Entertainer, Ventriloquist and Puppeteer. Shari Lewis was born Phyllis Hurwitz in New York City. Through the encouragement of both of her parents, Shari began performing at the age of thirteen. She had lessons in acrobatics, juggling, piano, violin, and ventriloquism. She attended New York's High School of Music and Art and the American School of Ballet. She attended Columbia University for one year, then left to become a performer. As a result of a short marriage to Stan Lewis, she took her stage name. In 1952, Lewis won first prize in "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts." In 1956, she and Lamb Chop appeared on "Captain Kangaroo." In 1960, she had her own television program "Fact 'n' Fun." Then came "The Shari Lewis Show," which introduced puppets Hush Puppy and Charlie Horse. Lewis also authored over 30 books for children. Shari Lewis used to joke that, at five feet tall. she was barely the size of an 11-year-old, not much bigger than most of the kids she entertained. She and her second husband, Jeremy Tarcher, wrote an episode of Star Trek titled "The Lights of Zetar." When the Public Broadcasting System approached her about a television show, after being off the air for two decades, she created "Lamb Chop's Play-Along." Among her awards were twelve Emmy Awards, seven Parent's Choice Awards, a Peabody Award (1960), the Silver Circle Award of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (1996), the Film Advisory Board Award of Excellence (1996), the New York Film and Video Festival Silver Award (1995), and the Kennedy Center Honors (1983). Shari was married to Jeremy Tarcher from 1958 until her death from cancer at age 65 in 1998.
Entertainer, Ventriloquist and Puppeteer. Shari Lewis was born Phyllis Hurwitz in New York City. Through the encouragement of both of her parents, Shari began performing at the age of thirteen. She had lessons in acrobatics, juggling, piano, violin, and ventriloquism. She attended New York's High School of Music and Art and the American School of Ballet. She attended Columbia University for one year, then left to become a performer. As a result of a short marriage to Stan Lewis, she took her stage name. In 1952, Lewis won first prize in "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts." In 1956, she and Lamb Chop appeared on "Captain Kangaroo." In 1960, she had her own television program "Fact 'n' Fun." Then came "The Shari Lewis Show," which introduced puppets Hush Puppy and Charlie Horse. Lewis also authored over 30 books for children. Shari Lewis used to joke that, at five feet tall. she was barely the size of an 11-year-old, not much bigger than most of the kids she entertained. She and her second husband, Jeremy Tarcher, wrote an episode of Star Trek titled "The Lights of Zetar." When the Public Broadcasting System approached her about a television show, after being off the air for two decades, she created "Lamb Chop's Play-Along." Among her awards were twelve Emmy Awards, seven Parent's Choice Awards, a Peabody Award (1960), the Silver Circle Award of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (1996), the Film Advisory Board Award of Excellence (1996), the New York Film and Video Festival Silver Award (1995), and the Kennedy Center Honors (1983). Shari was married to Jeremy Tarcher from 1958 until her death from cancer at age 65 in 1998.
Bio by: Paul G. Healy
Family Members
Advertisement
