One of the last interviews with comedian Jerry Lewis was also one of his most snarkiest.
The Hollywood Reporter conducted 10 nonagenarian interviews with people still in the entertainment industry and the actor, who passed Sunday in Las Vegas, Nevada, was one of the most difficult.
Scheduled during a few off days in his touring dates, journalist Andy Lewis noted that Lewis looked angry when he first walked in and saw the 91-year-old sitting watching TV with his headphones.
The Hollywood Reporter conducted 10 nonagenarian interviews with people still in the entertainment industry and the actor was one of the most difficult
On Sunday, Jerry Lewis passed away in his home in Las Vegas from natural causes
The actor had a reputation for being difficult in both interviews and with audiences during shows. He is also a reported control freak.
During the photo shoot, Lewis grew annoyed with the amount of equipment in his house.
Scheduled during a few off days in his touring dates, journalist Andy Lewis noted that Lewis looked angry when he first walked in and saw the 91-year-old sitting watching TV with his headphones, looking angry
He also complained about the number of assistants and how each shot was set up.
And things would prove even more difficult during the interview portion, which wound up happening an hour later.
Throughout the interview, all of Lewis’s responses were short and blunt.
Lewis (bottom) first shot into the limelight after teaming up with singer and Rat Pack member, Dean Martin (top) who played the straight man to Lewis’ funnyman
Uncooperative, he often repeated the same answer causing the interview to often become stagnant with awkwardness and comically funny.
The reporter ask, ‘Have you ever thought about retiring?’
‘Why,’ Lewis said with a blank stare
‘Was there never a moment where you wanted to retire,’ the journalist asked.
Lewis said: ‘Why.’
Later, when asked about how he keeps his material fresh, the comedian simply responds saying ‘by working at it.
‘You’ve had a number of health issues over the last few years as people your age do…,’ the reporter starts before Lewis interjects ‘anybody who is 90 does,’
Continuing to work does that actually help you to get healthier? Do you think being sort of busy and engaged sort of helps you get healthier,’ the reporter continues.
Lewis simply responds ‘No.’
The talk ends with Lewis and team seemingly defeated by a stubborn Lewis.
On Sunday, Jerry Lewis passed away in his home in Las Vegas from natural causes.
‘Sadly I can confirm that today the world lost one of the most significant human beings of the 20th century,’ his representative Mark Rozzano told ABC News.
Over his long career in showbiz, Lewis starred in several hit movies including Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy and The Nutty Professor.
But arguably his most famous achievement is founding the annual Labor Day Muscular Dystrophy telethon in the 1960s, which raised more than $2.45 billion over the decades, led by Lewis until he was relieved as host in 2011.