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Dean and Me: A Love Story
They were the unlikeliest of pairs—a handsome crooner and a skinny monkey, an Italian from Steubenville, Ohio, and a Jew from Newark, N.J.. Before they teamed up, Dean Martin seemed destined for a mediocre career as a nightclub singer, and Jerry Lewis was dressing up as Carmen Miranda and miming records on stage. But the moment they got together, something clicked—something miraculous—and audiences saw it at once.
Before long, they were as big as Elvis or the Beatles would be after them, creating hysteria wherever they went and grabbing an unprecedented hold over every entertainment outlet of the radio, television, movies, stage shows, and nightclubs. Martin and Lewis were a national craze, an American institution. The millions (and the women) flowed in, seemingly without end—and then, on July 24, 1956, ten years from the day when the two men joined forces, it all ended.
After that traumatic day, the two wouldn’t speak again for twenty years. And while both went on to forge triumphant individual careers—Martin as a movie and television star, recording artist, and nightclub luminary (and charter member of the Rat Pack); Lewis as the groundbreaking writer, producer, director, and star of a series of hugely successful movie comedies—their parting left a hole in the national psyche, as well as in each man’s heart.
In a memoir by turns moving, tragic, and hilarious, Jerry Lewis recounts with crystal clarity every step of a fifty-year friendship, from the springtime, 1945 afternoon when the two vibrant young performers destined to conquer the world together met on Broadway and Fifty-fourth Street, to their tragic final encounter in the 1990s, when Lewis and his wife ran into Dean Martin, a broken and haunted old man.
In Dean & Me , Jerry Lewis makes a convincing case for Dean Martin as one of the great—and most underrated—comic talents of our era. But what comes across most powerfully in this definitive memoir is the depth of love Lewis felt, and still feels, for his partner, and which his partner felt for truly a love to last for all time.
Before long, they were as big as Elvis or the Beatles would be after them, creating hysteria wherever they went and grabbing an unprecedented hold over every entertainment outlet of the radio, television, movies, stage shows, and nightclubs. Martin and Lewis were a national craze, an American institution. The millions (and the women) flowed in, seemingly without end—and then, on July 24, 1956, ten years from the day when the two men joined forces, it all ended.
After that traumatic day, the two wouldn’t speak again for twenty years. And while both went on to forge triumphant individual careers—Martin as a movie and television star, recording artist, and nightclub luminary (and charter member of the Rat Pack); Lewis as the groundbreaking writer, producer, director, and star of a series of hugely successful movie comedies—their parting left a hole in the national psyche, as well as in each man’s heart.
In a memoir by turns moving, tragic, and hilarious, Jerry Lewis recounts with crystal clarity every step of a fifty-year friendship, from the springtime, 1945 afternoon when the two vibrant young performers destined to conquer the world together met on Broadway and Fifty-fourth Street, to their tragic final encounter in the 1990s, when Lewis and his wife ran into Dean Martin, a broken and haunted old man.
In Dean & Me , Jerry Lewis makes a convincing case for Dean Martin as one of the great—and most underrated—comic talents of our era. But what comes across most powerfully in this definitive memoir is the depth of love Lewis felt, and still feels, for his partner, and which his partner felt for truly a love to last for all time.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published October 25, 2005
144 people are currently reading
2181 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Lewis
52 books30 followersJerry Lewis was an American comedian, award-winning actor, film producer, writer and director, known for his slapstick humor and his charity fund-raising telethons for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Lewis has won several awards for lifetime achievements from The American Comedy Awards, The Golden Camera, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, The Venice Film Festival and he has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2005, he received the Governors Award of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Board of Governors, the highest Emmy Award presented.
Lewis was originally paired up in 1946 with Dean Martin, and formed the comedy team of Martin and Lewis. In addition to the team's popular nightclub work, they starred in a successful series of comedy films for Paramount. The act broke up ten years later.
Lewis was originally paired up in 1946 with Dean Martin, and formed the comedy team of Martin and Lewis. In addition to the team's popular nightclub work, they starred in a successful series of comedy films for Paramount. The act broke up ten years later.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 373 reviews
December 28, 2007
As someone who's worked with Mr. Lewis for the past 18 years, I was very curious as to his career and his career with partner Dean Martin. This book certainly documents their meteoric rise to fame and all the love and difficulties these two amazingly talented men had during their 10 year partnership. Jerry worships Dean and that love and affection is unwavering. It's a quick and interesting read about two of showbiz's greatest music/comedy teams.
September 7, 2008
My reading of this book has been long overdue and I don't know what took me so long. I can't express just how surprised I was by this book; I expected a lot of bullshit, but I was wrong. The honesty in this book was almost shocking; Jerry didn't hold back. I love the funny stories of him and Dean in the early part of their partnership and marked a few of them to go back and read when I need a laugh. Jerry Lewis has always made me laugh with his Idiot shtick and he made me laugh with the written word.
The admiration and love he had for Dean is unmistakable. He was just as mad as anyone that Dean wasn't getting the respect he deserved. Dean was always a clever and masterful comedian, but in a way that was subtle. He could spew off one-liners without even thinking about it.
