Las Vegas Weekly

December 10, 2008 · 5:54 PM

Breaking News: Jerry Lewis to receive Oscar’s humanitarian award

By Robin Leach

Jerry Lewis, shown during his Labor Day Telethon.

Photo: Scott Doctor/www.greatscottstudios.com

Longtime Las Vegas resident Jerry Lewis has never been nominated for an Oscar despite being long hailed by the French as America's funniest comedy actor since Charlie Chaplin. Now finally he's going to receive what the Hollywood film industry regards as its highest possible honor.

The 82-year-old comedy actor will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Oscar ceremony in February, according to an Associated Press story we obtained through our partner media Web site, Mochila.

The governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced their selection this afternoon. The Hersholt Award (an actual Oscar statuette) recognizes humanitarian efforts that have brought credit to the film industry.

An actor, director, writer and producer, Lewis made his big-screen debut in 1949's My Friend Irma. He has been national chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association since 1952 and has raised more than $2 billion for the cause through his annual Labor Day telethon.

The Oscars will be presented during a live telecast Feb. 22. Click HERE for the Oscars Web site.

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