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Comedian Jerry Lewis dead at 91

Patrick Roth | proth@wtop.com

August 20, 2017, 2:02 PM

In this Aug. 24, 2016 photo, comedian Jerry Lewis reacts during an interview at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. Getting older has been frustrating. At 90, Lewis sometimes loses his train of thought and uses a cane and a wheelchair to get around. But his desire to connect with audiences, and with people, is undiminished. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)
In this Aug. 24, 2016 photo, comedian Jerry Lewis reacts during an interview at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. Getting older has been frustrating. At 90, Lewis sometimes loses his train of thought and uses a cane and a wheelchair to get around. But his desire to connect with audiences, and with people, is undiminished. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)
Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP
Legendary Comedian Jerry Lewis and Jim Carrey attend the Friars Club before his 90th birthday celebration on Friday, April 8, 2016, in New York. (Photo by Brad Barket/Invision/AP)
Legendary Comedian Jerry Lewis and Jim Carrey attend the Friars Club before his 90th birthday celebration on Friday, April 8, 2016, in New York. (Photo by Brad Barket/Invision/AP)
Photo by Brad Barket/Invision/AP
Actor-comedian Jerry Lewis and Wilbur the Penguin perform for an audience at Brown's Hotel in Sheldrake, N.Y., in June 1955. The three Fed Astaire dance hostesses standing nearby are Laurie Cabot, far right, and the Borrowes twins. (AP Photo/Irving Desfor)
Actor-comedian Jerry Lewis and Wilbur the Penguin perform for an audience at Brown’s Hotel in Sheldrake, N.Y., in June 1955. The three Fed Astaire dance hostesses standing nearby are Laurie Cabot, far right, and the Borrowes twins. (AP Photo/Irving Desfor)
AP Photo/Irving Desfor
Actor and comedian Jerry Lewis is honored with a hand and footprint ceremony at TCL Chinese Theatre on Saturday, April 12, 2014 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP Images)
Actor and comedian Jerry Lewis is honored with a hand and footprint ceremony at TCL Chinese Theatre on Saturday, April 12, 2014 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP Images)
Photo by Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP Images
Pierre, a bespectacled five-year-old chimpanzee who's trying to make a name for himself in the movies, is introduced to the banana split by comedian Jerry Lewis, a fellow actor in Hollywood, on Jan. 24, 1950 in Los Angeles. Pierre is at first, only mildly interested as Lewis takes a spoonful of banana and strawberry. Then Pierre decide it's worth a closer look and he takes a taste, with a bit of urging from Lewis. Later Pierre gobbled a whole one. (AP Photo/Frank Filan)
Pierre, a bespectacled five-year-old chimpanzee who’s trying to make a name for himself in the movies, is introduced to the banana split by comedian Jerry Lewis, a fellow actor in Hollywood, on Jan. 24, 1950 in Los Angeles. Pierre is at first, only mildly interested as Lewis takes a spoonful of banana and strawberry. Then Pierre decide it’s worth a closer look and he takes a taste, with a bit of urging from Lewis. Later Pierre gobbled a whole one. (AP Photo/Frank Filan)
AP Photo/Frank Filan
Comedy duo Dean Martin, left, and Jerry Lewis rehearse at the Nola Studios in New York City for their opening at the Copacabana, Jan. 20, 1954. (AP Photo/Dan Grossi)
Comedy duo Dean Martin, left, and Jerry Lewis rehearse at the Nola Studios in New York City for their opening at the Copacabana, Jan. 20, 1954. (AP Photo/Dan Grossi)
AP Photo/Dan Grossi
Entertainer Jerry Lewis laughs as he fields questions from the media at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Pasadena, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 28, 1995. Lewis is starring in the nationally touring production of the Broadway musical "Damn Yankees," which comes to the Pasadena Civic Auditorium for eight performances starting Nov. 28. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Entertainer Jerry Lewis laughs as he fields questions from the media at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Pasadena, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 28, 1995. Lewis is starring in the nationally touring production of the Broadway musical “Damn Yankees,” which comes to the Pasadena Civic Auditorium for eight performances starting Nov. 28. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
Jerry Lewis, left, is joined by Kathleen Sullivan as a co-host of the Jerry Lewis Stars Across America, MDA Labor Day Telethon, Sunday, Sept. 3, 1995, Los Angeles, Calif. Lewis hopes the more than 21 hour telecast will exceed the 1994 pledge of $47.1 million. (AP Photo/Michael Tweed)
Jerry Lewis, left, is joined by Kathleen Sullivan as a co-host of the Jerry Lewis Stars Across America, MDA Labor Day Telethon, Sunday, Sept. 3, 1995, Los Angeles, Calif. Lewis hopes the more than 21 hour telecast will exceed the 1994 pledge of $47.1 million. (AP Photo/Michael Tweed)
AP Photo/Michael Tweed
Comedian Jerry Lewis works out at first base prior to Pittsburgh-Houston ballgame at Forbes Field on July 13, 1962 in Pittsburgh. Watching his antics is Pittsburgh's first baseman Jim Marshall. (AP Photo)
