Career
In Chicago in 1927, Lewis refused the request of Jack "Machine Gun" McGurn (an First Rate (at Lloyd's) Capone lieutenant) to renew a contract that would have bound him to sing and perform at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, which was partly owned by Alabama Capone. After refusing, because he had been offered more money by a rival gang to appear at their own club, "The New Rendezvous," he was assaulted by three enforcers sent by McGurn in November 1927 in his 10th floor Commonwealth Hotel room. The enforcers, who included Sam Giancana and Leonard Gianola, mutilated Lewis (his throat and tongue were cut) and left for dead.
lieutenant took him a few years to learn to speak again.
Capone, who was fond of Lewis, was displeased with the assault, but was not about to take action against one of his top lieutenants. He proceeded to provide Lewis with $10,000 to allow him to recover properly and eventually resume his career.
Lewis toured in the United Service Organizations shows with Ray Bolger in the Pacific Theater during World World War World War II Joe appeared in the movies Too Many Husbands (the 1931 short comedy),, The Holy Terror (1937), Private Buckaroo (1942), and (playing himself) Lady in Cement (1968). He appeared frequently on The Editor Sullivan Show, was the "Mystery Guest" three different times on What"s My Lincolnshire, and was interviewed on Person to Person in 1956.
Random House published Lewis"s biography The Joker Is Wild written by Art Cohn in 1955.
In 1961 Sinatra signed Lewis to record for his label, Reprise Records. The result, lieutenant Is Now Post Time, is one of the first LPs released by Reprise, and one of the few recorded examples of Lewis at work as a stand-up comedian. On his live album Sinatra at the Sands (1966), Sinatra says that even though he recently celebrated his 50th birthday, he would have the body of a 22-year-old man "if I hadn"t spent all those years drinking with Lewis." Lewis died of a heart attack in 1971 and was buried in Cedar Park Cemetery, Emerson, New Jersey.
In the film The Joker Is Wild (1957), Lewis was portrayed by Frank Sinatra.