Jerry Lewis, the legendary actor, comedian and director, died Sunday (8/20/2017), his agent confirmed to CBS News. He was 91.

Lewis, who teamed up with Dean Martin in the 1950s, and later starred in "The Nutty Professor" and "The Bellboy," died of natural causes at his Las Vegas home on Sunday, his publicist, Candi Cazau, said in a statement.

Lewis spent his youth performing in clubs where he perfected his slapstick comedy act. On a lucky day in 1946, he met a low-key singer named Dean Martin.

"I fell in love with him the day we met," Lewis said on "CBS Sunday Morning" last year. "He was constantly making [me] better. Without Dean, I would've probably worked in a brothel for an hour or two and they would find someone else."

The pair starred in dozens of film and TV specials before parting ways in 1956.

"We needed to escape one another," Lewis told CBS News correspondent Tracy Smith.

But Lewis continued to find success, going on to make more than 30 movies, as well as writing and directing many.

Muscular Dystrophy Association

Lewis was a spokesperson for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, where he helped raise funding for neuromuscular disease research. He hosted an annual Labor Day telethon from 1966 to 2010, raising nearly $2.7 billion and earning himself a 1997 Nobel Peace Prize nomination.

The money led to longer life spans for those patients, but it didn't buy a cure. At times, Lewis could only watch as the disease claimed the lives of children.

"The days and hours I spent in hospital hallways waiting for the answer of this child -- was he going to live or die? And I took it very personal," Lewis told CBS News in 2016. "'How could he die? Look at the work I've done. And what did we do with all that money? Why don't we use it to help him?'"

"I could write a book on children's reactions to meeting their clown," he continued. "One child says to the coordinator, 'If I didn't get muscular dystrophy I'd a never met him!' And then these children look at you like you're some kind of god. I'm not a god; I just love people. And I love people that are well. I don't like to see someone sick."

MDA Board Chairman Rodney Howell, MD, said, "Jerry's love, passion and brilliance are woven throughout this organization, which he helped build from the ground up."

Jerry won the admiration and respect of millions for his dedication to providing help and hope for people of all ages, races and backgrounds living with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases. He laid the foundation for groundbreaking treatments available today and those yet to come.

Today, we are reminded of a quote Jerry often used to explain his philanthropy and dedication to "his kids": "I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."

Jerry's kindness to MDA families will be forever remembered. It is with respect and admiration that we pay tribute to Mr. Jerry Lewis.

"Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart, and you'll never walk alone."