Mallory Lewis
| Mallory Lewis | |
|---|---|
 Lewis with Lamb Chop, circa 2001 |
|
| Born | Mallory Hurwitz Tarcher 1963 (age 48–49) New York, New York, U.S. |
| Other names | Mally Lewis Mally Tarcher |
| Occupation | Writer, TV Producer, Puppeteer, Creator |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Spouse | Brad Hood |
| Children | James Abraham Tarcher Hood |
Mallory Hurwitz Lewis (née Tarcher; changed her name legally in honor of her mother, Shari Lewis) is an American writer, television producer, and puppeteer. Lamb Chop is a "sock puppet" of the mother and daughter.[1] Like Shari's daughter, Lamb Chop remains a "sister" legacy to Mallory.[2]
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[edit] Early life
Mallory Lewis was born Mallory Tarcher in New York City. She is the daughter of Jeremy Tarcher and Shari Lewis, creator of Lamb Chop.[3] Growing up, Tarcher used to sleep with Lamb Chop.[4]
[edit] Career
Tarcher worked closely with her mother as producer of Lamb Chop's Play-Along. Jeremy and Tarcher had been part of Shari Lewis's show on PBS.[3] After her mother's death in 1998,[2] on the advice of family friend the late Dom DeLuise, Tarcher decided that Lamb Chop should live on for her many fans and has begun performing with Lamb Chop. It was during this time that she changed her surname to her mothers', of Lewis; as an homage.[5] While Lamb Chop may be described as "sassy",[2] "please" and "thank you" are part of the repertoire.[1] Lewis has the same hand size as her mother but differentiation is sung in a duet with Lamb Chop.[6]
Lewis said of her decision to take up the puppet: "My mom was one of the world's greatest entertainers. I don't want to challenge that. I don't think it's wise to go there. But I do want to do everything that I can do for Lamb Chop. I'll help keep her going". Lewis had never attempted to imitate Lamb Chop's voice but upon receiving a posthumous award award for Shari, Lewis performed with the puppet, discovering that she had her mother's ability to effect the voice without lip movement.[5]
Lewis is also a writer, of children's books, some of which star Zoey, a baby orangutan character she also puppeteers.
Lewis performs extensively for the USO, the Fisher House Foundation, other military support organizations, Performing Arts Centers and at state fairs around the country. In 2002, Lewis helped raise $275,000 for UCLA's Neuro-Oncology Program.[7] as well as being a founder of Jump For The Cause a women's world record skydiving organization that has raised nearly 2mil for Breast Cancer Research. Lewis is also on the board of the Blue Ribbon.
Lewis was the creator and executive producer of Make Way For Noddy, Bob the Builder: Ready Steady Build, Poppy Cat, Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps, Care Bears: Adventures in Care-a-lot and Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures.
[edit] Awards
Mallory Lewis has won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Children's Series and nominated several times.[8][9]
[edit] Personal life
Mallory Lewis was married to Brad Hood and has one son, James Abraham Tarcher Hood.[citation needed]
[edit] Quotes
| “ | It's not the same thing as brothers and sisters, but it's all she got. | ” |
- Shari Lewis, on 12 year-old Mallory Lewis' relationship to Lamb Chop.[4]
| “ | It’s essentially indistinguishable. | ” |
- Jeremy Tarcher, on Mallory Lewis performing Lamp Chop's voice for the first time.[5]
| “ | But then when my mom died, I could. I just let it go and she lives! | ” |
- Mallory Lewis, on hearing Lamp Chop's voice again.[6]
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b "Shari Lewis' daughter gives babies a hand with ABC's". Daily News. 29 September 2007. http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2007/09/29/2007-09-29_shari_lewis_daughter_gives_babies_a_hand.html. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ a b c "Like mom, she's in the family business - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. September 20, 2007. http://articles.latimes.com/2007/sep/20/news/wk-kidsa20. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ a b "CNN - 'Lamb Chop' creator Shari Lewis dead at 65 - August 3, 1998". CNN. August 3, 1998. http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/TV/9808/03/shari.lewis.obit/. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ a b "Master Puppeteer Shari Lewis & Publisher Jeremy Tarcher: It's Not a Match Between Dummies". People. February 2, 1976. http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20066121,00.html. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ a b c "SHARI LEWIS: Shari Had a Little Lamb…And Turned a Simple Sock Into a Superstar". TalkingComedy.com. 2005. http://www.talkingcomedy.com/SI-Vent-2005/tv-siVENT05/SL-TV-siVENT05.html. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ a b "Lamb Chop Is Now In The Capable Hands Of Mallory Lewis". Google News. Kentucky New Era. June 1, 2001. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=266&dat=20010601&id=UBYsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iW0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4078,6152254. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ "Art of the Brain UCLA Neuro-Oncology Program". Neoplasia Press Inc. (NIH). 2002. PMC 1550327. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1550327.
- ^ "Who is Mallory Lewis?". kidsfirst.org. 2010. http://www.kidsfirst.org/about-us/Board_Staff_Bios_MalloryLewis.html. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ "HELP UNLOCK YOUR CHILDS IMAGINATION!". American Chronicle. January 3, 2008. http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/47873. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
[edit] References
- Mallory Lewis and Lamb Chop Retrieved 2010-05-22.
