Larry David, Richard Lewis on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’.Photo:John P. Johnson/ HBO
John P. Johnson/ HBO
Tributes are pouring in followingthe news of Richard Lewis’ death.
The stand-up comedian, best known for his role onCurb Your Enthusiasm, died on Tuesday at age 76.
“Comedian/Actor Richard Lewis passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles last night after suffering a heart attack,” read a statement from his rep, Jeff Abraham. “His wife, Joyce Lapinsky, thanks everyone for all the love, friendship and support and asks for privacy at this time.”
In a statement to PEOPLE, Lewis' longtimeCurbcostar and friend,Larry David, said of the sad news: “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. 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.”
Larry David, Richard Lewis, Jeff Garlin on season 3 of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’.Everett
Everett
“When I was young I had the biggest crush on Richard Lewis. He was the funniest person on stage and the most handsome comedian. Then when I was cast onCurb Your Enthusiasm, I got to work with him and it was a dream come true," Hines, 58, says.
“Through the years I learned who Richard really was and the gifts he gave. Yes, he was the comedian I fell in love with, but he was also one of the most loving people I know. He would take time to tell the people he loved what they meant to him - especially in recent years. In between takes onCurb, he would tell me how special I was to him and how much he loved me,” she continues, adding, “I love you Richard.”
heryl Hines and Richard Lewis attend the Curb Your Enthusiasm FYC Panel at DGA Theater Complex on April 10, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.Charley Gallay/FilmMagic
Charley Gallay/FilmMagic
The originalCurb Your Enthusiasmdirector, Rob Weide, sharedphotoswith Lewis from 1984, 2004 and 2023 as he wrote, “Reeling from the news. The suddenness of it. I love you, Pal. Always have. Always will.”
Jamie Lee Curtis, who led the ABC sitcomAnything But Lovewith Lewis for three years, also weighed in, sharing a lengthystatementon Instagram as she recalled their first meeting — and how important his friendship was to her.
“I remember exactly where I was when I saw a billboard of him about a stand up special on Sunset Boulevard when we were casting the ABC pilotAnything But Loveand asked the casting people to bring him in to audition to play my best friend/maybe boyfriend, Marty Gold. I thought he was handsome. He made me laugh, which is the one thing that a strong, capable woman, can’t really do for herself,” she wrote.
“He got the part when I snort laughed when he mispronounced the word Bundt cake. He blew everyone else away. It was a love triangle show and they didn’t pick up that pilot but they came back to me and said that the chemistry with Richard was so great and could we revamp the original pilot which is the show we ended up making for a couple years.”
Jamie Lee Curtis and Richard Lewis in ‘Anything but Love’ (1991).ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Reflecting on their time together on the sitcom, which ran for five seasons, Curtis, 65, said, “He was also a stand-up comic and hated the live audience, where I, who had never done a play, loved it. He used to hide his lines everywhere on the set, on props, door frames, on my face in a close up and was always carrying a clipboard with his lines on them. It turns out he was a wonderful actor. Deep and so freaking funny.”
“He also is the reason I am sober. He helped me. I am forever grateful for him for that act of grace alone," she continued. “He found love with Joyce and that, of course, besides his sobriety, is what mattered most to him. I’m weeping as I write this. Strange way of saying thank you to a sweet and funny man. Rest in laughter, Richard. My Marty, I love you, Hannah!”
Tim Allen tells PEOPLE, “So very sad about the loss of my dear friend Richard Lewis. God bless your wife. So much legacy comedy you have left here. So very sad you’re gone.”
Lewis’Robin Hood: Men in TightscostarCary Elwesshared in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the pair “were literally just making plans to get together” as he reacted to the news.
“Besides your remarkable talent there was no one sweeter or more generous than you, my friend. I miss you already & forever. Rest in Power, Richard. Our sincere condolences to Joyce, his family & fans.”
Mel Brooks, who also starred with the late actor onRobin Hood, issued a statement, too, as he said he was “so lucky” to star alongside him in the 1993 film — but he was “even luckier to have him in my life.”
“I was so sorry to hear that we lost Richard Lewis. I will miss him very much. He was so funny,” theposton X said.
Ben Stillerdescribed Lewis as “a true comedy great” as he reacted to the news.
“I never met a kinder, more empathetic comedy genius. He was so funny. And deep.As a stand up he was really iconic in the 70s. Cool, funny, self deprecating and hip. He was a friend to my parents and the whole Stiller family,” Stiller continued in atweet. “As a kid I remember seeing him at the Improv and how nice he was to me and my sister. Over the years he would always reach out with support and love or a kind word - sometimes out of the blue. It always felt special to hear from him. I feel very lucky to have known him over all these years. I’m sad I won’t see him again.”
Bette Midlercommented on the news, too, calling it “sad” in atweet, while legendary singerNancy Sinatracalledit “dreadful news” as she wrote in a tweet, “I will always love Richard. 😢.”
Richard Lewis in ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’.Hbo/Kobal/Shutterstock
Comedian and directorPaul Feigsaid that Lewis was his “hero” when he was doing stand-up comedy.
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Fellow comedian Dane Cook called Lewis “a champion” as he wrote in atweet, “I love you and will miss you man.”
Actor and comedian Michael McKean wrote in atweet, “Farewell, Richard Lewis. Procol Harum has lost another fan, and the rest of us have lost a very good man.”
source: people.com
