Las Vegas Weekly

March 28, 2009 · 12:08 PM

Terry Fator meets comedy king Jerry Lewis: ‘It was the thrill of a lifetime’

By Robin Leach

Terry Fator.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

A 25-year-plus dream came true last night for new Mirage superstar Terry Fator when veteran comedy king Jerry Lewis visited backstage -- and Jerry hugged the comedy impressionist and ventriloquist, telling him, “You are a genius!”

Jerry told Terry that he’d also watched every one of his appearances on America’s Got Talent. Said Jerry: “From the first moment I saw you, I knew you would win. I told everybody you would go on to hit the big time. Watch this guy: He’s going to be a star.”

Photo: Scott Doctor/www.greatscottstudios.com

Jerry Lewis, shown during his Labor Day Telethon.

One hour before last night’s show began at the Terry Fator Theatre at The Mirage, Jerry asked to meet Terry backstage. Terry told me: “I couldn’t believe it. All my life, I’d dreamed of one day meeting him, but then it turned out he wanted to meet me. It was the thrill of a lifetime. We talked for an hour about comedy, about Vegas, about my act, about everything. He turned out to be my biggest fan!”

Jerry then stayed for the show and insisted on returning to Terry's dressing room backstage for a follow-up visit. Terry said: “He loved it. He congratulated me. I couldn’t believe Jerry Lewis was talking to me, let alone saying all these nice things to me.”

I asked Terry if he was tempted to call Jerry up on stage to do the Cher duet comedy routine, but Terry said: “I was so nervous with him being in the audience, I didn't dare call on him to come up. It was just an incredible moment in my life to be able to perform for him and then have him tell me afterwards how much he’d enjoyed it.”

Terry , who is less than one month into his five-year, $100 million Mirage contract, is enjoying unprecedented success with booming box office ticket sales. “I just can't believe it. We have sold out shows every night. I can’t believe how wonderful the crowds are at the end of the show who wait and want to meet me. Even stars are coming to see it.”

“Remember the producers who once told me that I’d never land a job in Vegas? If I’d listened to them and given up the dream, none of this would have happened. I still can’t believe everything that’s happening, but it’s all marvelous and an incredible feeling. To have Jerry come in was the icing on the cake!”

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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