The honesty and the love that went into this book is well worth five-stars. The last chapter and afterword had me in tears.
Bravo, Jerry.
The admiration and love he had for Dean is unmistakable. He was just as mad as anyone that Dean wasn't getting the respect he deserved. Dean was always a clever and masterful comedian, but in a way that was subtle. He could spew off one-liners without even thinking about it.
The honesty and the love that went into this book is well worth five-stars. The last chapter and afterword had me in tears.
Bravo, Jerry.
August 15, 2018
Jerry Lewis passed away last year. Dean Martin had gone ahead by a few years as he died in 1995. I know a few of us here are old enough to remember both these entertainers. Some (like me) will recall (at least a little) the team of Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. I recall them mostly from their movies but I have seen some recordings of them simply...doing their thing.
If you read this book (and I can recommend you do) you'll be told by Jerry how unique they were in their act. How they were a funny that was at the top when stand-up comedy was in it's heyday. During the time when we were moving from the older Vaudeville and Burlesque comics and comedy duos into the day of Woody Allen and Johnny Carson they were somewhat unique and..."they were side splitting". Look up some of their bits on youtube yourself, really try their comedy yourself.
This is the story of their time as a team as told by Jerry Lewis. As happened so often when they broke up their friendship was in ruins and would never recover. Of course that is common knowledge but here you'll get it from the point of view of a participant.
Is it subjective? Of course.
Jerry does "seem to" do his best to take the lion's share of the blame. It's true that at the time a lot of publicity was from the point of view that there's the funny one everyone wants to see...and then there's the singer. If they broke up Jerry would go on and be funnt but the singer would be, well lost.
Jerry here tells the story with a view to saying how great Dean was and how it's understandable that he'd get sick of that. He tells us of how he screwed up "accidentally" and made things worse...several times.
Still in the telling we'll hear the things Dean did like the passive aggressive moves and the silent reprisals of their last months.
As a kid I thought Jerry Lewis was the height of "humor" of "funnyness" as it were. BUT as I got older I found his antics less funny. Maybe the country did to as the '60s rolled on into the disillusioned '70s. Jerry mentions the time when his movies seemed to stop bringing in audiences.
They both appeared on TV during this time and Dean had a long running variety TV program. Dean also made a good number of movies. Here in the book Jerry mentions how Dean loved westerns. If you know your western movies you know that Martin did several good westerns...a couple with John Wayne which according to Lewis would have been a dream come true for Dean.
Okay, I "liked" this book. I do date back so I knew of these men and had watched their work. Maybe that added to my interest. Still I can recommend this one. It's interesting, funny, and bitter sweet. Try it for yourself. Again, recommended.
If you read this book (and I can recommend you do) you'll be told by Jerry how unique they were in their act. How they were a funny that was at the top when stand-up comedy was in it's heyday. During the time when we were moving from the older Vaudeville and Burlesque comics and comedy duos into the day of Woody Allen and Johnny Carson they were somewhat unique and..."they were side splitting". Look up some of their bits on youtube yourself, really try their comedy yourself.
This is the story of their time as a team as told by Jerry Lewis. As happened so often when they broke up their friendship was in ruins and would never recover. Of course that is common knowledge but here you'll get it from the point of view of a participant.
Is it subjective? Of course.
Jerry does "seem to" do his best to take the lion's share of the blame. It's true that at the time a lot of publicity was from the point of view that there's the funny one everyone wants to see...and then there's the singer. If they broke up Jerry would go on and be funnt but the singer would be, well lost.
Jerry here tells the story with a view to saying how great Dean was and how it's understandable that he'd get sick of that. He tells us of how he screwed up "accidentally" and made things worse...several times.
Still in the telling we'll hear the things Dean did like the passive aggressive moves and the silent reprisals of their last months.
As a kid I thought Jerry Lewis was the height of "humor" of "funnyness" as it were. BUT as I got older I found his antics less funny. Maybe the country did to as the '60s rolled on into the disillusioned '70s. Jerry mentions the time when his movies seemed to stop bringing in audiences.
They both appeared on TV during this time and Dean had a long running variety TV program. Dean also made a good number of movies. Here in the book Jerry mentions how Dean loved westerns. If you know your western movies you know that Martin did several good westerns...a couple with John Wayne which according to Lewis would have been a dream come true for Dean.
Okay, I "liked" this book. I do date back so I knew of these men and had watched their work. Maybe that added to my interest. Still I can recommend this one. It's interesting, funny, and bitter sweet. Try it for yourself. Again, recommended.
September 9, 2017
This was a re read for me, once I heard of Jerry Lewis’s passing I knew I had to get this book out and re experience the emotions; Martin and Lewis are it for me as far as stand up comedy goes, their routine of the monkey and the swooner are priceless and never fail to make me laugh, so it’s no surprise that I would often re watch their movies and comedy hours. Their chemistry is perfection and honestly it made me tear up reading Lewis’s words about their final film, Pardners, and how fractured their relationship was then. To me, they were always the big brother and little kid act, Dean being all smooth and effortless, Jerry goofing around and making a mess out of things.