Comedian Jerry Lewis works out at first base prior to Pittsburgh-Houston ballgame at Forbes Field on July 13, 1962 in Pittsburgh. Watching his antics is Pittsburgh’s first baseman Jim Marshall. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Comedian Jerry Lewis, left, with his fianc?e Sandee Pitnick, clowns around Saturday during an autograph session on Saturday, Oct. 10, 1982 at a Cambridge, Mass., bookstore where he was promotong his new book, "Jerry Lewis in Person." (AP Photo/Keith Jacobson)
Comedian Jerry Lewis, left, with his fianc?e Sandee Pitnick, clowns around Saturday during an autograph session on Saturday, Oct. 10, 1982 at a Cambridge, Mass., bookstore where he was promotong his new book, “Jerry Lewis in Person.” (AP Photo/Keith Jacobson)
AP Photo/Keith Jacobson
Comedian Jerry Lewis, right, hams it up as he sticks out his tongue at a television camera during reception in his honor at a New York Hotel, Monday, June 7, 1976, New York. Lewis will make his legitimate theater debut on Broadway next season, starring in a new production of Hellzapoppin. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
Comedian Jerry Lewis, right, hams it up as he sticks out his tongue at a television camera during reception in his honor at a New York Hotel, Monday, June 7, 1976, New York. Lewis will make his legitimate theater debut on Broadway next season, starring in a new production of Hellzapoppin. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
AP Photo/Ron Frehm
FILE – In this Sept. 2, 1990, file photo, entertainer Jerry Lewis makes his opening remarks at the 25th Anniversary of the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon fundraiser in Los Angeles. Lewis, the comedian whose fundraising telethons became as famous as his hit movies, has died according to his publicist. (AP Photo/Julie Markes, File)
AP Photo/Julie Markes, File
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In this Aug. 24, 2016 photo, comedian Jerry Lewis reacts during an interview at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. Getting older has been frustrating. At 90, Lewis sometimes loses his train of thought and uses a cane and a wheelchair to get around. But his desire to connect with audiences, and with people, is undiminished. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)
Legendary Comedian Jerry Lewis and Jim Carrey attend the Friars Club before his 90th birthday celebration on Friday, April 8, 2016, in New York. (Photo by Brad Barket/Invision/AP)
Actor-comedian Jerry Lewis and Wilbur the Penguin perform for an audience at Brown's Hotel in Sheldrake, N.Y., in June 1955. The three Fed Astaire dance hostesses standing nearby are Laurie Cabot, far right, and the Borrowes twins. (AP Photo/Irving Desfor)
Actor and comedian Jerry Lewis is honored with a hand and footprint ceremony at TCL Chinese Theatre on Saturday, April 12, 2014 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP Images)
Pierre, a bespectacled five-year-old chimpanzee who's trying to make a name for himself in the movies, is introduced to the banana split by comedian Jerry Lewis, a fellow actor in Hollywood, on Jan. 24, 1950 in Los Angeles. Pierre is at first, only mildly interested as Lewis takes a spoonful of banana and strawberry. Then Pierre decide it's worth a closer look and he takes a taste, with a bit of urging from Lewis. Later Pierre gobbled a whole one. (AP Photo/Frank Filan)
Comedy duo Dean Martin, left, and Jerry Lewis rehearse at the Nola Studios in New York City for their opening at the Copacabana, Jan. 20, 1954. (AP Photo/Dan Grossi)
Entertainer Jerry Lewis laughs as he fields questions from the media at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Pasadena, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 28, 1995. Lewis is starring in the nationally touring production of the Broadway musical "Damn Yankees," which comes to the Pasadena Civic Auditorium for eight performances starting Nov. 28. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Jerry Lewis, left, is joined by Kathleen Sullivan as a co-host of the Jerry Lewis Stars Across America, MDA Labor Day Telethon, Sunday, Sept. 3, 1995, Los Angeles, Calif. Lewis hopes the more than 21 hour telecast will exceed the 1994 pledge of $47.1 million. (AP Photo/Michael Tweed)
Comedian Jerry Lewis works out at first base prior to Pittsburgh-Houston ballgame at Forbes Field on July 13, 1962 in Pittsburgh. Watching his antics is Pittsburgh's first baseman Jim Marshall. (AP Photo)
Comedian Jerry Lewis, left, with his fianc?e Sandee Pitnick, clowns around Saturday during an autograph session on Saturday, Oct. 10, 1982 at a Cambridge, Mass., bookstore where he was promotong his new book, "Jerry Lewis in Person." (AP Photo/Keith Jacobson)
Comedian Jerry Lewis, right, hams it up as he sticks out his tongue at a television camera during reception in his honor at a New York Hotel, Monday, June 7, 1976, New York. Lewis will make his legitimate theater debut on Broadway next season, starring in a new production of Hellzapoppin. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)

WASHINGTON — Comedian Jerry Lewis has died at the age of 91 according to multiple reports.

The comedian was best known for his work with Dean Martin and starring in such films as “The Nutty Professor.”

Lewis also served as the national chairman and spokesman for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. His Labor Day telethons raised millions of dollars for the association.

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