Comedy legend Jerry Lewis dies

Veteran American entertainer Jerry Lewis, whose goofy brand of physical comedy endeared him to millions in a career spanning six decades, died yesterday aged 91.

One of the most popular comic actors of the 1950s and '60s, Lewis perfected the role of the quirky clown in slapstick comedies like "The Nutty Professor" but also won acclaim as a writer, actor and philanthropist.

"Very sadly Jerry Lewis has passed," his agent Jeff Wijtas told AFP. Variety reported that the comic legend died in Las Vegas early in the morning.

Born Joseph Levitch in Newark, New Jersey, Lewis first took centre stage at the tender age of five, when he performed "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"

Honoured with accolades at home and abroad, including a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977, he became known as much for his tireless efforts to promote awareness of Muscular Dystrophy as for his unique brand of physical comedy.

Over the course of 45 years, he raised some $2.45 billion for combating the disease with an annual television event.

His box office grosses, spanning nearly 50 years, total $800 million -- an impressive figure since movie tickets cost no more than 50 cents during the height of his popularity.