Ellen DeGeneres, Jimmy Kimmel And More Pay Tribute To Late Jerry Lewis

Jerry Lewis lives on in the hearts of his family, friends and many fans, including fellow comedians such as Ellen DeGeneres and Jimmy Kimmel.

On Sunday, the comedy legend passed away at his home in Las Vegas at the age of 91 years old. Just hours after his death, a number of his celebrity friends and fans took to social media to mourn Lewis’ death and pay tribute to the legendary entertainer. Some extended their love to his surviving family.

Ellen DeGeneres and Jimmy Kimmel were among the first to pen messages about the late comedian. “Jerry Lewis was a comic and philanthropic icon. I send love to his family today,” DeGeneres wrote. “Jerry Lewis was a genius comedian, actor, director, inventor, humanitarian and, as a Las Vegan, what I miss most,” Kimmel shared on Twitter.

Some of the people who got the chance to work with Lewis also opened up about him following his passing. Robert De Niro, who co-starred with Lewis in “The King of Comedy” in 1982, has nothing but praise for the late actor. “Jerry was a pioneer in comedy and film. And he was a friend. I was fortunate to have seen him a few times over the past couple of years. Even at 91, he didn’t miss a beat… Or a punchline. You’ll be missed,” he told Entertainment Tonight.

Martin Scorsese, who directed “The King of Comedy,” remembered Lewis as an entertainer, innovator and master. He believes that “The Nutty Professor” star made a big contribution to the entertainment industry. “Jerry Lewis was a master. He was a giant. He was an innovator. He was a great entertainer. He was a great artist. And he was a remarkable man,” Scorsese told ET. “I had the honor of working with him, and it was an experience I’ll always treasure. He was, truly, one of our greats.”

A number of celebrities also expressed that Lewis was their role model and helped him with their craft. “The Three Stooges” star Sean Hayes admitted on Instagram that Lewis is a big inspiration to him. He considered him as a comedy hero and was thankful for the opportunity he had to work with him.

Meanwhile, some of Lewis’ closest friends in the industry also mourned his passing. According to Deana Martin, Lewis was a life-long friend and she will miss him. Joan Collins, who also considered Lewis as a good friend, praised his talent and added that he will be “sorely missed.”

Do you have any words of comfort for Lewis’ family? Share them in the comments section below.