Curb Your Enthusiasm star and creator Larry David paid tribute to his late friend Richard Lewis on Wednesday.
Lewis death was first announced by Bette Midler on X (formerly Twitter), before it was subsequently confirmed that he had died at 76 by Variety.
David, also 76, called his fellow comedian ‘like a brother’ in a moving tribute shared in a statement by HBO.
‘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 said.
Lewis is credited as appearing in 41 of the 114 episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm aired to date, including the 2000 special that created the framework for the series, according to IMDb.
Curb Your Enthusiasm star and creator Larry David paid tribute to his late friend Richard Lewis on Wednesday after Lewis’ death at 76; still from Curb Your Enthusiasm
David, also 76, called his fellow comedian ‘like a brother’ in a moving tribute shared in a statement by HBO; pictured together on Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2020
Lewis announced in 2023 that he had been battling Parkinson’s disease for three-and-a-half years; pictured in 2011 on Curb Your Enthusiasm
True to life, the comedian played one of the curmudgeonly David’s best friends, though the two often ended up at each other’s throats for comic effect.
‘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.’
Fans were heartbroken after Lewis announced in 2021 that he wouldn’t be returning to Curb for its eleventh season after he recovered from multiple surgeries, though he later changed course and appeared in a single scene, before returning more substantially to the ongoing twelfth and final season.
Lewis had already been diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the time he said he would be stepping away from David’s show, though he wouldn’t share the information publicly until April 2023.
Larry David’s longtime Curb costar Cheryl Hines — who initially played his wife, and later his ex-wife — also expressed her love for Lewis in a moving caption accompanying a photo of the two beaming next to each other.
‘When I was young I had the biggest crush on Richard Lewis,’ she admitted. ‘He was the funniest person on stage and the most handsome comedian. Then when I was cast on Curb Your Enthusiasm, I got to work with him and it was a dream come true.
‘Through the years I learned who Richard really was and the gifts he gave,’ Hines continued. ‘Yes, he was the comedian I fell in love with, but he was also one of the most loving people I know.
‘He would take time to tell the people he loved what they meant to him — especially in recent years. In between takes on Curb, he would tell me how special I was to him and how much he loved me.
‘To be loved by Richard Lewis. A true gift,’ she added. ‘I love you Richard.’
Larry David’s longtime Curb costar Cheryl Hines — who initially played his wife, and later his ex-wife — also expressed her love for Lewis in a moving caption accompanying a photo of the two beaming next to each other
David was joined by numerous other high-profile comedians and actors including Steve Martin, Jimmy Kimmel , Michael McKean, Albert Brooks, Paul Feig, Loni Love and many more; Martin pictured in 2022 in LA
Steve Martin, 78, shared a brief post in response to Bette Midler’s death announcement, calling Lewis’ death a ‘Great sadness’
Jamie Lee Curtis costarred with Lewis on the sitcom Anything But Love for four seasons from 1989 through its cancellation in 1992
In her caption, she praised her late costar and cited him as the reason she was eventually able to get sober; pictured together with John Ritter (R)
Despite the fact that he would hide his lines everywhere on set — including on Curtis’ face, she said Lewis ‘was a wonderful actor’
‘He helped me. I am forever grateful for him for that act of grace alone,’ she wrote, admitting that she was ‘weeping’ as she composed her post. ‘Strange way of saying thank you to a sweet and funny man. Rest in laughter, Richard. My Marty, I love you, Hannah!’
David and Hines were joined by numerous other high-profile comedians and actors including Steve Martin, Jimmy Kimmel, Michael McKean, Albert Brooks, Paul Feig, Loni Love and many more.
Martin, 78, shared a brief post in response to Midler, calling Lewis’ death a ‘Great sadness.’
Although the two funny men never shared the screen for a major project, they are both considered two of the major stand-up comedians of the past century.
Others, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Jimmy Kimmel, Michael McKean, Albert Brooks and Paul Feig were just some of the actors and comedians who shared their love and appreciation for Lewis on social media.
Curtis costarred with Lewis on the sitcom Anything But Love for four seasons from 1989 through its cancellation in 1992.
She shared promotional stills from the series of the two looking affectionate, including one featuring guest star John Ritter.