And like Magic, it was amazing to watch, and it still is. This book, for me, honestly contained so many emotions, it was honest writing and it had zero sugar coating to it, there was honestly, love, enthusiasm, passion and so much more; you could honestly tell how deeply Jerry admired Dean and how much he relied on him; see, Jerry found himself lonely quite a bit, and really relied on Dean for many things; and I think it worked both ways; even though Dean might not have expressed it so easily.
In this book, Jerry rebuffs the rumours and cliches that were always associated with his comedy partner; for Dean wasn’t the drunk he was portrayed as. He was simply a family man who loved golf and western movies.
What was conveyed the most here in this book, and what felt the most natural and earnest was how much this book conveyed Jerry’s absolute love and immense devotion to Dino. There was so much enthusiasm and emotion about his partner, from his first impression of him to when they were starting to split up, you could honestly feel Jerry’s pain, and his immense devastation when he heard his partner passed away.
However, I do think Martin and Lewis are immortal as far as comedy goes, and who doesn’t love Dean Martin as a singer? Utterly amazing and a perfect memoir, it felt like I was having tea with Lewis, just an honest to good heart to heart with a friend.
And that concludes my review, honestly I could keep ranting but I definitely recommend this book. I must also say how much Jerry talks about Sinatra, who was crucial in getting these two old friends to reunite. Jerry also speaks highly of him, they were longtime friends too.
Okay, review concluded, happy reading 🙂
And like Magic, it was amazing to watch, and it still is. This book, for me, honestly contained so many emotions, it was honest writing and it had zero sugar coating to it, there was honestly, love, enthusiasm, passion and so much more; you could honestly tell how deeply Jerry admired Dean and how much he relied on him; see, Jerry found himself lonely quite a bit, and really relied on Dean for many things; and I think it worked both ways; even though Dean might not have expressed it so easily.
In this book, Jerry rebuffs the rumours and cliches that were always associated with his comedy partner; for Dean wasn’t the drunk he was portrayed as. He was simply a family man who loved golf and western movies.
What was conveyed the most here in this book, and what felt the most natural and earnest was how much this book conveyed Jerry’s absolute love and immense devotion to Dino. There was so much enthusiasm and emotion about his partner, from his first impression of him to when they were starting to split up, you could honestly feel Jerry’s pain, and his immense devastation when he heard his partner passed away.
However, I do think Martin and Lewis are immortal as far as comedy goes, and who doesn’t love Dean Martin as a singer? Utterly amazing and a perfect memoir, it felt like I was having tea with Lewis, just an honest to good heart to heart with a friend.
And that concludes my review, honestly I could keep ranting but I definitely recommend this book. I must also say how much Jerry talks about Sinatra, who was crucial in getting these two old friends to reunite. Jerry also speaks highly of him, they were longtime friends too.
Okay, review concluded, happy reading 🙂
August 7, 2016
Before reading this, if anyone would have told me that I would have given a book co-written by Jerry Lewis a high rating, I would have thought that person crazy. I have never cared for Jerry Lewis as a performer, and hearing stories about his foul temper during my college years in the 70's cemented my avoidance. In fact, I can't tell you what possessed me to buy this book ... other than an appreciation for Dean Martin's television show.
Well, perhaps with age comes wisdom. I was blown away by this book.
What I had imagined would be a self-serving attempt at justification turned out to be a fascinating retelling of what must have been one of the most amazing entertainment partnerships. The "cut to the chase" approach keeps the details moving and kept my interest high. Oh, to have had the opportunity to see Martin and Lewis on stage ... that would have been wonderful!
Here the reader is treated to all of the backstage intrigues from how the gimmicks were executed to the trials of dealing with shady venue operators. We have an insider's view of show business greats such as Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe. And, yes, we learn how the partnership ruptured and the toll it took on both men.
I did mention that this was co-written, and James Kaplan was certainly the guiding hand in creating easy readability. However, the stories were obviously all Jerry Lewis, and he doesn't spare himself in providing details of the many elements that influenced events. This felt like the truth and not a white-wash for public consumption.
There is also a tremendous lesson to be learned here. It is the importance of honest and trusting communication in making any relationship ... personal or professional ... a viable and long-lasting one. There were so many times that being forthcoming might have saved this partnership. The reader views it from a safe distance, but the impact is heartbreaking ... especially when both men were blessed with such talent.
Jerry Lewis calls ARTISTS AND MODELS the almost perfect Martin and Lewis movie. I definitely plan to seek it out. In the meantime, I am grateful for the lessons learned from this highly entertaining book. One need not be a fan of Dean Martin or Jerry Lewis to thoroughly enjoy it.
At the end of the book, Jerry Lewis revisits a stage show very early in the partnership. He details an outrageous on-stage prank that he played on Dean Martin, and Dean's ever-cool and delightful response. It is an exceptional way to close the story, and I'm still smiling as I write this.
Well, perhaps with age comes wisdom. I was blown away by this book.
