Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin

Dino Paul Crocetti was born to Italian father Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti (1894–1967) and Italian American mother Angela (Barra) Crocetti (1897–1966). His father, who was a barber, was originally from Montesilvano, Pescara, and his mother was born December 18, 1897, in Fernwood, Jefferson County, Ohio. He had older brother William. Dino's first language was Italian, and he did not speak English until he started school at the age of five. He attended Grant Elementary School in Steubenville, where he was bullied for his broken English but he dropped out of Steubenville High School in the tenth grade because, according to him, he thought he was "smarter than his teachers". He bootlegged liquor, worked in a steel mill, served as a croupier at a speakeasy and a blackjack dealer, and was a welterweight boxer after he dropped out of school. As an adult, Dean, known as Dino, was half of the immensely popular comedy team "Martin and Lewis." When they broke up, due to personal conflicts, there was much speculation about who would "make it on their own". But Dean went on to have his own television show, number one hit records, and become a part of the "Rat Pack" - a group of entertainers who hung out together and made movies together - led by Frank Sinatra and included Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis Junior, and others. He was married 3 times, to Betty McDonald for 8 years, to Jeanne Biegger ​for 24 years, and to Catherine Hawn for 3 years, and had 8 children. ​

Jerry Lewis was born Joseph Levitch Jewish parents Daniel "Danny" Levitch (1902–1980), and Rachael "Rae" (Brodsky) Levitch (1903–1983). Both of his parents were in the entertainment industry, Danny as a vaudevillian and Rae was his musical director. There are varying records as to Jerry's first name, some reporting that it was Joseph, some said it was Jerome. Whichever was correct, he later called himself "Jerry" saying that he didn't want to be confused with "Joe Louis" or "Joe E. Lewis". Like his partner Dean Martin, Jerry dropped out of high school in the 10th grade. Neither seems to have been affected by their lack of higher education, since both went on to become a huge success as a team and individually. Jerry met Dean Martin in 1945 and they became a comedy team. Jerry had worked the "Borscht Belt" and vaudeville previously, but it was together that they hit "the big time." Dean Martin was the "straight man" and Jerry was the goofy comedian and together they went on to perform in night clubs and eventually, several successful movies. Due to personality differences, Jerry and Dean broke up their duo in 1956. After ending his partnership with Dean, Jerry and his wife Patty took a vacation in Las Vegas to consider the direction of his career. He ended up recording some records, singing in public for the first time since he was five years old. He again had successes in live performances, but it was with his comedic talents that his solo career took off and he made a string of popular movies. Jerry's reputation and stature increased after a contract with Paramount , when he began to exert total control over all aspects of his films. His involvement in directing, writing, editing and art direction coincided with the rise of auteur theory in French intellectual film criticism and the French New Wave movement. This led to his being a huge success in France, where he was hailed as a King of Comedy. He also hosted an MDA telethon on Labor Day weekend for decades until his health declined and he was no longer able to host what was truly a marathon in television. Jerry was married twice: first to Patti Palmer for 36 years and then to SanDee Pitnick from 1983 until he died. He had 7 children in total. He had some decades-long heart problems, prostate cancer, type 1 diabetes, and pulmonary fibrosis, as well as problems caused by the nature of his physical comedy. He died at home in Las Vegas, Nevada of end-stage cardiac disease and peripheral artery disease. He was cremated. Jerry Lewis: Obituary In his final will, Jerry left his estate to his second wife of 34 years, SanDee Pitnick, and their daughter, and explicitly disinherited his children from his first marriage and their children.