount-released film ''[[Boeing Boeing (1965 film)|Boeing Boeing]]'' (1965),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-News-Jerry-Lewis-Dies-at-91-20170820|title=Breaking News: Jerry Lewis Dies at 91|work=BroadwayWorld.com|access-date=August 20, 2017|archive-date=August 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821043310/https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-News-Jerry-Lewis-Dies-at-91-20170820|url-status=live}}</ref> in which he received a [[Golden Globe]] nomination, then guest appeared on ''[[Ben Casey]],'' ''[[The Andy Williams Show]]'' and ''[[Hullabaloo (TV series)|Hullabaloo]]'' with son [[Gary Lewis (musician)|Gary Lewis]]. Lewis left Paramount in 1966, after 17 years, as the studio was undergoing a corporate shakeup, with the industrial conglomerate [[Gulf + Western]] taking over the company. Gulf + Western, scrutinizing the balance sheets, noted the diminishing box office returns of Lewis's recent pictures and did not renew his contract.

=== Columbia and other projects ===
[[File:Jerry Lewis 1973.JPG|thumb|left|170px|Lewis in 1973]]
Undaunted, Lewis signed with [[Columbia Pictures]], where he tried to reinvent himself with more serious roles<ref name="Kehr"/> and starred in a string of new box-office successes: ''[[Three on a Couch]]'' (1966), also during this period, he appeared in ''[[Way...Way Out]]'' (1966) for [[20th Century-Fox]], then ''[[The Big Mouth]]'' (1967), ''[[Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River]]'' (1968) and ''[[Hook, Line & Sinker (1969 film)|Hook, Line & Sinker]]'' (1969).

Lewis continued to make television appearances: ''[[The Merv Griffin Show]]'', ''The Sammy Davis Jr. Show,'' ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]],'' ''[[Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In]],'' ''[[Password (American game show)|Password]],'' a pilot called ''Sheriff Who'', a second version of ''The Jerry Lewis Show'' (this time as a one-hour variety show for NBC, which ran from 1967 to 1969),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-obit-jerry-lewis-20170820-story.html|title=Iconic comedian Jerry Lewis dies at 91|last=McLellan|first=Dennis|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=August 20, 2017|archive-date=August 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820190218/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-obit-jerry-lewis-20170820-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>  and ''[[The Danny Thomas Hour]]''.

He also appeared on ''[[Playboy After Dark]],'' ''[[Jimmy Durante Presents the Lennon Sisters|Jimmy Durante's The Lennon Sisters Hour]],'' ''[[The Red Skelton Show]],'' ''The Jack Benny Birthday Special,'' ''[[The Mike Douglas Show]]'', ''[[The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour]],'' ''[[The Hollywood Palace]],'' ''The Engelbert Humperdinck Show,'' ''The Irv Kupcinet Show'' and ''[[The Linkletter Show]]''. Behind the scenes, he contributed to some scripts for [[Filmation]]'s animated series ''[[Will the Real Jerry Lewis Please Sit Down]]'', directed an episode of ''[[The Bold Ones]]''{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}} and directed the [[Peter Lawford]] and [[Sammy Davis, Jr.]] comedy ''[[One More Time (1970 film)|One More Time]]'' (1970), a sequel to [[Richard Donner]]'s ''[[Salt and Pepper (film)|Salt and Pepper]]'' (1968).

Lewis would leave Columbia after his agreement with the studio lapsed, leaving him to produce his next movie independently. ''[[Which Way to the Front?]]'' (1970) was a [[World War II]] military comedy starring Lewis as a wealthy playboy who wants to enlist in the armed forces. Rejected, he forms his own volunteer army and infiltrates the enemy forces on the Italian front. The cast included many of Lewis's cronies, including [[Jan Murray]], [[Steve Franken]], [[Kathleen Freeman]], [[Kenneth MacDonald (American actor)|Kenneth MacDonald]], [[Joe Besser]], and (in a broad caricature of [[Adolf Hitler]]) [[Sidney Miller (actor)|Sidney Miller]]. The film received only a limited release by [[Warner Bros.]], and was not well received by the critics or the public. Lewis would later guest appeared on the NBC special ''The Klowns''.