What I had imagined would be a self-serving attempt at justification turned out to be a fascinating retelling of what must have been one of the most amazing entertainment partnerships. The "cut to the chase" approach keeps the details moving and kept my interest high. Oh, to have had the opportunity to see Martin and Lewis on stage ... that would have been wonderful!
Here the reader is treated to all of the backstage intrigues from how the gimmicks were executed to the trials of dealing with shady venue operators. We have an insider's view of show business greats such as Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe. And, yes, we learn how the partnership ruptured and the toll it took on both men.
I did mention that this was co-written, and James Kaplan was certainly the guiding hand in creating easy readability. However, the stories were obviously all Jerry Lewis, and he doesn't spare himself in providing details of the many elements that influenced events. This felt like the truth and not a white-wash for public consumption.
There is also a tremendous lesson to be learned here. It is the importance of honest and trusting communication in making any relationship ... personal or professional ... a viable and long-lasting one. There were so many times that being forthcoming might have saved this partnership. The reader views it from a safe distance, but the impact is heartbreaking ... especially when both men were blessed with such talent.
Jerry Lewis calls ARTISTS AND MODELS the almost perfect Martin and Lewis movie. I definitely plan to seek it out. In the meantime, I am grateful for the lessons learned from this highly entertaining book. One need not be a fan of Dean Martin or Jerry Lewis to thoroughly enjoy it.
At the end of the book, Jerry Lewis revisits a stage show very early in the partnership. He details an outrageous on-stage prank that he played on Dean Martin, and Dean's ever-cool and delightful response. It is an exceptional way to close the story, and I'm still smiling as I write this.
January 1, 2021
I grew up on Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, so I was ecstatic when I found out Jerry had written a book about his best-friendship and stage years with Dino. I tried to read this book once and couldn’t handle some of the thematic material (fair warning, there’s lots of talk of Martin’s and Lewis’s infidelity against their wives, and that’s hard for me to stomach), but I was able to endure it this time and see around all the “boys will be boys” snippets to their actual story— their friendship— underneath. The book was everything I could’ve wanted from a first-hand account of Martin & Lewis’s relationship. It made me laugh several times, as you’d expect, but it also made me tear up, especially as I neared the end. I’m glad I gave it a second chance.
October 29, 2021
A love letter to the dearest of friends.
Well written and bracingly honest.
Lewis cuts himself no slack while forgiving Dean of many of his failings.
The greatest act of the post war America. A time capsule of a very different america inhabited by grand night clubs, mobbed up patrons, and a simple media environment that guaranteed if an act got big it got ginormous.
Dean and Jerry the ultimate bromance.
P.S. as a kid watching the Jerry Lewis telethon for muscular dystrophy was de riguer.
Well written and bracingly honest.
Lewis cuts himself no slack while forgiving Dean of many of his failings.
The greatest act of the post war America. A time capsule of a very different america inhabited by grand night clubs, mobbed up patrons, and a simple media environment that guaranteed if an act got big it got ginormous.
Dean and Jerry the ultimate bromance.
P.S. as a kid watching the Jerry Lewis telethon for muscular dystrophy was de riguer.
November 11, 2025
We chose this audio book as entertainment on a husband/wife road trip. We did not get through all 7 CDs on the trip so it took a while to finish it as we both needed to be in the vehicle at the same time. No problem, that is one reason we picked a memoir-type story so we could jump in and out without losing a plot. Length and genre were more a deciding factor on our choice than who the story was actually about. Like the Johnny Carson book I recently finished, interest in this is greatly dependent on the age of the reader/listener as younger folks will not remember this duo or many others mentioned who were notable in the era. While I am familiar with most of the names, I am borderline too young, having not seen much of the entertainers. My curiosity is piqued enough that I will seek out some YouTube or similar clips to hear the songs and see the acts/movies. I remember the duo enough to say that I think the narrator did a really good job with the voices. It was easy to tell who was speaking and when Lewis was in character but he did not use the annoying voice for the bulk of the narration. The narration itself lifted this from a 3-star to 4-star rating for me.
February 14, 2017
I am a huge Dean Martin fan even though I wasn't around when he made it big. My mom used to play Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis movies for me when I was too little to even talk. It wasn't until I became infatuated with the 1960s did my resurgent for Dean come back when I would read all about the Rat Pack. I recently saw the Rat Pack impersonators in Las Vegas and decided to start reading more books on Dean.
I picked this one up first because I didn't know much about his beginnings and since he pretty much started with Jerry, I couldn't wait to read this. I did enjoy the book but I don't think I know a whole lot more about Dean than I did before. He obviously kept a lot of his feelings to himself, where Jerry admits he wears his on his sleeve. Because he idolized Dean he put up with it. It's amazing they lasted ten years together. I wanted to understand why they broke up but it wasn't very clear to me. I think they grew apart and tired of each other but Jerry didn't dive too deeply into it. He talked about it "on the surface," but there was much more going on that he didn't say. It was probably too painful to go over as he shared a lot of the blame in what happened.
