Jerry Lewis to receive Oscar's humanitarian award

[December 11, 2008]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Jerry Lewis has never been nominated for an Oscar, but he's going to get one anyway. The 82-year-old will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Oscar ceremony in February.

The governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced their selection Wednesday. The Hersholt Award -- an actual Oscar statuette -- recognizes humanitarian efforts that have brought credit to the film industry.

An actor, director, writer and producer, Lewis made his big-screen debut in 1949's "My Friend Irma." He has been national chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association since 1952 and has raised more than $2 billion for the cause through his annual Labor Day telethon.

The Oscars will be presented Feb. 22.

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[Associated Press]

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