Jerry Lewis
Lewis in 2011, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Jerome/Joseph Levitch
Date of Birth: March 16, 1926
Place of Birth: Newark, Essex, New Jersey, U.S.
Date of Death: August 20, 2017
Place of Death: Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
Jerry Lewis was an American actor, comedian, singer, writer, director, producer, and humanitarian. He was part of the comedy duo Martin and Lewis, with Dean Martin. He was nicknamed “The King of Comedy.”
He was the son of Rachel/Rachael “Ray”/Rae (Brodsky) and Daniel “Danny” Levitch/Lewis, who were entertainers, performing on stage and on television. His parents were from Jewish families, from Poland, Lithuania, and Russia. His father was born in Brooklyn, New York City. His mother was born in Warsaw, Poland, and moved to the U.S. around 1904.
Jerry was married to ballerina and stewardess SanDee Pitnick, until his death. He had six children with his former wife, singer Patti Palmer (born Esther Grace Calonico); and a daughter with SanDee. Among his children with Patti is musician Gary Lewis.
Jerry’s paternal grandfather was named Morris Levitch. Morris was a Jewish emigrant, from Pińskie, Powiat wejherowski, Pomorskie, Poland, and was a retail merchant and vintner of Kosher wine.
Jerry’s paternal grandmother was named Hannah Anna Werstein/Bernstein (the daughter of Yitzchak/Yitzhak Leib “Isaac” Werstein and Lena). Hannah was a Jewish emigrant, from Kaunas, Lithuania. Yitzchak was the son of Lazarus Werstein and Leah Rose Theintj.
Jerry’s maternal grandfather was named Jonah/Joseph/Josef “Joe” Brodsky (the son of Baruch Tzvi). Jonah was a Russian Jewish immigrant.
Jerry’s maternal grandmother was named Sarah/Sasha Kaufman (the daughter of Abraham Kaufman). Sarah was a Jewish emigrant, who was born in Warsaw.
Sources: Genealogies of Jerry Lewis – https://www.geni.com
https://www.wikitree.com
https://www.findagrave.com
Jerry’s paternal grandparents, Morris Levitch and Hannah Anna Werstein/Bernstein, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Jerry’s mother on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
honestly, I had no idea he was still alive. However R.I.P
picture?
Correction: Jerry’s father was named “Daniel,” not “Jerome.” Some of the census record claim that Jerry’s original name was Jerome instead of Joseph, though.
Thank you for the correction. And yes, there appears to be some disagreement about his birth name.