William Shatner and George Takei were among the numerous celebrities to pay tribute to comedy legend Jerry Lewis, who died Sunday at the age of 91.
‘Condolences to the family of Jerry Lewis. The world is a lot less funnier today,’ Shatner, 86, tweeted on Sunday morning.
‘We have lost a great comedian and even greater heart,’ Takei, 80, tweeted. ‘Thank you for the laughs and the feels, Jerry Lewis.’
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Heartfelt: ‘Condolences to the family of Jerry Lewis. The world is a lot less funnier today,’ William Shatner tweeted on Sunday morning
Heartbreaking: The outpouring of love and support came just after it was confirmed by the Jerry Lewis’ agent that Lewis had died at home in Las Vegas at 9:15 in the morning (pictured 2014)
Takei appeared in the 1970 comedy, Which Way To The Front, which starred and was directed by Lewis.
The outpouring of love and support from the stars came just after it was confirmed by the comedian’s agent that Lewis had died at home in Las Vegas at 9:15 in the morning.
Often controversial, the comedian was forced to make numerous apologies for his material over the years, which was criticized for being homophobic and racist.
But he is still fondly remembered by some for movie roles in films such as Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy and The Nutty Professor.
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Patton Oswalt tweeted: ‘Jerry Lewis has passed on. I sincerely hope his afterlife is a warm, peaceful… …haven.’
Penn Jillette sent several tweets honoring the icon, including: ‘Jerry Lewis just died. When I met him, I feel apart, just sobbed. I guess it’s time for that again.’
Dane Cook called Lewis his ‘mentor’ and credited the actor’s daughter for their friendship.
Meaningful: Dane Cook called Lewis his ‘mentor’ and credited the actor’s daughter for their friendship
‘An undeniable genius’: Jim Carrey reacted to Lewis’ death online
Extending sympathies: Celebrities sent their heartfelt condolences on Twitter
‘My mentor & friend Jerry Lewis has passed away. A visionary. A pioneer in all forms of entertainment. A charitable human. A father,’ he tweeted.
‘He meant the world to me& I will forever cherish the time I got to spend with him & his family. At a dark time in my life he brought me joy.’
‘Jerry’s daughter Danielle is the reason her dad & I got so close. I will never be able to thank her enough for putting him in my life.’
Mourning: The stars reacted to the comedy legend’s death online
Jim Carrey took to Twitter to react to the star’s death: ‘That fool was no dummy. Jerry Lewis was an undeniable genius an unfathomable blessing, comedy’s absolute! I am because he was!’
Jamie Lee Curtis remembered Lewis and the impact he had on her family.
‘Jerry Lewis loomed large in my family. Many movies with my mom & he made home movies with Janet and Tony. He made me and many laugh. #rip,’ she tweeted.
Whoopi Goldberg shared: ‘Jerry Lewis passed today,millions around the world loved him,millions of kids he helped w/his telethons. R.I.P. &condolences 2 his family.’
Heartbroken: Ashley Greene, Damon Wayans Jr., and George Wallace were among the many stars to send their heartfelt messages
‘RIP Jerry Lewis’: Gilbert Gottfried shared a photo of him alongside the icon
Lewis rose to fame in the 1950s as one half of comedy duo Martin and Lewis with singer Dean Martin.
His family told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in a statement: ‘Legendary entertainer Jerry Lewis passed away peacefully today of natural causes at 91 at his home [with] family by his side.’
Jerry was married twice, to Patti Palmer from 1944 until 1980, and then SanDee Pitnick, who he wed in 1983.
He’s a star: Lewis rose to fame in the 1950s as one half of comedy duo Martin and Lewis with singer Dean Martin (pictured 1969)
From his marriage to Patti, he had sons Gary, Ronald, Scott, Christopher, Anthony, and the late Joseph, who died from an overdose in October 2009.
He and SanDee had a daughter, Danielle, who like Ronald, was adopted.
The King of Comedy actor was the highest paid actor in Hollywood at one time, and in 1995 his portrayal of Mr. Applegate in the musical Damn Yankies saw him become the highest-paid star in Broadway history.
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Unforgettable: Michael Kelly remembered how ‘one of the best meals I ever had’ was with Jerry
Legacy: Whoopi Goldberg reflected on Jerry’s incredible life