James Lipton Shares His Favorite Memory of Jerry Lewis in a Touching Tribute

The world lost a comedy legend when Jerry Lewis passed away on August 20 at the age of 91. As tributes continue to pour in from Lewis' famous colleagues and fans, James Lipton has definitely penned one of the most touching essays about his memories of the late performer for The Hollywood Reporter. 

Lipton said that Lewis was "the ultimate live performer." "He didn't know what was coming next. He was pure inspiration," Lipton shared. "The definition of a genius is someone who does naturally and without effort what the rest of us have to study to do, learn to do, try to do. He just does it, impromptu, off the top and instantly."

The Inside the Actors Studio creator, executive producer, writer and host also shared his favorite memory of Lewis. "Jerry's comedic imagination knew no bounds. It was limitless," Lipton wrote. "My favorite of all the things he ever did was a scene in The Errand Boy in a boardroom, and there's some very jazzy music playing, and he's sitting behind a desk and then he pantomimes to the music. And it is three minutes of the most concentrated, purist and most brilliant humor of his career. It's my favorite Jerry scene." 

Lipton also remembered a special moment from when Lewis joined him on Inside the Actors Studio in 1999. "At the end of the show we did together, I inevitably came to that question, 'If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?' And he thought, and then he said he would like to hear God say, 'Wanna do it again?'" Lipton recalled. "And if I may be frank, I wish to God he could."

Find out Lipton's other favorite film moments, below.