''[[The Day the Clown Cried]]'' (1972), a drama directed by and starring Lewis and set in a [[Nazi concentration camp]], received only brief exposure. The film was rarely discussed by him, but he said that litigation over post-production finances and copyright prevented its completion and widespread theatrical release. He also said a factor for the film's burial was that he was not proud of the effort.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Handy |first=Bruce |date=August 21, 2017 |title=The French Film Critic Who Saw Jerry Lewis's Infamous Holocaust Movie—and Loved It |magazine=Vanity Fair |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/08/jerry-lewis-day-the-clown-cried-holocaust-movie-review |access-date=November 26, 2023 |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204184440/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/08/jerry-lewis-day-the-clown-cried-holocaust-movie-review |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2CdfppsqKQ| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Y2CdfppsqKQ| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|title=Clown: teaser for unfinished Jerry Lewis Documentary| date=September 6, 2016|publisher=tracesfilm|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> It was the earliest attempt by an American film director to address the subject of [[The Holocaust]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/postscript-jerry-lewis|first=Richard|last=Brody|title=Postscript: Jerry Lewis|date=August 20, 2017|work=New Yorker|access-date=February 9, 2018|archive-date=February 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219144928/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/postscript-jerry-lewis|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=December 2023}} Following this, Lewis took a break from the movie business for several years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Repelling Rejection, or: The Disappearance of Jerry Lewis, and Some Side-Effects |url=http://www.lolajournal.com/3/lewis.html |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=www.lolajournal.com |archive-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607220410/http://lolajournal.com/3/lewis.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

His television appearances during this period included ''[[Good Morning America]],'' ''[[The Dick Cavett Show]],'' ''NBC Follies,'' ''Celebrity Sportsman,'' ''[[Cher (TV series)|Cher]],'' ''[[Dinah!]],'' ''[[Tony Orlando and Dawn (TV series)|Tony Orlando and Dawn]].'' As Lewis continued to appear on and annually emcee [[The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon|his telethons]], one of the most memorable was the 1976 show,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/09/dean-martin-jerry-lewis-reunion-anniversary|title=When Jerry Met Dean-Again, on Live Television|first=Donald|last=Liebenson|date=September 2016|magazine=Vanity Fair|access-date=March 30, 2018|archive-date=June 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610071139/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/09/dean-martin-jerry-lewis-reunion-anniversary|url-status=live}}</ref> where on that broadcast, unrehearsed, Sinatra offered to bring an old friend on stage. From the wings came Dean Martin, as the audience cheered. Lewis was stunned by the surprise, but he embraced Martin and they exchanged jokes for several minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeNDDqbIZMw| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109014701/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeNDDqbIZMw&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=November 9, 2019 | url-status=dead|title=23 August 1977|publisher=drowsyvenus|via=YouTube}}</ref>

In 1976, producer [[Alexander H. Cohen]] signed Lewis to star in a revival of [[Olsen and Johnson]]'s musical-comedy revue ''[[Hellzapoppin (musical)|Hellzapoppin]]''. "I do think that to succeed today, a comedy revue requires a larger-than-life comic", Cohen told syndicated columnist [[Jack O'Brian]]. "That is why I have engaged Jerry Lewis to star in the new production of ''Hellzapoppin'', which I'm preparing for the coming season."<ref>Alexander H. Cohen to Jack O'Brian, ''Paterson News'', Paterson, NJ, Aug. 9, 1976, p. 19.</ref> Cohen had revived ''Hellzapoppin'' as a TV special in 1972, and was impressed by the contributions of [[Lynn Redgrave]]; he signed her to appear opposite Lewis. This was Lewis's first Broadway show, and was so eagerly awaited that [[National Broadcasting Company|NBC-TV]] promised Cohen $1,000,000 for the rights to broadcast the opening night live on national television.

