“Lewis is a national treasure who has provided generations worldwide with decades of laughs,” said Steven Poster, ASC, president of the ICG. “Jerry is also one of the main reasons I wanted to get into show business when I was a child.”
“Jerry Lewis has achieved what few other performers have – success in movies, television and live performances,” said awards committee chairman Henri Bollinger. “This is due in large measure to his enormous talent, of course, but also because of his uncanny appreciation and knowledge of the importance of publicity in attracting audiences.”
At the age of 86, Lewis stepped back in front of the cameras as the star of the upcoming feature Max Rose. Written and directed by Daniel Noah, Max Rose premiered in the official lineup of the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. It co-stars Kerry Bishé, Kevin Pollak, Claire Bloom, Dean Stockwell, Fred Willard and Mort Sahl.
In his more than six decades as the chairman of the MDA and host of their annual telethon, Lewis raised more than $2.6 billion for the charitable organization. He has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, has been presented with the French Legion of Honor, and received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 2009 Academy Awards.
Past recipients of this award include last year’s honoree Kirk Douglas as well as Carol Burnett, Sylvester Stallone, Robert Zemeckis, Harrison Ford, Julie Andrew, Clint Eastwood, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Warren Beatty.
