Emmanuel Lewis
Emmanuel Lewis
Emmanuel Lewis | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 9, 1971 Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1982–present |
Emmanuel Lewis (born March 9, 1971) is an American actor, best known for playing the title character in the 1980s television sitcom Webster.
Emmanuel Lewis | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 9, 1971 Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1982–present |
Personal life
Lewis was born in Brooklyn, New York and graduated from Midwood High School in 1989. He also earned a bachelor's from Clark Atlanta University in 1997. Lewis is a practitioner of taekwondo.[1] His height has only changed by 6 inches since his childhood appearances in Webster, making him relatively short, though this is not due to a medical condition [2]
Friendship with Michael Jackson
Lewis had a strong friendship with Michael Jackson for several years. The two met when Jackson invited Lewis to the set of the Thriller music video, teaching him dance moves. Their friendship went public in 1984 when both attended the 26th Annual Grammy Awards. Subsequently, they spent more time in public together. After Jackson's hair caught on fire while filming a Pepsi commercial, the singer moved into Lewis' house after being discharged from the hospital. He stayed there for several months.
Jackson even allowed Lewis to appear on stage with him during the Victory Tour and visit the sets of "We Are the World", "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Remember the Time" and Captain EO.
Career
From his role on the television series Webster, Lewis was nominated for four Young Artist Awards.[3] In 1984, he was nominated for Best Young Actor in a Comedy Series for Webster and lost to Rick Schroder of Silver Spoons. In 1985, he was nominated for the same award but it went to Billy Jayne of It's Not Easy. In 1986, he was nominated for Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series which Marc Price ended up winning for his performance in Family Ties. In 1987, he was nominated for Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor Starring in a Television Comedy or Drama Series which Kirk Cameron of Growing Pains won.
Lewis was the child spokesperson for the Burger King Whopper.
Lewis appeared as himself on a TV child stars episode of The Weakest Link in 2001. He was voted off in the third round.
He had cameo appearances in the 2007 film Kickin' It Old Skool and a 2013 episode of Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis.[4]
In Japan, he is known as a singer and has released two singles, and his debut single "City Connection" reached Number 2 on the Oricon chart.
On November 9, 2014, Lewis appeared on Ken Reid's "TV Guidance Counselor" podcast. The episode was recorded live at the Davis Square Theater in Somerville, Massachusetts, as part of the 2014 Boston Comedy Festival.
Filmography
Webster (1983–1989) TV series
The Love Boat (1984) episode "Only the Good Die Young"
A Christmas Dream (1984) TV special
Lost in London (1985) (TV)
Emmanuel Lewis: My Very Own Show (1987) (TV)
The New Adventures of Mother Goose (1995) (TV)
Family Matters (1997) episodes "Odd Man In" and "Beauty and the Beast"
Moesha (1998) (TV)
Malcolm & Eddie (1999) (TV)
The Weakest Link (TV Child Stars Edition) (2001) (TV)
The Surreal Life (2003) (TV)
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003)
My Super Sweet Sixteen (2005) (TV)
One on One (2005) (TV)
Kickin' It Old Skool (2007) (Film)
The Surreal Life: Fame Games (2007) (TV)
The Lil Flex Show (2008) (TV)
Discography
"City Connection", a song performed by Lewis, was very popular in Japan in 1981 reaching number 2 on the Oricon chart.
"City Connection" (シティコネクション, Shity Konekushon) (1981 July 5) B side: City Connection (English Version) Lyrics: Mickey Sugar, Composer: Danny Long (pseudonym of Daiko Nagato), Arranger: Michel SHIMIN, Yuka Sato
"Love is DANDAN" (恋はダンダン, ”Koi wa Dan Dan") (1981 October 5) Lyrics: Junko Shiratori, composer: Daiko Nagato, Arranger: Masao Nakajima
In popular culture
Lewis is often compared to Gary Coleman, star of Diff'rent Strokes.[5]
Lewis is referred to as the Antichrist in the 1996 song "Fire Water Burn" by The Bloodhound Gang.[6]
In a 2009 South Park episode, "The F Word", Lewis is the head editor of "Webster's Dictionary".[7]
For many years in the 1990s, it was rumoured that Lewis had died in a breakdancing accident. While Lewis was a proficient breakdancer [8] the story was an urban myth, with similar unlikely urban myths connected to other child stars of the era [9]