Jerry Lewis’ nutty 90th: Jokes, revelry and two cakes

By John Katsilometes

Saturday, March 19, 2016 | 2 a.m.

Throughout the day Wednesday, Jerry Lewis was wondering if anything was being planned for his 90th birthday. He was asking his family such cryptic questions as, “Are we doing anything tonight?”

Of course.

Lewis was given a surprise wingding at a favorite Las Vegas haunt, Piero’s Italian Restaurant, a fete bestowed by restaurant owner and longtime friend Freddie Glusman. About 30 members of Lewis’ family and assorted friends turned out for a grand night of dinner, drinks, laughs and — of course — a cake.

Lewis was led to a private dining room at the back of the restaurant, where a debate ensued about how to behave during the legend’s entrance. “Turn off the lights and shut up!” was the directive of Claudia Stabile Marghilano, wife of master guitarist Joe Lano and whose late husband, Joe Stabile, was Lewis’ manager for nearly 60 years.

“Why?” called out Steve Lawrence, seated next to Glusman at the head of the table. “He can’t hear, and he can’t see!”

The debate went dark, and Lewis arrived with his wife, Sam, as the room erupted. Lewis’ daughter Danielle warmly said to her father, “Thank you for being my best friend.” Glusman soon stood to thank Lewis for his lifetime of friendship, remembering that Piero’s was given a huge boost when Lewis mentioned the restaurant during the MDA Labor Day Telethon broadcasts.

“There are two Jerry’s who made Piero’s a success,” Glusman said. “Jerry Lewis and Jerry Tarkanian.”

A video of celebs was played for the group, a clip full of messages from an array of stars including Al Pacino, Don Rickles, Jennifer Lopez, John Travolta, Celine Dion, Peter Bogdanovich, Criss Angel, Carl Reiner, Nicolas Cage, Tony Orlando, Chris Meloni, Woody Harrelson and agent Jeff Witjas. Rickles, who turns 90 on May 8, closed the video with, “Happy Birthday. Now go to the doctor!”

Adding to the well-wishers was Wayne Newton, who sent a note of congratulations during the party. In the group of invitees was comic Dane Cook, who in 2011 met Lewis at the Los Angeles premiere of the documentary “Method to the Madness of Jerry Lewis.”

“Ever since, we’ve become great friends,” Cook said during dinner. “We just call each other randomly to talk.”

The requisite cake presentation was a two-pronged affair. We had the traditional blowing of the candles, but before that an oversized cake was brought to the room by Danielle.

“I know somebody is in there!” Lewis laughed, as the costume disassembled to present Melody Sweets of “Absinthe” singing a sultry “Happy Birthday,” toying with Lewis and Glusman during the number. Afterward, Lawrence seized the cake top and brought it to Lewis, saying, “Here, you might want this later.”

We did hear from the man of the moment, who set down his wine and took the mic.

“I want to say that I am so delighted to make 90 and to have all of my friends here,” Lewis said, his voice wavering. “It’s such a lovely, wonderful, exciting thing for me. I’m so proud … so grateful, and I can’t really explain the feeling of seeing all these faces that have made my life wonderful. Thank you.”

That soft and simple message deserved a round of applause and a long line of hugs. Jerry Lewis got all of that, too.

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