The beloved stand-up comedian Richard Lewis (Curb Your Enthusiasm) has passed away at age 76. Deadline has reported that the actor who worked closely with Larry David (Seinfeld), and who played a fictional version of himself in the series Curb Your Enthusiasm suffered a heart attack in his LA home. Prior to his death, Lewis had been diagnosed and living with Parkinson’s disease since April 2023.
Lewis was known for both his original comedic material as a stand-up and his comedic roles throughout his television career. Born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Eaglewood, New Jersey, Lewis was close to the hub of late-night television. Lewis made his acting breakout in an NBC special, Diary of a Young Comic, in 1979. This small short film that played in the time slot for Saturday Night Live would not only start his career in television but land him invitations onto shows hosted by Jay Leno (The Tonight Show with Jay Leno) and David Letterman (Late Show).
Known for his witty humor and edgy conversational observations, Lewis’ material wasn’t necessarily cut out for the sitcom era of the 80s and 90s. That being said, his standup work landed him specials on HBO and Showtime in 1988, 1990, and 1997. He also made appearances on sitcoms alongside stars such as Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween) in the show Anything But Love, and Don Rickles (Kelly’s Heroes)in the show Daddy Dearest.
Most recently, Lews is known for his work on the series Curb Your Enthusiasm. A show created by David, one of Lewis’ childhood buddies, Lewis’s humor made him the perfect match for the role based on, well, himself. According to Deadline, David and Lewis met in summer camp at age 12 and then reconnected within the New York comedy scene when they were in their 20s.
HBO put out a statement expressing their sorrow and sentiments; “We are heartbroken to learn that Richard Lewis has passed away. His comedic brilliance, wit, and talent were unmatched. Richard will always be a cherished member of the HBO and Curb Your Enthusiasm families, our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and all the fans who could count on Richard to brighten their days with laughter.”
Lewis will be dearly missed in the world of comedy. His embrace of his own struggles and self-awareness made him leagues ahead of those who surround him. He struggled with alcoholism, substance abuse anxiety, and childhood trauma, but he took all of those pieces from his past and embraced it all with humor.