FOLLOWING THE DEATH of Richard Lewis, many of his fans and fellow actors from throughout the years are paying tribute. The actor and comedian, who became known in the ’80s and ’90s for his dark and self-deprecating style of humor, died of a heart attack on February 27, at the age of 76.
Lewis played a semi-fictionalized version of himself on the long-running sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasmin which he would frequently clash with central character Larry David. In real life, the two comics were close friends; they reportedly first met when they were 12 years old at summer camp, and then became reacquainted as adults, forming a bond while they were both coming up in New York’s stand-up comedy scene.
HBO commemorated Lewis in a social media postwriting that “his comedic brilliance, wit and talent were unmatched.” In a statement also released by HBO, Curb Your Enthusiasm creator and star Larry David shared a touching tribute to his friend and co-star.
“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 wrote. “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.”
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In 2023, Lewis announced that he would also stop performing live stand-up, having been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. He had already departed Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2021, following a series of surgeries which required a lengthy recovery period. However, he returned to the series in one episode of the show’s twelfth and final season, which is currently airing on HBO.
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Philip Ellis is News Editor at Men’s Healthcovering fitness, pop culture, sex and relationships, and LGBTQ+ issues. His work has appeared in GQ, Teen Vogue, Man Repeller and MTV, and he is the author of Love & Other Scams.