It’s another gut punch for comedy fans around the world today as news broke that standup comedianRichard Lewishas passed away. The actor, whoin recent years was best known for his appearance onCurb Your Enthusiasm, was 76. At this time, no further details surrounding the cause of his death have been released. Along withLarry David’s hit HBO comedy series, Lewis’s fandom will remember him from performances in other titles including oppositeJamie Lee CurtisinAnything but Loveand as the evil Prince John in the cult classic,Robin Hood: Men in Tights.
A natural at making people laugh and realizing that his brand of comedy was all about self-deprecation, Lewis began his career as a standup comedian in his hometown of New York City. Never one to shy away from spinning jokes from his personal life and background, Lewis gained the respect of audiences by being lighthearted and basing bits off of his struggles with drugs and alcohol. The performer would eventually catch his big break onThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, after hitting the bricks and performing at whatever nightclubs would take him. By the ’80s and ’90s, Lewis was a staple in the late night circuit, performing on the stages of such shows asLate Show with David Letterman,The Howard Stern Show, andThe Tonight Show. It was also during these formative years that Lewis would nab coveted standup specials on networks like Showtime and HBO, further solidifying his status as an on-the-rise talent.
By the late ’80s, Lewis was dipping into the world of television, most notably opposite Curtis on the aforementioned sitcom,Anything but Love. The ABC series saw the duo appear as two co-workers trying to keep their affection for one another on the downlow despite their ever-growing sexual tension. After that, Lewis joinedDon RicklesinHiller and Diller, which had a much shorter shelf-life thanAnything but Love. What could’ve been seen as a downswing in Lewis’s career was a stroke of luck as, with his schedule clear, he was able to star inMel Brooks’sRobin Hood: Men in Tightsand the star-studdedPeter Cohndrama feature,Drunks.
Richard Lewis On ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’
As time rolled towards the new millennium, Lewis continued his hustle, appearing in shows likeRude Awakeningand7th Heavenbut it was with his appearance in David’sCurb Your Enthusiasmthat the standup comedian was truly able to show off his chops. Having been a friend ofthe show’s creator and leading starsince they were both working the stages of New York City nightlife, it was an easy decision for Lewis to pair up with David on his HBO project. In the series, Lewis played a fictionalized version of himself, and like many other characters on the show, he and David’s personalities clash leading to hijinks galore. With the productionnow in its twelfth and final season, it will be an especially difficult one to watch knowing that it contains some of Lewis’ final performances.
At this time we’re sending our condolences to Lewis’ loved ones.