There were times that I thought Jerry used certain stories to stroke his ego while trying to make it sound like he felt sorry for Dean (the reviews, the buying him a song, etc.) and that was a little cringe worthy to read but all in all it was a good book. It's a shame that for as much as these two shared and as much as they can credit each other for their success, they didn't really end as close as they started. :(
I picked this one up first because I didn't know much about his beginnings and since he pretty much started with Jerry, I couldn't wait to read this. I did enjoy the book but I don't think I know a whole lot more about Dean than I did before. He obviously kept a lot of his feelings to himself, where Jerry admits he wears his on his sleeve. Because he idolized Dean he put up with it. It's amazing they lasted ten years together. I wanted to understand why they broke up but it wasn't very clear to me. I think they grew apart and tired of each other but Jerry didn't dive too deeply into it. He talked about it "on the surface," but there was much more going on that he didn't say. It was probably too painful to go over as he shared a lot of the blame in what happened.
There were times that I thought Jerry used certain stories to stroke his ego while trying to make it sound like he felt sorry for Dean (the reviews, the buying him a song, etc.) and that was a little cringe worthy to read but all in all it was a good book. It's a shame that for as much as these two shared and as much as they can credit each other for their success, they didn't really end as close as they started. :(
September 12, 2008
I have a total crush on Dean Martin, so this book by Jerry Lewis was fascinating. I knew next to nothing about Martin and Lewis (other than that they were partners), so I loved hearing about the jokes and pranks and humor they found together.
Lewis portrays Martin as a totally different person than the media's perception and portrayal. He frequently comments on Dean's tendency to play the drunk both for humor's sake and to keep people at a distance. Martin's love for old Westerns made me smile, since one of my favorite movies is El Dorado.
I am woefully uneducated in the movie careers of both Martin and Lewis, and I hope that I can find some copy of their act on DVD.
Very touching book - truely a love story including the requisite heartbreak. I'm not sure what Martin's perspective on the whole situation was, but Lewis certainly tries to give credit where credit is due - maybe something only possible in hindsight.
Lewis portrays Martin as a totally different person than the media's perception and portrayal. He frequently comments on Dean's tendency to play the drunk both for humor's sake and to keep people at a distance. Martin's love for old Westerns made me smile, since one of my favorite movies is El Dorado.
I am woefully uneducated in the movie careers of both Martin and Lewis, and I hope that I can find some copy of their act on DVD.
Very touching book - truely a love story including the requisite heartbreak. I'm not sure what Martin's perspective on the whole situation was, but Lewis certainly tries to give credit where credit is due - maybe something only possible in hindsight.
August 5, 2025
I feel that this is a very honest account of the relationship between Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis written by Jerry Lewis himself. I haven't read Dean Martin's book but I'm sure it is just as honest. There are always two sides to every story and each individual has their own take on events. It's just too bad that their friendship suffered as a result of their craft.
August 3, 2018
Moreso than Dean Martin, this was a rather revealing portrait of Jerry Lewis. He's emotionally open in a way he seems to regret he hadn't always been, and he does own up to some of his flaws, but I feel like there's a couple of things he could be more honest about. For one, he likes to set up events and choices as the reason for their break up, but I think it's fairly clear that it wasn't the /events/ so much as it was Jerry Lewis' insatiable ego growing wild, unchecked. He says Dean Martin was largely non confrontational and kept to himself, and if you're too good natured all of the time people take that for weakness and start to take advantage – which is what I think happened here to some degree. Not that Martin was a shrinking violet, but he clearly got sick of Jerry's overbearing ways that seem to have fallen into an abusive relationship pattern of hit 'em and kiss 'em. He says several times he needed Dean, but I think Martin got disillusioned by the whiplash in his volatile emotions, never mind that he felt stale in his role while Lewis got all of the fun scenes and the great press.
Anyhow, that's my armchair psychology. I could go on a field day about how I think Jerry Lewis comes across as solidly bisexual (well, at least DeanMartinsexual) in this but perhaps thats a little TOO far...... (spoiler, it's not).
Anyhow, that's my armchair psychology. I could go on a field day about how I think Jerry Lewis comes across as solidly bisexual (well, at least DeanMartinsexual) in this but perhaps thats a little TOO far...... (spoiler, it's not).
April 25, 2015
DEAN AND ME (A LOVE STORY)
Jerry Lewis and James Kaplan
The unlikeliest of partners, a handsome crooner and a skinny comic seemed destined for mediocrity until the moment they appeared together and something clicked, really clicked!
In no time they were as big as Elvis or the Beatles and created hysteria wherever they went. They were an American intuition until ten years to the day they joined forces it all ended.
They would not speak for twenty years that saw them both embark on triumphant solo careers.
Jerry Lewis takes you through every step of their fifty year friendship in this moving, tragic and hilarious journey. He also reiterates that Dean Martin was one of the greatest and most underrated actors in his timing and comic talent.
What really resounds in this memoir is the great depth of love Jerry felt for Dean and continues to feel until this day. It is a small miracle they lasted as long as they did as their diverse and totally opposite personalities created a lot of conflict. While Jerry uses his memoir to express his devotion to Dean even with his idiosyncrasies, he underplays his extremely obsessive and controlling personality.
