‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’, ‘Anything but Love‘, ‘Once Upon a Crime’, and ‘Wagons East’ had one thing in common. It was Richard Lewis, one of America’s most beloved and revered stand-up comics. Ever since he kicked off his career in the 80s, Lewis blessed countless people around the world with a smile on their faces. But now, all of it came to an abrupt end when he passed away due to a sudden heart attack. 

Lewis was creative and not just funny when it came to presenting a comedy skit. One of his best works might be ‘Robin Hood: Men in Tights’, where his brilliance in comedy achieved a worldwide reach. However, this heartbreaking news moved Hollywood, and many from the NBA world to share their condolences. While the news caught everyone by surprise, a few reports revealed that Lewis was diagnosed with another disease last year. 

Was Richard Lewis nearing death even before the unexpected heart attack? 

Richard Lewis died when he was with his family in LA. Last year a few reports revealed that Lewis was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. It is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves. It is widely known as a disease with no cure, but it is not deadly in most cases.

Despite that, Lewis revealed he was “doing quite well” in one of his final interviews. Even in disappointing times like this, Richard Lewis had a very positive mindset. He shared that he was “lucky” for getting Parkinson’s this late in life. Apart from all of this, he also had three surgeries back-to-back, on his hip, back, and shoulder in the last few years.

Born Richard Philip Lewis on June 29, 1947, in Brooklyn and raised in Englewood, NJ. In a 2014 interview with the Washington Post, Lewis described his childhood as “difficult.” He said that his father was always busy with his catering business and his older siblings had left home, leaving Lewis alone with his mother. This created a lot of friction between the two and led him to suspect his birth to be a mistake.

The Wagons East actor was known for being the class clown and causing trouble in school. He graduated from Ohio State University before landing in the New York and Los Angeles comedy scenes of the 1970s. Mr. Lewis rose to national prominence through his 1980s television specials, telling stories about his failed romances and tumultuous childhood while reminding audiences that “life isn’t supposed to be great all the time.”

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His stand-up performances could best be described as straddling comedy and therapy. The American actor’s final stages of life were quite “rocky” according to him, but he was happy he got all of this very late in life. Lewis believed he had an “amazing life”, despite the late struggles. He had no children but his memory is carried forward by his wife, Joyce Lapinsky. Friends, castmates, and fans shared their remembrances of Richard Lewis and paid tributes to the beloved comedian who died on Tuesday at the age of 76.

Heartbroken celebrities bid farewell to The Prince of Pain

Lewis’ comedy delved deeply into his personal struggles with anxiety and addiction, showcasing his journey to sobriety amidst a backdrop of humor and self-reflection. Dubbed “The Prince of Pain,” his performances were both confessional and probing. He surely had an impact on the young generation, too.

His demise must be bitter for his young fans and one of them was Michael Jordan‘s 33-year-old son Marcus Jordan, who expressed his condolences. He commented on an Instagram post, “Wow rest in peace”, reacting to Lewis’s death. 

Larry David who created and starred on Curb Your Enthusiasm, reflected on his longtime friendship with Lewis. Larry said in a statement, “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.”

It looks like former Phoenix Suns guard Rex Chapman was also a fan of the enigmatic comedian. He shared on X, “Genius. RIP Richard…”, along with a video of Lewis’s iconic performance in the famous sitcom, ‘Two and a Half Men’.

3x Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford was also devastated by Richard Lewis’s passing. He shared on X as well, “RIP to the legend Richard Lewis. Prayers to his family”, mourning the 76-year-old’s death.  

HBO released a statement on Wednesday that read, “We are heartbroken to learn that Richard Lewis has passed away. His comedic brilliance, wit and talent were unmatched. Richard will always be a cherished member of the HBO and Curb Your Enthusiasm families, our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends and all the fans who could count on Richard to brighten their days with laughter.”

Although he retired from performing following his Parkinson’s diagnosis, he returned to Curb periodically, most recently during the show’s current and final season.

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