Comedians who died on August 20

Take a focused look at the comedians who passed away on August 20. Dive into curated bios, achievements, and cultural milestones verified by our editors.

• 2012 Phyllis Diller

  Phyllis Diller was an iconic American stand-up comedian, actress, and author renowned for her eccentric stage persona, wild hair, self-deprecating humor, and distinctive laugh. She rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s, breaking barriers for women in comedy and paving the way for future generations. [bio]

• 2017 Jerry Lewis

  Jerry Lewis was an iconic American comedian, actor, singer, filmmaker, and humanitarian. He became famous for his slapstick humor in movies and his partnership with Dean Martin. Lewis was also renowned for hosting the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon, which helped raise more than $2 billion for muscular dystrophy research over decades. [bio]