Out-of-town tryouts were staged in [[Washington, D.C.]], [[Baltimore]], and [[Boston]] to excellent business but mixed reviews. There was turmoil behind the scenes, as comedy star Lewis dominated the production and had serious arguments with producer Cohen, co-star Redgrave, and writer-adaptor [[Abe Burrows]]. "Lewis and Miss Redgrave had been having a much-publicized feud", according to an account in the ''Pittsburgh Press''. "He would neither rehearse nor perform any songs with her, reports said."<ref>''Pittsburgh Press'', Jan. 24, 1977, p. A-8.</ref> The backstage chaos extended to several sudden cast changes during the Boston run.

On January 18, 1977, NBC executives flew to Boston to see the show, and their reactions were so negative that Cohen closed the show immediately and canceled both the Broadway engagement and the TV spectacular, forfeiting the million-dollar payment from NBC. "It's not ready for Broadway and cannot be made so in three remaining weeks before the opening", Cohen said. Cohen's spokesman subsequently announced that the stars would be replaced: "Recasting means recasting, and that's it."<ref>Dan Lewis, "It's curtains for 'Hellzapoppin'", ''The Record'', Hackensack, NJ, Jan. 20, 1977, p. 28.</ref>

In 1979, Lewis announced he was making ''That's Life'' (a senior citizen's take on ''[[Animal House]]'') starring [[Ruth Gordon]], [[Danny Thomas]] and [[Al Lewis]], and also said that it began filming, but stopped after a week, due to lack of funds.

=== Later roles and final work ===
Lewis carried on and starred in ''[[Circus of the Stars]]'', ''[[Pink Lady (TV series)|Pink Lady and Jeff]]'', ''[[Hardly Working]]'' (1981, his first "[[Comeback (publicity)|comeback]]" film in 11 years), a very rare dramatic role as a talk show host in [[Martin Scorsese]]'s ''[[The King of Comedy (film)|The King of Comedy]]'' (1982), ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]'', ''[[Star Search]]'', ''[[Cracking Up (1983 film)|Cracking Up]]'' (1983, originally titled as ''Smorgasbord''), ''[[Slapstick of Another Kind|Slapstick (Of Another Kind)]]'' (1984), ''[[Retenez Moi...Ou Je Fais Un Malheur|To Catch a Cop]]'' (1984) and ''[[Par ou t'es rentre ? On t'a pas vu sortir|How Did You Get In? We Didn't See You Leave]]'' (1984), both French films, which had their distribution under Lewis's control.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}

[[File:Jerry Lewis Cannes 2013 2.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Lewis at the Cannes Film Festival, 2013]]
Later, he hosted a third and final version of ''The Jerry Lewis Show,'' this time as a syndicated talk show for Metromedia, which was not continued beyond the scheduled five shows, directed an episode of ''[[Brothers (1984 TV series)|Brothers]]'', appeared at the first [[Comic Relief USA|Comic Relief]] in 1986, where he was the only performer to receive a standing ovation, appeared for ''Classic Treasures'', ''[[Fight for Life (film)|Fight for Life]]'' (1987, a TV movie for ABC),{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}} did a second double act with Davis Jr., appeared on ''Las Vegas at 75: All-Star Tribute'', hosted ''America's All-Time Favorite Movies'' and came on ''Speaking of Everything''. While guest starring in five episodes of ''[[Wiseguy (TV series)|Wiseguy]]'',{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}} its filming schedule forced Lewis to miss the [[Museum of the Moving Image]]'s opening with a retrospective of his work.