A wonderful look at one of the best comic teams ever.
Jerry Lewis and James Kaplan
The unlikeliest of partners, a handsome crooner and a skinny comic seemed destined for mediocrity until the moment they appeared together and something clicked, really clicked!
In no time they were as big as Elvis or the Beatles and created hysteria wherever they went. They were an American intuition until ten years to the day they joined forces it all ended.
They would not speak for twenty years that saw them both embark on triumphant solo careers.
Jerry Lewis takes you through every step of their fifty year friendship in this moving, tragic and hilarious journey. He also reiterates that Dean Martin was one of the greatest and most underrated actors in his timing and comic talent.
What really resounds in this memoir is the great depth of love Jerry felt for Dean and continues to feel until this day. It is a small miracle they lasted as long as they did as their diverse and totally opposite personalities created a lot of conflict. While Jerry uses his memoir to express his devotion to Dean even with his idiosyncrasies, he underplays his extremely obsessive and controlling personality.
A wonderful look at one of the best comic teams ever.
July 6, 2008
This book starts off with a bang and continues through the high and low times of the Martin and Lewis team with such force that you don't want it to end... it does end though, but with the same bravado that it began...
The Lewis/Martin partnership is one that most "rat pack" fans overlook--we all know how America has semi-bastardized Lewis as just a goof-comic, and this book gives you such an insight into not only the technical side of what went on, but really explains how that something most people take as guffaw can bond two people, and create a magic that can sustain divorce, heartbreak, etc...
I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially to the people who still make those foolish, "Well, Jerry Lewis is France's favorite comedian"... the man is a comic genius, a fabulous writer, and very intelligenet.
The Lewis/Martin partnership is one that most "rat pack" fans overlook--we all know how America has semi-bastardized Lewis as just a goof-comic, and this book gives you such an insight into not only the technical side of what went on, but really explains how that something most people take as guffaw can bond two people, and create a magic that can sustain divorce, heartbreak, etc...
I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially to the people who still make those foolish, "Well, Jerry Lewis is France's favorite comedian"... the man is a comic genius, a fabulous writer, and very intelligenet.
Read
January 12, 2022Martin and Lewis were before my time and so I really never knew anything about them aside from the MD telethons Jerry would do. In fact, I would never have chosen this book to read if I hadn't gotten it free. If Jerry's account of history is to be believed, he believed he loved Dean. However, Jerry's pitying attitude toward Dean and his self-absorbed view of himself leads the reader to believe that Jerry thought very little of Dean. Jerry seemed awfully proud of his sexual liaisons and dropped names left and right as if trying to impress the reader instead of tell his story. It was an interesting read, but I finished the book with the opinion that Jerry is an obnoxious, pompous, self-absorbed, self-aggrandizing individual that envied Dean and the only way he knew how to deal with it was to belittle Dean.
August 1, 2007
Jerry Lewis kind of grosses me out whenever I see him being interviewed, but I used to enjoy his movies when I was little, so I generally cut him some slack. The man isn't renowned for his modesty, so it's nice to see him giving credit, and lots of it, where it's due. It's evident that Lewis adored Martin, perhaps on a grander and certainly more personal level than any of his wives (I for one won't forget anytime soon the scene where Dean obligingly inspects Jerry's swimsuit area for pubic lice. Laaa-dy!) and the ups and downs of their career and relationship make for a diverting read.
January 12, 2020
What a great start to 2020! If you grew up loving Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis and are interested in their behind the scenes story, in Jerry’s words, this will not disappoint. It did break my heart...knowing, of course, that the break up would happen. My heart also filled to read of their eventual reunion. I wish Dean would have recounted his life in this open detail, but of course that was not his style. Regardless, I loved this book from start to finish.
March 23, 2014
I love Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis movie and was excited to read this book but it was a tour through an egomaniacs mind. Lewis was so busy telling us how much he loved Martin all the while manipulating him into situations he didn't know about. It ended up being a strange sad read.
March 28, 2017
The Martin and Lewis heyday was long past by the time I knew anything about them as a team, but both were known to me. As were the stories that swirled around their break-up. I saw some of their movies, but found them only mildly amusing. Lewis’s were the same. Funny, but not terribly so, which could have said more about the times than the movies. But I did enjoy Martin’s work, especially in Rio Bravo and The Sons of Katie Elder.
Given that, I began reading as something of a Dean Martin fan, but not really one of Jerry Lewis’s. While the book didn’t change my feelings about Martin, it did manage to make me like Lewis, as it laid to rest many of the myths that grew up around their split. Yes, the book was written by Lewis, but much of what he writes rings true, especially after what was written about Martin after his death.
The book’s biggest flaw is that it’s quite obviously written by a non-writer, which is odd since it appears to have been co-written by James Kaplan, a published author. But some issues are covered more than once, while others could have been covered in more depth. And the “this is Lewis speaking,” tone could have been downplayed a bit.
