Richard Lewis, the stand-up comedian who co-starred with Larry David on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” has died following a heart attack, Variety has confirmed. He was 76.
Lewis announced last April that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and was retiring from stand-up comedy. He most recently appeared on Season 12 of Curb Your Enthusiasm, currently airing on HBO.
In 2021, Lewis announced that he would not appear on season 11 of “Curb” due to his recovery from three surgeries. He surprised viewers by returning to the set for a season 11 episode, telling Variety at the time, “When I walked in and they applauded, I felt like a million bucks.” Larry doesn't like hugging, and he hugged me and told how happy he was after we shot our scene.”
Lewis, who played a semi-fictionalized version of himself throughout Curb Your Enthusiasm's 24 years, was known for his neurotic, self-deprecating comedy style. After making his film acting debut in 1979's “Diary of a Young Comic,” Lewis rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s with appearances on “The Tonight Show” and the “Late Show With David Letterman.” He showcased his dark but vividly animated personality in the 1985 Showtime comedy special “I'm in Pain,” followed by the HBO specials “I'm Exhausted” (1988), “I'm Doomed” ( 1990) and “I'm Doomed” (1990). Richard Lewis: The Magical Misery Tour (1997).
In 1989, Lewis landed a starring role in the ABC sitcom “Anything but Love,” in which he starred opposite Jamie Lee Curtis as colleagues at a Chicago magazine who fall in love and fail to maintain a purely professional relationship . The series ran for 56 episodes over four seasons before ending in 1992. Lewis landed other '90s sitcom roles in the short-lived “Daddy Dearest” with Don Rickles and “Hiller and Diller” with Kevin Nealon.
Lewis' film credits include the 1993 comedy “Robin Hood: Men in Tights,” the 1995 drama “Leaving Las Vegas” and the 1997 romantic comedy “Hugo Pool.” In “Drunks” – with an ensemble cast including Faye Dunaway, George Martin, Parker Posey, Howard Rollins, Spalding Gray and Dianne Wiest – Lewis played a struggling alcohol and drug addict.
Throughout his career, the comedian has also been open about his own struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, mentioning his recovery and struggles with depression and anxiety in his comedy. Lewis, a former cocaine and crystal meth user, said his decision to get sober was inspired in part by John Candy's death in 1994.
In 2021, upon returning to Curb Your Enthusiasm after various health struggles, Lewis told Variety, “I've dedicated my life to comedy and my sobriety for the last almost 27 years.” I'm overwhelmed with joy right now. I never learned to keep joy in my head for more than a minute, but today I am breaking all the records of my life.”
Lewis is survived by his wife, Joyce Lapinsky.