Jim Carrey, Robert De Niro Lead Celebrity Tributes to Jerry Lewis: 'He Didn't Miss a Beat, Or a Punchline'

The world is reeling after news of Jerry Lewis’ death.

Stars like Josh Gad, Jim Carrey, Dane Cook and more have penned moving tributes to the late comedian just moments after news of Lewis’ death broke.

Cook remembered his fellow comedian in a series of tweets, calling Lewis his “mentor and friend.”

“A visionary. A pioneer in all forms of entertainment. A charitable human. A father,” he wrote. Cook added: “He meant the world to me& I will forever cherish the time I got to spend with him & his family. At a dark time in my life he brought me joy.”

Actor Nicolas Cage, who starred with Lewis in the 2016 film, The Trust, feels the comedian’s death “marks the end of the golden age of entertainment,” he told PEOPLE in a statement. “He was my inspiration since I was five. His movies saved my childhood and his extraordinary charisma informed all my performances. I would always ask myself, ‘What would Jerry do?'”

Cage added that Lewis “is always on my mind. He was my friend and my neighbor. He was ‘The Total Filmmaker — writer, director, star, and I am deeply saddened that we can’t talk a little more.”

Lewis’ Nutty Professor costar Stella Stevens told PEOPLE she was deeply saddened to learn the news of his death.

“Jerry was a comic genius, and every day on set I learned so much about filmmaking from him,” she said in a statement. “The Nutty Professor remains very close to my heart. Flights of angels, dear man. Love, your Miss Purdy.”

Rose Marie, a show business legend herself, shared a sweet photo of herself and Lewis — with the actor making a silly face.

“Jerry Lewis was an angel to me. Loved him & will never forget what he did for me during one of the worst times in my life. RIP, Love Roe,” the 94-year-old tweeted.

Meanwhile, Jim Carrey credited Lewis, writing, “I am because he was.”

“That fool was no dummy,” he tweeted. “Jerry Lewis was an undeniable genius an unfathomable blessing, comedy’s absolute!”

Lewis’ agent confirmed the tragic news to PEOPLE, saying that the world “has lost one of the most significant human beings of the 20th century.” The rep added that Lewis died of natural causes while surrounded by his family.

Las Vegas Review Journal columnist John Katsilometes confirmed the news on Twitter on Sunday, writing that Lewis’ rep told him in a statement that he died at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday morning in his home in Las Vegas.

Marlow Stern, a reporter with The Daily Beast, tweeted a statement from Robert De Niro on Lewis’ passing.

“Jerry was a pioneer in comedy and film. And he was a friend. I was fortunate to have seen him a few times over the past couple of years,” the statement read. “Even at 91, he didn’t miss a beat … Or a punchline. You’ll be missed.”

Comedy legend Carl Reiner joined in on the string of tributes.

“So saddened to learn of the passing of Jerry Lewis, a true comic icon,” he tweeted. “In Boston 1947 I roared at his and Dean’s first ever performance.”

Gad remembered Lewis with an old photo. “One of the greatest of all time. A legend. A showman. A comedic icon. A movie star. An activist. A one of a kind. RIP #jerrylewis,” Gad tweeted.

Penn Jillette also reacted to the news on Twitter, being one of the first to reveal that the comedian had died.

“Jerry Lewis just died,” Jillette wrote. “When I met him, I feel apart, just sobbed. I guess it’s time for that again.”

Patton Oswalt was sure to pen his own tribute to the comedian, writing on Twitter, “Jerry Lewis has passed on. I sincerely hope his afterlife is a warm, peaceful … haven.”

Larry King shared a photo of himself and Lewis in goofy poses before tweeting a moving message: “Jerry lived to make the world laugh, and laugh we did for decades. His talent was surpassed only by his humanitarianism. Rest well pal.”

The death comes about two months after Lewis was hospitalized in Las Vegas with a urinary tract infection — the latest in a history of health issues.

In June 2006, Lewis suffered a mild heart attack in San Diego. Still, his manager told PEOPLE at the time, “He’s doing very well. He’ll be standing on that stage at the [Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association] telethon on Labor Day.”

In its time, the annual fundraiser, which Lewis started in 1966 (he stopped hosting as of 2010), is said to have raised more than $2 billion for medical research.

Prior to his heart attack, Lewis had long faced health problems, and in June 2012 was rushed to the hospital with low blood sugar only minutes before he was expected to present an award to Tom Cruise at a New York Friars Club event.

Still, Lewis has managed to maintain his popularity, and legend-status during his decades-long career. His manic style amused generations of moviegoers on both sides of the Atlantic, and his popularity often confounded critics.