Given that, I began reading as something of a Dean Martin fan, but not really one of Jerry Lewis’s. While the book didn’t change my feelings about Martin, it did manage to make me like Lewis, as it laid to rest many of the myths that grew up around their split. Yes, the book was written by Lewis, but much of what he writes rings true, especially after what was written about Martin after his death.
The book’s biggest flaw is that it’s quite obviously written by a non-writer, which is odd since it appears to have been co-written by James Kaplan, a published author. But some issues are covered more than once, while others could have been covered in more depth. And the “this is Lewis speaking,” tone could have been downplayed a bit.
July 3, 2021
Honestly, I wasn't expecting much from this used book store find for $2. But it was really good - excellent, engrossing weekend reading, and gave a real clear picture of Old Time Show Business, including East Coast stage performance and classic 1950s silver screen Hollywood.
Jerry Lewis does a great time explaining the admiration and love he felt for his show business partner, Dean Martin, how they worked together, and the frantic and often amazing life of the most well-paid entertainers in Show Business from 1946 to 1956, so reading that was like entering a different, better, more glamorous world. And then, the cracks in their relationship start to appear and get bigger, and the story goes from glitz and glamour to darkness and uncertainty. Finally, the book wraps-up with a real emotional, nostalgic, epic sweep - as often the best biographies and autobiographies do. Its true, non-fiction is often more epic, stunning, and emotionally resonant than fiction, and Jerry is revealed to be a truly well-rounded, deep, and complex human. Wow, this was a life.
Jerry Lewis does a great time explaining the admiration and love he felt for his show business partner, Dean Martin, how they worked together, and the frantic and often amazing life of the most well-paid entertainers in Show Business from 1946 to 1956, so reading that was like entering a different, better, more glamorous world. And then, the cracks in their relationship start to appear and get bigger, and the story goes from glitz and glamour to darkness and uncertainty. Finally, the book wraps-up with a real emotional, nostalgic, epic sweep - as often the best biographies and autobiographies do. Its true, non-fiction is often more epic, stunning, and emotionally resonant than fiction, and Jerry is revealed to be a truly well-rounded, deep, and complex human. Wow, this was a life.
September 24, 2019
God this was so bad! Jerry Lewis just seems to have no insight whatsoever into anyone, least of all himself or Dean Martin. And I love Dean Martin, but this book portrays him as just some guy who played a lot of golf. Which is fine, I suppose (if you want to throw your life away, go ahead!). But he doesn't even have thoughts about golf? He just golfs. Dean went golfing. Dean was golfing. Dean golfed a lot. Yeah I get it! He golfed. Jesus. Talk about something else, or don't write a book about someone who is just out golfing
February 4, 2022
If I’m being 100% honest, I thought this book was about Jerry Lee Lewis and James Dean (who I didn’t know were friends, which is why I was interested😂). I had never heard of Jerry Lewis in my life and all I knew of Dean Martin was that he sings a bunch of Italian songs I like. This turned out to be a really interesting read!
September 3, 2017
Sad to say but I picked this book up after hearing about the passing of Jerry Lewis. I have a small collection of his movies and the Colgate Comedy Hour of him and Dean Martin that I've had for years and have always found great enjoyment watching them. Hats off you to Mr. Lewis (Pally).
September 3, 2017
Awesome
Very touching. I had no idea. Their relationship was one of those special things that might only come along once if you're lucky.
Very touching. I had no idea. Their relationship was one of those special things that might only come along once if you're lucky.
August 3, 2023
"What happened next is a perfect illustration of the rule that when it comes to good luck, the best kind is the kind you make yourself"
While I could do without some of the more distasteful comments, this was still a very interesting telling of the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis saga. I think this really humanizes the two of them.
While I could do without some of the more distasteful comments, this was still a very interesting telling of the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis saga. I think this really humanizes the two of them.
January 21, 2025
Fantastic read with only a chapter or so to go. Tough as it gets to the end because you know the “iceberg” moment is going to come. Lewis has some wonderful anecdotes throughout which keeps the pages turning and I highly recommend it even if you weren’t a fan of either chap.
May 14, 2020
3.5 Stars. This was so enjoyable on audio. The guy who narrates can really sound like Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. You don't have to be a Martin and Lewis fan (I'm not) to enjoy this tale of a golden era in Hollywood. Perfect Quarantine reading. Like a candy bar or a People magazine. 😜
June 4, 2025
An interesting read. I didn't realize that Martin and Lewis were an act together in the mid0 40s to 50s. I only remember them acting and singing alone and of Lewis on the telethons.
April 12, 2025
“Sam and Dani went with me to the airport. I didn't want them to have to go to a funeral. In fact, if it hadn't been Dean's, I wouldn't have gone at all. I believe funerals are fundamentally uncivilized. If you have something good to say about a person, for Christ's sake, say it to their face while they're still alive. It doesn't mean squat to them after they're gone!”
July 24, 2010
When I first picked up this book, I had no idea that it would be full of insight into business partnerships. The focus of this memoir is the ten year business partnership between Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. The memoir tells how they met, their early success together and the troubles that came with fame and their ultimate breakup.
