He has always been passionate about comedy and quit school at the age of 15 to pursue it.
Jerry was fortunate that even though his parents were not always around, he still loved to perform. When he turned 15, Jerry had his own comedy act, which he performed whenever he got the chance. He mimed along to a song played by a phonograph onstage.
He could sing but he preferred to perform in this manner because it allowed him to showcase his comic skills, and that was what he cared most about. Jerry was so driven to make people laugh, he even gave up school to achieve his dream. According to reports, the actor only completed the 10th grade before he gave up his education. He soon realized that success on stage is not guaranteed.
Jerry had to try several times before his comedy act was accepted by the audience.
Jerry may have thought he had hit the jackpot when he was offered a gig at a Buffalo burlesque show. The audience, however, did not seem to be buying his show. His performance was met with little approval. He didn’t get any more gigs, and he wondered if he had made a mistake.
Lewis was saved by an old colleague of his father. He encouraged the boy to try again, and the reaction was very different when he tried it in a New York Hotel. Jerry was adored by the audience, and he even got a manager named Irving Kaye. Lewis knew he was a superstar, and the man wasn’t mistaken.
