US comedian Jerry Lewis attends a special screening of the feature-length documentary “Method to the Madness of Jerry Lewis” at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles.

:: Jerry Lewis, the American comedian and filmmaker who became a defining figure of American entertainment in the 20th century, died on Sunday morning at his home in Las Vegas at the age of 91, the New York Times has reported.

His death was confirmed by John Katsilometes, a columnist for The Las Vegas Review Journal, who spoke to family members.

Lewis became the highest paid actor in Hollywood during his prime, churning out hit films like The Bell Boy, Cinderfella and The Nutty Professor.

Other notable successes included The King of Comedy in 1983 in which he played a talk show host stalked by Robert de Niro.