Legendary performer Jerry Lewis isn’t the retiring type.
The man behind “The Nutty Professor” and the fabled Martin & Lewis comedy team may be 86, but he’s signed on to star in a new independent feature to be shot in Los Angeles.
“Max Rose,” which begins production today, marks Lewis’ first major role since the 1995 dramedy “Funny Bones.”
The film is a drama about a jazz pianist who has recently lost his wife of over five decades. A discovery made days before her death causes Max to believe his marriage was a lie. He embarks on an exploration of his own past that brings him face to face with a menagerie of characters from a bygone era. Noah is making his directing debut.
Lewis has suffered in the public eye in recent years, from battling a series of health ailments to getting jettisoned from his gig as host of the annual Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. In addition to “Max Rose,” Lewis is working on a “Nutty Professor” musical adaptation to add to his legacy.