Subtitled "A Love Story." the book is details Jerry's love and respect for Dean. Jerry comments again and again about Dean's comic genius that was overlooked by most fans and critics. Jerry says that Dean was a man's man and that even Frank Sinatra was mesmerized by Dean. From a working class family in Stuebenville, Ohio, Dean found his way out through his voice and gift for singing. But it was the cool persona that he created over the years that made him a star.
I identified 12 business lessons that can be drawn from the stories that Jerry tells.
1. Have fun working together. And this Jerry and Dean did in the early years of their partnership. They enjoyed each others company.
2. Be sure to laugh together. They were always cracking each other up and experiencing those deep belly laughs that are good for the spirit and the body.
3. Communicate! Communicate! Communicate! In the early years of their relationship, Dean and Jerry communicated well. In last few months of the partnership, they stopped talking.
4. Dress for success. Become the person you want to be. Martin and Lewis wore tuxedos in their live shows and elevated their performance to the next level.
5. As you are growing your business, don't underprice yourself. Martin and Lewis were offered half of what the other clubs were paying to play the best night club in New York and their agent turned it down.
6. Trust your gut and the gut instincts of your partner. Dean time and time again trusted the instincts of Jerry even if there was no plausible reason. Sometimes you have to do what your partner believes to be necessary even if it don't make sense.
7. Don't listen to negative hanger-ons. Dean and Jerry let the so-called friends come between them. These friends would whisper negative things about the other partner. Do not let others come between you.
8. Don't bad mouth your partner to others. You have to have each other's backs. You have to protect each other.
9. Don't listen to your press -- both positive and negative. The surprising thing for me was the press reviews spoke often of Jerry's genius but claimed that Dean was second rate. They failed to see the comic genius of Martin. Over the years this ate away at Martin until he started feuding with the press -- a game you can never win.
10. If your partnership is on the rocks, don't take your anger at your partner out on your employees, family members and friends. Learn to work through your anger together. Good partners learn how to fight and still love and respect each other.
11. Know when to call it quits. Every relationship has a beginning, middle and a end. Go out when you are on top. Don't let the relationship peter out.
12. There is always a second act. Both Martin and Lewis went on to successful careers without each other. Nothing lasts for ever. Be ready to move on when the time is right and have faith that you will find your way.
I listened to this book twice and found it very humorous and entertaining. I recommend that you listen to it rather than read it so you can pick up the humor. Stephen Hoye did a great job reading the book.
If you are in a business partnership, a marriage or just love Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, this is the book for you.
Subtitled "A Love Story." the book is details Jerry's love and respect for Dean. Jerry comments again and again about Dean's comic genius that was overlooked by most fans and critics. Jerry says that Dean was a man's man and that even Frank Sinatra was mesmerized by Dean. From a working class family in Stuebenville, Ohio, Dean found his way out through his voice and gift for singing. But it was the cool persona that he created over the years that made him a star.
I identified 12 business lessons that can be drawn from the stories that Jerry tells.
1. Have fun working together. And this Jerry and Dean did in the early years of their partnership. They enjoyed each others company.
2. Be sure to laugh together. They were always cracking each other up and experiencing those deep belly laughs that are good for the spirit and the body.
3. Communicate! Communicate! Communicate! In the early years of their relationship, Dean and Jerry communicated well. In last few months of the partnership, they stopped talking.
4. Dress for success. Become the person you want to be. Martin and Lewis wore tuxedos in their live shows and elevated their performance to the next level.
5. As you are growing your business, don't underprice yourself. Martin and Lewis were offered half of what the other clubs were paying to play the best night club in New York and their agent turned it down.
6. Trust your gut and the gut instincts of your partner. Dean time and time again trusted the instincts of Jerry even if there was no plausible reason. Sometimes you have to do what your partner believes to be necessary even if it don't make sense.
7. Don't listen to negative hanger-ons. Dean and Jerry let the so-called friends come between them. These friends would whisper negative things about the other partner. Do not let others come between you.
8. Don't bad mouth your partner to others. You have to have each other's backs. You have to protect each other.
9. Don't listen to your press -- both positive and negative. The surprising thing for me was the press reviews spoke often of Jerry's genius but claimed that Dean was second rate. They failed to see the comic genius of Martin. Over the years this ate away at Martin until he started feuding with the press -- a game you can never win.
10. If your partnership is on the rocks, don't take your anger at your partner out on your employees, family members and friends. Learn to work through your anger together. Good partners learn how to fight and still love and respect each other.
11. Know when to call it quits. Every relationship has a beginning, middle and a end. Go out when you are on top. Don't let the relationship peter out.
12. There is always a second act. Both Martin and Lewis went on to successful careers without each other. Nothing lasts for ever. Be ready to move on when the time is right and have faith that you will find your way.
I listened to this book twice and found it very humorous and entertaining. I recommend that you listen to it rather than read it so you can pick up the humor. Stephen Hoye did a great job reading the book.
If you are in a business partnership, a marriage or just love Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, this is the book for you.
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