Your location on the site
Richard Lewis struggled with life and love, and was not afraid to poke at his wounds on stage in a controlling and anxiety-inducing manner. Farewell to the “prince of pain” of comedy
Lewis at the premiere for the seventh season of “Calm Down”. Sarcastic wit and urban uneasiness Photo: Phil McCarten, Reuters
Richard Lewis, who gained fame for his sharp black humor, was among the best-known names among the generation of comedians who came of age in the Seventies and Eighties, years that presented a world of weary and sarcastic wit, combined with a sense of urban uneasiness. After his success in the nightclubs in New York, Lewis became a regular guest on the light-night shows. He was in demand for his meticulous and well-timed show, as well as for his openness as an interviewee. For David Letterman’s talk show, for example, he was invited 48 times. Lewis also symbolized the rise of stand-up with the expansion of cable television in the late 1980s.
Claims…