(born 1928) Comedian who combines slapstick and sentimentality Lewis became famous partnering stylish crooner Dean Martin (1917–95) in films like At War with the Army (1951) or The Caddy (1953). Later films like The Delicate Delinquent (1957) and The Nutty Professor (1961) solidified his boisterous solo comic persona; he later took on more reflective roles (e.g. The Kïng of Comedy, 1983). Lewis’ style has divided American audiences and critics, and he has often gained greater accolades abroad, especially in France. He has also been extremely active in work with Muscular Dystrophy although his sentimentalism has come under criticism there as well.