Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin were showbiz’s most successful team — and they set new records in bitter showbiz brawling!
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Jerry Lewis and
Dean Martin were showbiz's most successful team — and they set new records in bitter showbiz brawling!
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Photo credit: Getty Images
The suave singer and the
controversial comic started off crashing each other's nightclub acts while playing the East Coast. They eventually teamed up in Atlantic City, and were commanding $5,000 a week in 1947. But things went sour when the duo started making movies in Hollywood. Dean quickly tired of playing the straight man while Jerry insisted on stealing scenes. By the end of their time together, Dean sneered to Jerry: "You're nothing to me but a f--king dollar sign!”
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Even their wives got into the splintering act, with Jeanne Martin blasting Patti Lewis at a party after Jerry's spouse agreed when the hostess said that Dean "would be nowhere without Jerry." Dean was no fan of Patti's either — with his partner getting into a fistfight with him after Dean once suggested that Patti had slept around with other showbiz figures.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Dean finally ended his partnership after saying he didn't want to play a cop in the film "The Delicate Delinquent" — and Jerry replied, "Then we'll have to get someone else." Dean angrily replied: "Start looking, boy!" The two still had a contract for a series of shows at the legendary Copacabana, though, with a packed house as word got out the duo was finished.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
The final appearance did record-breaking business — but Dean also broke two of Jerry's toes early in the residency when he stomped on his partner's foot onstage. "It was only an accident," Dean insisted to reporters. Jerry limped through the rest of the Copacabana shows, and they even wrapped up their final night with a big show of friendship. Sadly, the "show" part soon became apparent!
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Photo credit: Getty Images
An insecure Jerry soon began to panic over going alone, while Dean began to enjoy unexpected solo success as an actor and singer. Things got so petty that Jerry started a restaurant called Jerry's on L.A.'s Sunset Boulevard after Dean opened the thriving "Dino's Lounge" — and Jerry even hired away Dean's chefs, his maître d', and most of his waiters!
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Photo credit: Getty Images
The duo continued to snipe at each other, with Dean once declaring: “Jerry’s trying hard to be a director. He couldn’t even direct traffic!” The two were finally reunited by
Frank Sinatra in a surprise onstage reunion during the 1976 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon — and while the crowd cheered, Jerry can be seen whispering to Frank, "You son of a bitch!"
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Photo credit: Getty Images
The two never worked together despite the hype over their "friendly" reunion — but Dean and Jerry finally truly forgave each other after Jerry attended the 1987 funeral of Dean's actor son, Dean Paul Martin. Jerry was also there when Dean passed away in 1995 at the age of 78. Jerry died on Aug. 20, 2017 at the age of 91, still
close to Dean's daughter Deana.
Jerry Lewis and
Dean Martin were showbiz's most successful team — and they set new records in bitter showbiz brawling!
Photo credit: Getty Images
The suave singer and the
controversial comic started off crashing each other's nightclub acts while playing the East Coast. They eventually teamed up in Atlantic City, and were commanding $5,000 a week in 1947. But things went sour when the duo started making movies in Hollywood. Dean quickly tired of playing the straight man while Jerry insisted on stealing scenes. By the end of their time together, Dean sneered to Jerry: "You're nothing to me but a f--king dollar sign!”
Photo credit: Getty Images
Even their wives got into the splintering act, with Jeanne Martin blasting Patti Lewis at a party after Jerry's spouse agreed when the hostess said that Dean "would be nowhere without Jerry." Dean was no fan of Patti's either — with his partner getting into a fistfight with him after Dean once suggested that Patti had slept around with other showbiz figures.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Dean finally ended his partnership after saying he didn't want to play a cop in the film "The Delicate Delinquent" — and Jerry replied, "Then we'll have to get someone else." Dean angrily replied: "Start looking, boy!" The two still had a contract for a series of shows at the legendary Copacabana, though, with a packed house as word got out the duo was finished.
Photo credit: Getty Images
The final appearance did record-breaking business — but Dean also broke two of Jerry's toes early in the residency when he stomped on his partner's foot onstage. "It was only an accident," Dean insisted to reporters. Jerry limped through the rest of the Copacabana shows, and they even wrapped up their final night with a big show of friendship. Sadly, the "show" part soon became apparent!
Photo credit: Getty Images
An insecure Jerry soon began to panic over going alone, while Dean began to enjoy unexpected solo success as an actor and singer. Things got so petty that Jerry started a restaurant called Jerry's on L.A.'s Sunset Boulevard after Dean opened the thriving "Dino's Lounge" — and Jerry even hired away Dean's chefs, his maître d', and most of his waiters!
Photo credit: Getty Images
The duo continued to snipe at each other, with Dean once declaring: “Jerry’s trying hard to be a director. He couldn’t even direct traffic!” The two were finally reunited by
Frank Sinatra in a surprise onstage reunion during the 1976 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon — and while the crowd cheered, Jerry can be seen whispering to Frank, "You son of a bitch!"
Photo credit: Getty Images
The two never worked together despite the hype over their "friendly" reunion — but Dean and Jerry finally truly forgave each other after Jerry attended the 1987 funeral of Dean's actor son, Dean Paul Martin. Jerry was also there when Dean passed away in 1995 at the age of 78. Jerry died on Aug. 20, 2017 at the age of 91, still
close to Dean's daughter Deana.Photo credit: Getty Images
