He was born jarome levitch in newark, new jersey. He never finished high school. The business making people laugh was all that mattered. Audiences loved him. Here he was still a teenager with second billing of the prestigious 500 club in atlantic city, which is where jerry lewis formed half of one of the hottest comedy teams in history. Dean martin and jerry lewis, the crooning casanova and the clown. Literally an overnight sensation. It wasnt long before hollywood called. They made 17 movies together, all box office hits. Then in 1950 they got their own variety show. Jerry lewis was only 24 years old. Then as suddenly as it started, it was over. After ten years, jerry and dean called it quits. When martin and lewis parted, they were no longer friends and there were rumors the breakup would end each of their careers. Instead, jerry went on to sign a 10 Million Contract with paramount. He made more than 30 movies solo. Those movies broke new ground, unlike nearly anyone else at that tim