The Friars Club Comedy Film Festival honored legendary comedian, actor, film producer and director, writer and singerJerry Lewis with its Film Festival Award Lifetime Achievement Award on September 29, 2010, at aspecialnightat the Friars Club.
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes Jerry Lewis for his lifelong contributions to comedic entertainment. The award was given to him at the Friars Club with special guest Quentin Tarantino helping to present the award. Charlie Prince, Executive Director of the Friars Club Comedy Film Festival, and comedian Freddie Roman also helped present the award toJerry Lewis during the award ceremony.
Jerry Lewis was born into a vaudeville family, and, at age 12, began developing a comedy act miming to records. He first met singer Dean Martin in 1944, and two years later they officially became a performing team. Their first film, My Friend Irma (1949), established Martin and Lewis as box office stars. They were also frequent television guests and part of a series of rotating hosts of NBC’s The Colgate Comedy Hour.
It was during their stint with NBC that Lewis began his involvement with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Lewis would go on to raise hundreds of millions for the NDA, this year alone raising a staggering 59 million dollars.
About The Friars Club Comedy Film Festival:
The Friars Club Comedy Film Festival was launched in 2009 to showcase the best and funniest comedy films from around the world. Introduced to fill a void in the film festival world when it comes to comedy, the four-day festival celebrates comedy and independent filmmakers, featuring the best in comedy including feature films, shorts and panel discussions. In its debut year, the festival featured the U.S. premiere of the Coen brothers’ Academy Award nominated film A Serious Man. For more information on The Friars Club Comedy Film Festival please visit http://www.friarsclub.com/filmfestival
About The Friars Club:
The Friars Club is the legendary show business institution home to comedians, musicians, actors, producers and celebrities from all walks of entertainment. Since their inception in 1904 the Friars have become famous for their roasts where they choose an individual and rake his or her ego over the coals with their sarcastic wit and sharp-tongued barbs.
