Emmanuel Lewis (born March 9, 1971 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American actor. He is best known for his title role in the 1980s television sitcom Webster. He is 4'3" (1.30 m), which qualifies him as a dwarf according to the Little People of America. He is a close friend of Michael Jackson. Lewis graduated from Clark Atlanta University in 1997. He is often compared with Gary Coleman, star of Diff'rent Strokes. He currently resides in Fayette County, GA.
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Life
Lewis claims that there is no medical reason for his short stature. Lewis was nominated for four Young Artist Awards. 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. He recently appeared in Kickin' It Old Skool, in which he had a cameo.
Parodies
Emmanuel Lewis is parodied at least three times in Saturday Night Live in the infamous TV Funhouse animated sketches of "The Michael Jackson Show." Lewis' animated look is just like Webster, but with grey hair and a grey beard (a joke about him "aging"). One segment shows Michael wearing glasses to see his "close friend," whose celebrity face becomes Lewis's face in an animated form. This segment is known for the catchphrase, "Double the Webster, double the fun!" (We see Lindsay Lohan and Tara Reid fighting with Webster faces). In the song "Fire Water Burn" by The Bloodhound Gang, some of the lyrics make fun of Lewis and other celebrities:
- "But if I go to hell then I hope I burn well,
- I'll spend my days with JFK, Marvin Gaye, Martha Raye, and Lawrence Welk,
- And Kurt Cobain, Kojak, Mark Twain and Jimi Hendrix's poltergeist,
- And Webster yeah, Emmanuel Lewis 'cause he's the anti-christ".
In the episode "Road to Rupert" of Family Guy, Peter breaks his television and decides to create a sitcom in his head. The title of the sitcom is "My Black Son" and it stars Lewis as the black son of Peter Griffin.
Filmography
- The Surreal Life: Fame Games (2007)
- Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003)
- The Surreal Life (2003) (TV)
- Moesha (1998) (TV)
- Family Matters (1997) episodes: Odd Man In and Beauty and the Beast
- The New Adventures of Mother Goose (1995) (TV)
- (1987) (TV)
- Lost in London (1985) (TV)
- A Christmas Dream (1984) TV Special
- Webster (1983) TV Series
Other works
City Connection, a song performed by Lewis, was very popular in Japan in the mid-80s. Lewis' finesse for dancing was uncompromising during the filming of the video for this Japanese cult-classic. Lewis, a.k.a. Webster (from the hit 80s sitcom of the same name) quickly won the hearts of millions in Japan, where he is called: "the dancer."
External links
- Emmanuel Lewis Official Myspace
- Emmanuel Lewis at the Internet Movie Database
- Emmanuel Lewis at TV.com
- Music Video to City Connection
- Information on City Connection in Japanese
