For 45 years, Jerry Lewis and the Muscular Dystrophy Association\u2019s annual Labor Day fundraiser have been synonymous, so much so that it\u2019s now known as the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, in honor of the comic\u2019s tireless efforts.<\/p>\n
But this September, the 85-year-old star will don his tuxedo to entertain the masses and help \u201cJerry\u2019s Kids\u201d for the last time, the charity announced Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a labor of love, I\u2019ve hosted the annual telethon since 1966,\u201d Lewis said in news release issued by the Muscular Dystrophy Association. \u201cAnd I\u2019ll be making my final appearance on the show this year, by performing my signature song, \u2018You\u2019ll Never Walk Alone.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n
Lewis hit it big at age 20 in 1946, teaming up with Dean Martin to become one of the most popular comedy partnerships in history. Together, they headlined thousands of sold-out performances, 16 hit movies and two dozen top-rated television shows.<\/p>\n
After the break-up of the Martin and Lewis team, Lewis made a successful solo career. In 1959, he signed a seven-year, $10 million contract with Paramount \u2014 at the time, the largest contract ever between a studio and performer.<\/p>\n
His solo film career included classics such as \u201cThe Nutty Professor,\u201d \u201cThe Bellboy\u201d and \u201cThe Geisha Boy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, for several generations since, Lewis has been known as much as a philanthropist as a movie star. That\u2019s because of his work with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, a nonprofit dedicated to curing that disease, ALS and related ailments as well as providing support, education and other services.<\/p>\n
Lewis joined the cause in the early 1950s, and he gave it star power in 1966 when he became the host of what would be the charity\u2019s first of many telethons over Labor Day weekends.<\/p>\n
In between occasional songs, comic bits and passionate pitches for people to donate, his biggest challenge was keeping the variety show lively and engaging for as long as 21.5 hours straight. Scores of television stations across the country picked up the program, while volunteers stood by to take calls from people pledging donations.<\/p>\n
The 2010 edition, for instanced, raised $58,919,838 after performances by the likes of acrobatic dancers from Cirque du Soleil, \u201cAmerican Idol\u2019s\u201d David Archuleta and a host of comedic performers. Still, throughout the plethora of acts, the one constant over 900 hours of programming has remained Lewis.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Read more. <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Wow.\u00a0 This really is the end of\u00a0an era.\u00a0 Labor Day will never be the same. Details: For 45 years, Jerry Lewis and the Muscular Dystrophy Association\u2019s annual Labor Day fundraiser have been synonymous, so much so that it\u2019s now known as the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, in honor of the comic\u2019s tireless efforts. But this […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":132,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3846","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n