One of America’s most beloved and famous stand-up comedians, Richard Lewis, died on Tuesday night. The 76-year-old comedian suffered a heart attack. Lewis came to the limelight in the 1980s for his dark and self-deprecating jokes. He was featured in the famous sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm, where he played a fictionalized version of himself. The comedian revealed last year that he was suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
His publicist, Jeff Abraham, confirmed Richard Lewis’ death. As per Deadline, Abraham stated,
His wife, Joyce Lapinsky, thanks everyone for all the love, friendship, and support and asks for privacy at this time.
Born in 1947 in Brooklyn, Lewis entered the New York and Los Angeles comedy scenes in the 1970s and gained popularity. Mainly, he wore black clothes, emphasizing his dark comedy. His official website features a quote by Mel Brooks stating,
Richard Lewis may just be the Franz Kafka of modern-day comedy.
Richard Lewis was a regular on the late-night talk shows and instantly became the audience’s favorite. He starred in the ABC TV comedy “Anything But Love” with Jamie Lee Curtis. Richard’s most popular film roles include Prince John in “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” in 1993. After that, he starred with Larry David in the HBO original “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” where both of them continuously argued with each other.
HBO mourned Richard Lewis’ death through a tweet shared on their X account. It read,
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… pic.twitter.com/tNaQEqzhF1
— HBO (@HBO) February 28, 2024
His co-stars, including Jamie Lee Curtis, have mourned Richard Lewis’ death through Instagram.
