Larry David has penned a heartfelt tribute to his dear friend and longtime co-star, Richard Lewis, following Lewis’s passing at the age of 76 due to a heart attack on Tuesday.
“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 expressed in a statement 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 endeared himself to audiences with his recurring role in more than 40 episodes of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” including its 2000 pilot, where he portrayed a fictionalized version of himself, much like David. Despite initially stepping back from the show in 2021 to focus on recuperating from surgeries, Lewis eventually returned for a poignant one-scene appearance and continued his involvement into the ongoing Season 12.
“I’ve devoted my life to comedy and my sobriety the last almost 27 years. I’m overwhelmed with joy right now,” Lewis shared with Variety in 2021, reflecting on 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.”
Jamie Lee Curtis, who shared the screen with Lewis on the ABC comedy series “Anything but Love” in the early ’90s, honored him with a touching tribute on Instagram. Recalling their last interaction, Curtis revealed Lewis’s desire for another release of their show’s episodes and credited him for aiding her in her journey to sobriety. She fondly remembered his devotion to his wife, Joyce, and expressed her deep sorrow over his passing.
In response to the news, HBO expressed profound sadness, acknowledging Lewis’s unparalleled comedic brilliance and the indelible mark he left on both the network and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” They extended their condolences to his family, friends, and countless fans who found solace in Lewis’s humor.
Journey Gunderson, executive director of the National Comedy Center, highlighted Lewis’s pioneering role in shaping the landscape of stand-up comedy during the 1970s. She praised his deeply personal, introspective, and neurotic comedic style, emphasizing his profound influence on the art form and underscoring his enduring legacy in comedy’s rich heritage.
