Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis, whose irrepressible zaniness and
frantic creativity vaulted him to stardom as a
comic movie star who wielded unparalleled
green-light power at Paramount in the 1960s,
passed away on August 20th. He was 91. As
you may already know, Lewis, who teamed
with Dean Martin in the 1950s as one of the
most successful tandems in the history of
show business, at his home in Las Vegas.
Lewis’ health ailments over the years included
open-heart surgery in 1983, surgery for
prostate cancer in 1992, treatment for his
dependence on prescription drugs in 2003, a
heart attack in 2006 and a long bout with
pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung disease for
which he took Prednisone, causing his face and body to balloon.
At the peak of their popularity, Martin & Lewis ruled nightclubs, radio and then the box office with their breezy
yet physical comedy act, reigning as the top draw at theaters from 1950-56. After an especially acrimonious
break-up with his partner, Lewis remained as the No. 1 movie draw through the mid-1960s on the strength of
such classics as The Bellboy (1960) and The Nutty Professor (1963). As Paramount’s biggest star, he had the
creative freedom to make the moves he wanted to make.
When Lewis was 18, he met singer Patti Palmer, and they wed 10 days later. During their marriage, which lasted
from 1944-82, they had five sons and adopted another child. His youngest, Joseph, became a drug addict and
committed suicide in 2009 at age 45. Lewis married his second wife, SanDee Pitnick, in 1983. They adopted a
daughter, Danielle.
Leslie Jones
Malcolm Lee
Tiffany Haddish
28
Kevin Hart
On the heels of the comedy Girls Trip crossing $100 million
at the domestic box office, its breakout star Tiffany Haddish
has joined the cast of Universal's comedy Night School
starring Kevin Hart. The project, from Hartbeat Productions
and Will Packer Productions, follows a group of misfits who
are forced to attend adult classes in the long-shot chance
they’ll pass the GED exam. The new project will see Haddish
reunite with Universal, Girls Trip director Malcolm D. Lee and
producer Will Packer. Packer will produce for his Will Packer
Productions alongside Hart, who will produce via Hartbeat
Productions. James Lopez will executive produce. The film is
set for a Sept. 28, 2018, release. Based on a story by Hart,
Night School was written by Hart, Harry Ratchford, Joey
Wells and Matt Kellard, with additional script work by Nick
Stoller. Haddish will next be seen in the upcoming TBS series
The Last O.G. starring opposite Tracy Morgan.