Lewis then attended Martin's 72nd birthday at Bally's in Las Vegas, wheeling out a cake, sang "[[Happy Birthday to you|Happy Birthday]]" to him and joked, "Why we broke up, I'll never know."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2005/edition_10-23-2005/featured_0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060322110107/http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2005/edition_10-23-2005/featured_0|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 22, 2006|title='We Had That X Factor' (Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis)|last1=Lewis|first1=Jerry|last2=Kaplan|first2= James|author-link2=James Kaplan|date=October 23, 2005|work=[[Parade (magazine)|Parade]]|access-date=November 7, 2008}}</ref> Then starred in ''[[Cookie (film)|Cookie]]'' (1989),<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Barnes |first1=Mike |last2=Byrge |first2=Duane |date=2017-08-20 |title=Jerry Lewis, Nonpareil Genius of Comedy, Dies at 91 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/jerry-lewis-dead-nutty-professor-bellboy-star-was-91-721408/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513043801/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/jerry-lewis-dead-nutty-professor-bellboy-star-was-91-721408/ |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |language=en-US}}</ref> directed episodes of ''[[Super Force]]'' in 1990 and ''[[Good Grief (TV series)|Good Grief]]'' in 1991 and appeared in ''[[Mr. Saturday Night]]'' (1992), ''[[The Arsenio Hall Show]],'' ''[[The Whoopi Goldberg Show]]'', ''Inside The Comedy Mind'', ''Jerry Lewis...Unlimited'' (his stage tour), ''[[Mad About You]]'', ''[[Arizona Dream]]'' (1993) and ''[[Funny Bones]]'' (1995).<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Dem Bones|first=Shawn|last=Levy|pages=2–3, 7|issue=May/June 1995|magazine=Film Comment}}</ref>

Lewis went on to appear in a stage revival of ''[[Damn Yankees]]'',<ref>{{cite news |title=Theater Review: Damn Yankees; Finally, Jerry Lewis Is on Broadway |first=Vincent |last=Canby |date=March 13, 1995 |newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/13/theater/theater-review-damn-yankees-finally-jerry-lewis-is-on-broadway.html?mcubz=3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822102229/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/13/theater/theater-review-damn-yankees-finally-jerry-lewis-is-on-broadway.html?mcubz=3 |archive-date=August 22, 2017 |access-date=August 22, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jerry-lewis-dead-nutty-professor-bellboy-star-was-91-721408|first1=Duane|last1=Byrge|first2=Mike|last2=Barnes|title=Jerry Lewis Nonpareil Genius of Comedy Dead at 91|date=August 20, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=March 2, 2018|archive-date=May 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511190847/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jerry-lewis-dead-nutty-professor-bellboy-star-was-91-721408|url-status=live}}</ref> then guest spots on ''[[Inside the Actors Studio]]'', ''[[The Martin Short Show]]'', ''[[The Simpsons]]'', ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]'' and ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]''. He also did the long-awaited sequel ''[[The Nutty Professor (2008 film)|The Nutty Professor II]]'' (2008, also titled as ''Facing the Fear''),{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}} then went on ''[[The Talk (talk show)|The Talk]]'' and finally, ''[[Max Rose (film)|Max Rose]]'' (2013), an appearance on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon]]'', ''[[The Trust (2016 film)|The Trust]]'' (2016) and ''[[Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=McNary|first=Dave|title=Jerry Lewis To Star In 'Max Rose'|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/jerry-lewis-to-star-in-max-rose-1118003719/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 15, 2009|access-date=June 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215193657/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003719.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1|archive-date=December 15, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="hr">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jerry-lewis-interview-painful-awkward-awful-7-minutes-watch-957115|title=Watch the Most Painfully Awkward Interview of 2016: 7 Minutes with Jerry Lewis|last=Lewis|first=Andy|date=December 19, 2016|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=December 16, 2017|archive-date=December 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217014044/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jerry-lewis-interview-painful-awkward-awful-7-minutes-watch-957115|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=May 22, 2017|title=Jerry Lewis To Honor Robin Williams At Legionnaires Of Laughter Awards|url=https://www.looktothestars.org/news/16673-jerry-lewis-to-honor-robin-williams-at-legionnaires-of-laughter-awards|access-date=August 25, 2020|website=Look to the Stars|archive-date=October 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004092707/https://www.looktothestars.org/news/16673-jerry-lewis-to-honor-robin-williams-at-legionnaires-of-laughter-awards|url-status=live}}</ref>