Richard Lewis, the legendary stand-up comic who also starred together with Larry David on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” has died. He was 76.
According to his publicist, Jeff Abraham of Jonas Community Relations, Lewis died peacefully at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening after suffering a coronary heart attack.
Abraham stated, “His spouse, Joyce Lapinsky, many thanks everyone for all the really like, friendship and aid and asks for privacy at this time.”
He observed that Lewis introduced he was living with Parkinson’s illness in April 2023, and can at this time be noticed co-starring in the ultimate period of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” on HBO with creator and star Larry David.
Richard Lewis, the legendary stand-up comic who also starred alongside Larry David on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” has died. He was 76. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
David, in a assertion by means of an HBO spokesperson, expressed his disappointment at the reduction of his dear buddy and co-star.
“Richard and I had been born a few days aside in the exact medical center and for most of my lifetime he’s been like a brother to me. He had that uncommon mixture of getting the funniest particular person and also the sweetest. But currently he made me sob and for that I’ll never forgive him,” David stated.
In a assertion, Larry David, right, stated, “Richard and I were being born three times aside in the similar medical center and for most of my lifestyle he’s been like a brother to me. He had that rare combination of currently being the funniest particular person and also the sweetest. But right now he produced me sob and for that I’ll under no circumstances forgive him.” (Frazer Harrison/Getty Pictures for AFI)
Their “Curb” co-star Cheryl Hines also expressed her heartbreak in excess of Lewis’ dying.
“When I was young I experienced the biggest crush on Richard Lewis. He was the funniest human being on phase and the most handsome comic. Then when I was solid on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ I acquired to do the job with him and it was a aspiration arrive correct,” Hines stated in a assertion.
CHERYL HINES ON ‘CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM’: It can be ‘NOT Also Significantly OFF FROM Genuine LIFE’
She continued, “Via the many years I realized who Richard actually was and the presents he gave. Certainly, he was the comedian I fell in like with, but he was also one particular of the most loving people I know. He would consider time to explain to the individuals he loved what they meant to him — particularly in current decades. In between normally takes on ‘Curb,’ he would explain to me how distinctive I was to him and how substantially he loved me.”
Hines concluded, “To be cherished by Richard Lewis. A correct present. I adore you Richard.”
From left: Lewis and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” co-stars Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin and Susie Essman. Hines reported in a statement Lewis “would take time to notify the men and women he loved what they meant to him — specially in the latest several years. In between can take on ‘Curb,’ he would notify me how unique I was to him and how a lot he cherished me.” (Lee Celano/WireImage)
HBO also issued a assertion, stating, “We are heartbroken to understand that Richard Lewis has handed away. His comedic brilliance, wit and talent had been unmatched. Richard will usually be a cherished member of the HBO and ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ people, our heartfelt condolences go out to his relatives, pals and all the enthusiasts who could rely on Richard to brighten their days with laughter.”
Lewis was born in New York Metropolis in 1947 and raised in New Jersey, the youngest of 3 kids.
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His stand-up job took off in the 1970s and ’80s, and he earned the nickname “The Prince of Ache” for his melancholy subjects and pouring his anguish and torment on stage.
Comedy Central named Lewis one particular of the top 50 stand-up comedians of all time, and he acquired a area on GQ magazine’s checklist of the “20th Century’s Most Influential Humorists.” He also lent his humor for charity results in, together with Comic Relief and Comedy Gives Back.
Lewis was recognized for his frequently melancholy stand-up comedy, earning the nickname “The Prince of Pain” in his early vocation. (Michael Schwartz/WireImage)
In 1989, he delivered a unforgettable general performance at Carnegie Corridor, showing on phase with taped-with each other yellow lawful pad papers for a two and a 50 percent hour set that led to two standing ovations.
The “Howard Stern” frequent also developed comedy specials for HBO and Showtime, which includes “I’m in Pain,” “I’m Exhausted, I’m Doomed,” and “Richard Lewis: The Magical Distress Tour.”
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In addition to stand-up, Lewis acted often. He co-starred on the ABC sequence “Anything at all But Really like” with Jamie Lee Curtis, and appeared in films like Mel Brooks’ “Robin Hood: Gentlemen in Tights” as a deeply neurotic Prince John. Lewis also dabbled in dramatic roles, with a cameo in the Nicolas Cage drama “Leaving Las Vegas,” which led to his own indie film, “Drunks,” a photograph that dealt with alcoholism.
Lewis was also open up in his comedy about his addiction, alcoholic beverages and psychological health and fitness struggles, anything he in-depth in his 2008 memoir “The Other Fantastic Depression” and a abide by-up, “Reflections From Hell: Richard Lewis’ Tutorial on How Not to Dwell,” released in 2015.
Lewis wrote two memoirs that dealt with his psychological health and habit struggles, as well as his comedic design. (Timothy Norris)
The comedian sought remedy in 1994 for medications and alcoholic beverages immediately after a cocaine overdose and had been sober considering the fact that.
In 2000, Lewis joined the recurring cast of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” created and prepared by and starring his pal David. Lewis performed a fictionalized variation of himself throughout the show’s 12 seasons.
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Last calendar year, Lewis verified he would look in the show’s 12th time, immediately after obtaining had to miss out on out most of the previous year to get better from surgical procedures, and experienced recently completed filming.
Lewis declared in 2023 that he was dealing with Parkinson’s condition and would be retiring from stand-up, while he would make an appearance in season 12 of “Control Your Enthusiasm.” (Emily Berl for The Washington Article by way of Getty Illustrations or photos)
He also resolved his Parkinson’s diagnosis and determination to retire from stand-up on X, stating in a movie, “I’m concluded with stand-up, I’m focusing on writing and acting.”
Lewis additional, “I have Parkinson’s sickness, but I’m less than a doctor’s treatment and almost everything is neat, and I appreciate my spouse, I like my tiny puppy doggy, and I like all my close friends and my followers, and now you know the place it is been at the final a few and a 50 percent yrs.”
Fox Information Digital’s Larry Fink and The Linked Press contributed to this report
