It’s official: France loves Jerry Lewis

France formalized its fascination with Jerry Lewis on Thursday with a uniquely Gallic gift for his 80th birthday: a medal and induction into the Legion of Honor.

Lewis received the honorary title of “Legion Commander” in a raucous ceremony in Paris -- hamming it up for the cameras, winking, sticking out his tongue and making his trademark funny faces.

Lewis, who bucked formality by wearing slippers to the ceremony, clowned around with Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres -- yawning, checking his watch and even pretending to fall asleep during Donnedieu’s 20-minute-long speech. The crowd roared at Lewis’ antics.

When he finally took the microphone, Lewis apologized for not speaking French, but said that “even if the French people cannot hear my language, they have always heard my heart.”