Joe E. Lewis (January 12, 1902 – June 4, 1971) was a comedian, actor, and singer. He was elected to The Lambs in 1949 as a professional member. Frank Sinatra portrayed Lewis onscreen in “The Joker Is Wild” (1957) bio pic.
He was born Joseph Klewan to Russian Jewish immigrant parents in New York. He went to local schools. Dropping out of De Witt Clinton High School after two years, the 15‐year‐old Lewis enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, but was found out and released. He began working in burlesque and vaudeville in 1923. When he took his stage name, he added an “E” to differentiate himself from the heavyweight boxer.
He made his breakthrough as a nightclub star in Chicago in the days of Prohibition. Lewis started out as a popular crooner in a gang-owned speakeasy. In Chicago in 1927, Lewis refused the request of Jack “Machine Gun” McGurn (a lieutenant of Al Capone) to renew a contract that would have bound him to sing and perform at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, which was partly owned by Capone. He refused, because he had been offered more money by a rival gang to appear at their own club, The New Rendezvous.
According to a Chicago Tribune account the day after the assault, on November 8, 1927, Lewis was stabbed repeatedly at his room at the Commonwealth Hotel by three assailants. According to police, Lewis “had lived for months in fear that he was to be assassinated.” Lewis said he was about to sign a contract at the Rendezvous cafe at a salary of $1,000 a week; at the time he was getting $600 a week singing at the Green Mill. Lewis identified McGurn as threatening to “take him for a ride” if he went to the Rendezvous. The Green Mill’s owner denied McGurn’s involvement. Lewis suffered twelve cuts, nearly all on the face and head, and was so seriously hurt that physicians initially held little hope for his recovery.
The enforcers, who included Sam Giancana and Leonard “Needles” Gianola, cut the singer’s throat and tongue and left him for dead. He spent six weeks in the hospital and required a long recovery. Capone, who was fond of Lewis, was displeased with the assault, but would not take action against one of his top lieutenants. He instead gave Lewis $10,000 (about $185,000 today) to recover properly and eventually resume his career.
Lewis toured in the USO shows with Ray Bolger in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Joe appeared in the movies “Too Many Husbands” (the 1931 short comedy), Private Number (1936), The Holy Terror (1937), Private Buckaroo (1942), and (playing himself) Lady in Cement (1968). He appeared frequently on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” was the “Mystery Guest” three times on “What’s My Line?,” and was interviewed on “Person to Person” in 1956.
On Oct. 24, 1964, the Club hosted a special evening for Lewis. Performing were Bert Wheeler, Archie Robbins, Eddie Arcaro, Jerry Bergen, Don Tanne, Bob Hall, and Associated Press writer Nancy Eaton. The Lambs presented him with an engraved pewter mug. The gift found its way back to The Fold in July 2026.
Lewis was highly respected among performers. He became president of the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA) in 1955 and in 1957 he received an award from AGVA for his service as president. He was also elected Abbot of the Friars, at least twice, in 1953 and 1969, and served as Friars Dean for at least two terms. Lewis was the first Friar to be roasted. He was so respected that in 1970 the Friars of California threw a bash just to honor him. This event was hosted by Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
Lewis and Sinatra had a longtime friendship predating Sinatra’s portrayal of the comedian in “The Joker Is Wild.” In 1961, Sinatra signed Lewis to record for his label, Reprise Records. The result, “It Is Now Post Time,” is one of the first LPs released by Reprise, and one of the few recorded examples of Lewis at work as a stand-up comedian. The title references a well-known part of his act, holding up a drink on stage and saying “Post time!” On his live album “Sinatra at the Sands” (1966), Sinatra says that even though he recently celebrated his 50th birthday, he would have the body of a 22-year-old man “if I hadn’t spent all those years drinking with Joe E. Lewis.”
In 1946 he married actress Martha Stewart; they divorced in 1948. Random House published Lewis’ biography, “The Joker Is Wild,” written by Art Cohn, in 1955.
Lewis died of a heart attack in 1971, aged 69, and was buried in Cedar Park Cemetery, in Paramus, New Jersey.