Legendary comedian Richard Lewis has died following a heart attack at his home. He was 76.
Lewis rose to prominence in the 1980s as a self-deprecating, neurotic and often frank stand-up comedian who wasn't afraid to peak into the darker chapters of his life.
In later years, he became known for his frequent cameos on the iconic HBO sitcom “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
His credits also include “Leaving Las Vegas” and Mel Brooks' “Robin Hood: Men in Tights.”
Variety has reaction from his co-star and friend Larry David:
“Richard and I were born three days apart in the same hospital and for most of my life he's been like a brother to me,” David wrote in a statement Wednesday, shared by HBO. “He had that rare combination of being the funniest person and also the sweetest. But today he made me sob and for that I'll never forgive him.”
Lewis emerged as a fan favorite over his appearances across more than 40 episodes of “Curb,” including the 2000 pilot. Like David, Lewis played a somewhat fictionalized version of himself in the series. In 2021, Lewis publicly announced that he would not return to the long-running program to take time to recover from three surgeries. However, he later reversed course to make a one-scene appearance. He returned again for Season 12, which is currently airing new episodes on HBO.
“I've devoted my life to comedy and my sobriety the last almost 27 years. I'm overwhelmed with joy right now,” Lewis told Variety in 2021 regarding his return to “Curb.” “I never learned how to keep joy in my head for more than a minute, but I'm breaking all records for my life today.”
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