Longtime Rep. John Lewis turns 80: a look back(32 images)

Civil rights icon John Lewis, who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1987, celebrates his 80th birthday on Friday. The Georgia Democrat has played a key role in the civil rights movement since the 1960s.

Rep. John Lewis prepares to pay his respects at Rep. Elijah Cummings' memorial ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on October 24, 2019. Pool Photo by Melina Mara/UPI | License Photo

Lewis and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus wait to enter the memorial services. Lewis announced in December 2019 that he has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Pool Photo by Pablo Martinez Monsivais/UPI | License Photo

Lewis arrives on the red carpet for the Academy Awards in Los Angeles on February 24, 2019. He presented the award for Best Picture to "Green Book." Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Lewis (L) and civil rights activist Andrew Young head onto the field before the start of Super Bowl LIII between the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Newly elected Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi smiles during a swearing-in photo op with Lewis in Washington, D.C. on January 3, 2019. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo

Lewis addresses a rally on the steps of the U.S. House of Representatives on October 4, 2017, in Washington, D.C. The Democratic members of Congress held the rally to honor the victims of the mass shooting in Las Vegas and to demand passage of bipartisan legislation to strengthen background checks for gun purchases. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Lewis (R) makes remarks as Sen. Cory Booker listens during Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings for Attorney General nominee Jeff Sessions on January 10, 2017. The Democratic congressmen spoke in opposition to Sessions' nomination, citing his past civil rights and justice record. Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo

Lewis takes to the floor to vote for Pelosi for Speaker of the House for the 115th Congress on January 3, 2017. Speaker Paul Ryan won re-election. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Lewis seconds Hillary Clinton's nomination for president of the United States during the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 26, 2016. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo

From left to right, President Barack Obama, Lewis and senior adviser Valerie Jarrett discuss criminal justice reform at the White House on February 18, 2016. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Obama and U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch listen to Lewis speak on strengthening and protecting the right to vote at the White House on August 6, 2015. The event was attended by civil rights leaders, faith leaders, voting rights activists and state and local officials. Pool Photo by Ron Sachs/UPI | License Photo

Camilla (C), Duchess of Cornwall, speaks with Rep. Terri Sewell (L), and Lewis during a visit to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on March 18, 2015 in Washington, D.C. Pool Photo by Mandel Ngan/UPI | License Photo

Lewis, who was one of the foot soldiers injured in the "Bloody Sunday" March on Selma, Ala., greets the audience during the Centric Celebrates Selma concert after the historical 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery march in Selma on March 8, 2015. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

Lewis wipes his face as he sits next to Obama in Selma, Ala., on March 7, 2015. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

Lewis is applauded at the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., on March 7, 2015. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

Lews (L) attends the unveiling of the Harvey Milk Forever Stamp at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., on May 22, 2014. Milk was one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo

Lewis delivers remarks during the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 2013. Thousands gathered at the memorial to celebrate the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Obama hugs Lewis after Lewis delivered remarks, as former U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter (L) and Bill Clinton look on, during the "Let Freedom Ring" commemoration event at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 2013. Photo by Michael Reynolds/UPI | License Photo

From left to right, Lewis, the Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III participate in a march commemorating the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington on August 24, 2013. Tens of thousands civil rights supporters gathered on the National Mall to celebrate the anniversary. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Lewis speaks at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., on September 6, 2012. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Lewis inspects a sign at the dedication of Rev. James Orange Park in Atlanta on October 29. 2011. The park was named for Orange, a civil rights leader and activist who organized marches and voter registration drives for over 40 years. Orange died in 2008. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

Lewis signs autographs at the dedication of Rev. James Orange Park. Earlier in 2011, Lewis was presented with the Presidential Medal of Honor by Obama. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

From left to right, Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Emanuel Cleaver II, Obama, Lewis, the Rev. Joseph Lowery, first lady Michelle Obama and CBC Foundation Chairman Donald Payne stand for a photo after the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation awards dinner in Washington, D.C., on September 24, 2011. Pool Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo

Lewis helps pack Healthy Lifestyle Kits for District of Columbia area children at a congressional service event in Washington, D.C., on June 8, 2010. Photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI | License Photo

From left to right, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Lewis, Pelosi and Rep. John Larson walk to the Capitol while Pelosi holds the gavel that was used to pass Medicare to begin debate on the healthcare reform bill in Washington on March 21, 2010. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Lewis delivers remarks during the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Denver on August 28, 2008. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Lewis, surrounded by congressional Democrats, speaks at a rally against the Iraq War outside of the U.S. Capitol as the Senate holds an all-night session debating the troop withdrawal from Iraq on July 17, 2007. Photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI | License Photo

Lewis testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee during John Roberts' confirmation hearing for the U.S. Supreme Court on Capitol Hill on September 15, 2005. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo

Lewis (L) and Norbert Bikales, light one of six memorial candles, each representing 1 million Jews killed in the Holocaust, during the, "2002 Days of Remembrance" ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda on April 9, 2002. Photo by Chris Corder/UPI | License Photo

Lewis listens to a panelist during a congressional forum on a historic homeownership tax credit in St. Louis, Mo., on April 30, 2001. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright shares a moment with Lewis during a Human Rights Day ceremony in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington on December 6, 2000. Photo by Ricardo Watson/UPI | License Photo

President John F. Kennedy meets with the leaders of the March On Washington, from left to right, Secretary of Labor Willard Wirtz, Mathew Ahmann, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Lewis, Rabbi Joachim Prinz, Rev. Eugene Carson Blake, A. Philip Randolph, Vice President Johnson, Walter Ruether, Whitney Young and Floyd McKissick in the Oval Office of the White House on August 28, 1963. Photo by Cecil Stoughton/White House/Courtesy of John F. Kennedy Library | License Photo

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