Joe E. Lewis (born Joseph Klewan; January 12, 1902 – June 4, 1971) was an American comedian, actor and singer.Obituary ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'', June 9, 1971, page 54.

Early life

Lewis was born was born into a family of Russian immigrants on January 12, 1902 in New York City, New York. He added the E. to distinguish himself from the boxer. Dropping out of De Witt Clinton High School after two years, the 15‐year‐old Lewis enlisted in the Marine Corps, but was found out and released. He got into third‐rate burlesque and vaudeville in 1923. However, he made his breakthrough as a nightclub star in Chicago in the days of what he liked to call “the Great Drought,” Prohibition. As portrayed in his 1957 biographic film, The Joker is Wild, Mr. Lewis started out as a popular crooner in a gang-owned speakeasy during the prohibition years of the 1920s.

Biography

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in 1927, Lewis refused the request of Jack "Machine Gun" McGurn (an Al Capone lieutenant) to renew a contract that would have bound him to sing and perform at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, which was partly owned by Capone. After refusing, because he had been offered more money by a rival gang to appear at their own club, "The New Rendezvous", he was assaulted in his 10th floor Commonwealth Hotel room, on November 8, 1927, by three enforcers sent by McGurn. The enforcers, who included

Sam Giancana Salvatore Mooney Giancana (; born Gilormo Giangana; ; May 24, 1908 – June 19, 1975) was an American mobster who was boss of the Chicago Outfit from 1957 to 1966. Giancana was born in Chicago to Italian immigrant parents. He joined the 42 ...

and Leonard "Needles" Gianola, mutilated Lewis (his throat and tongue were cut) and left him for dead. It took him several years to be able to speak again. Capone, who was fond of Lewis, was displeased with the assault, but would not take action against one of his top lieutenants. He instead provided Lewis with $10,000 (equal to $ today) to recover properly and eventually resume his career. Lewis toured in the USO shows with Ray Bolger in the Pacific Theater during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. Joe appeared in the movies ''Too Many Husbands'' (the 1931 short comedy), '' Private Number'' (1936), '' The Holy Terror'' (1937), ''

Private Buckaroo ''Private Buckaroo'' is a 1942 American comedy-musical film directed by Edward F. Cline starring The Andrews Sisters, Dick Foran, Harry James, Shemp Howard, Joe E. Lewis, and Jennifer Holt. The film tells the story of army recruits following b ...

'' (1942), and (playing himself) ''

Lady in Cement ''Lady in Cement'' is a 1968 American neo-noir mystery crime comedy thriller film directed by Gordon Douglas, based on the 1961 novel ''The Lady in Cement'' by Marvin H. Albert. The film stars Frank Sinatra, Raquel Welch, Dan Blocker, Richa ...

'' (1968). He appeared frequently on ''

The Ed Sullivan Show ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' is an American television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the '' CBS Sunday Night M ...

'', was the "Mystery Guest" three different times on ''

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'', and was interviewed on ''

Person to Person ''Person to Person'' is a popular television program in the United States that originally ran from 1953 to 1961, with two episodes of an attempted revival airing in 2012. Edward R. Murrow hosted the original series from its inception in 1953 unti ...

'' in 1956. In 1946 he married actress Martha Stewart; they

divorce Divorce (also known as dissolution of marriage) is the process of terminating a marriage or marital union. Divorce usually entails the canceling or reorganizing of the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage, thus dissolving the ...

d in 1948.

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published Lewis's biography, ''The Joker Is Wild'', written by Art Cohn, in 1955. Lewis and Frank Sinatra had a longtime friendship predating Sinatra's portrayal of the comedian in '' The Joker Is Wild''. In 1961 Sinatra signed Lewis to record for his label, Reprise Records. The result, ''It Is Now Post Time'', is one of the first LPs released by Reprise, and one of the few recorded examples of Lewis at work as a stand-up comedian. The title references a well-known part of his act, holding up a drink on stage and saying “Post time!”. This is a horse racing term, meaning the race is about to start; its use here implies that the drinker is about to start on a long binge. On his live album '' Sinatra at the Sands'' (1966), Sinatra says that even though he recently celebrated his 50th birthday, he would have the body of a 22-year-old man, "if I hadn't spent all those years drinking with Joe E. Lewis."

Death

Lewis, who had been in a diabetic coma, died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which ma ...

in 1971, aged 69, and was buried in Cedar Park Cemetery, Emerson, New Jersey.

Portrayal in film

In the film '' The Joker Is Wild'' (1957), Lewis was portrayed by Frank Sinatra.

Filmography

* '' The Big Show'' (1926) – Abie * '' Private Number'' (1936) – Smiley Watson * '' The Holy Terror'' (1937) – Pelican Beek * ''

'' (1942) – Lancelot Pringle McBiff * ''

'' (1968) – Himself (uncredited; final appearance)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Joe E. 1902 births 1971 deaths American stand-up comedians Jewish American comedians Jewish American male actors Singers from New York City Vaudeville performers 20th-century American singers Burials at Cedar Park Cemetery (Emerson, New Jersey) 20th-century American comedians 20th-century American male singers 20th-century American Jews