In her caption, she praised her late costar and cited him as the reason she was eventually able to get sober.
‘I’ve just read that my friend Richard Lewis has died. I remember exactly where I was when I saw a billboard of him about a stand up special on Sunset Boulevard when we were casting the ABC pilot Anything But Love and asked the casting people to bring him in to audition to play my best friend/maybe boyfriend, Marty Gold,’ she wrote, admitting that she found him ‘handsome.’
‘He made me laugh, which is the one thing that a strong, capable woman, can’t really do for herself. He got the part when I snort laughed when he mispronounced the word Bundt cake,’ she continued. ‘He blew everyone else away.
She said they were supposed to be part of a love triangle, but their stellar chemistry mad producers retool the show with just the two as the leads.
Despite the fact that he would hide his lines everywhere on set — including on Curtis’ face, she said Lewis ‘was a wonderful actor.’
‘Richard’s last text to me, was hoping that I could convince ABC/Disney to put out another boxed set of episodes of the show,’ she revealed, before admitting: ‘He also is the reason I am sober.’
‘He helped me. I am forever grateful for him for that act of grace alone,’ she wrote, admitting that she was ‘weeping’ as she composed her post. ‘Strange way of saying thank you to a sweet and funny man. Rest in laughter, Richard. My Marty, I love you, Hannah!’
Jimmy Kimmel shared a black-and-white photo of Lewis holding a baseball bat, captioning it, ‘they don’t come any better than Richard’
The Spinal Tap star Michael McKean managed to find some levity in paying tribute to the late comedian
![Albert Brooks wrote that Lewis was a 'brilliantly funny man who will [be] missed by all,' adding,' The world needed him now more than ever'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/28/22/81842601-13137987-image-a-124_1709160975019.jpg)
Albert Brooks wrote that Lewis was a ‘brilliantly funny man who will [be] missed by all,’ adding,’ The world needed him now more than ever’
Paul Feig wrote that he was ‘devastated’ to hear of Lewis’ death, and he called the comic ‘so supportive’ and ‘truly one of the funniest people on the planet’
Mark Hamill wrote that he was ‘so sad’ to learn that Lewis had died. ‘He was one-of-a-kind & always hilarious. Thank you for a lifetime of laughter,’ he wrote
Jimmy Kimmel shared a black-and-white photo of Lewis holding a baseball bat, captioning it, ‘they don’t come any better than Richard.’
The Spinal Tap star Michael McKean managed to find some levity in paying tribute to the late comedian.
‘Farewell, Richard Lewis. Procol Harum has lost another fan, and the rest of us have lost a very good man,’ he wrote sweetly.
Albert Brooks wrote that Lewis was a ‘brilliantly funny man who will [be] missed by all,’ adding,’ The world needed him now more than ever.’
Paul Feig wrote that he was ‘devastated’ to hear of Lewis’ death.
‘Richard was my hero when I was a standup. I was lucky enough to get to know him and he was the most wonderful man. So supportive and kind and truly one of the funniest people on the planet. You will be missed, my friend,’ he wrote.
Mark Hamill wrote that he was ‘so sad’ to learn that Lewis had died.
‘He was one-of-a-kind & always hilarious. Thank you for a lifetime of laughter,’ he wrote.
Robert B. Weide, an EP on Curb Your Enthusiasm and its principal director for its first five years, paid tribute to Lewis with three photos of the two together, each taken nearly two decades apart
Nancy Sinatra shared a report of the comic’s death, writing, ‘This is dreadful news. I will always love Richard’
The stand-up star Bill Burr wrote that Lewis was a ‘true original’ and ‘an absolutely fearless comedian who did and said what he wanted’
Fellow comedian Dane Cook added: ‘Aww @TheRichardLewis I love you and will miss you man. You were a champion. RIP’
‘Richard Lewis was the best,’ wrote Loni Love. ‘he was lovely, hilarious and authentic. Make God laugh my friend’
The English comedy writer Danny Baker tried to tap into some gallows humor that Lewis might have appreciated
Robert B. Weide, an executive producer on Curb Your Enthusiasm and its principal director for its first five years, paid tribute to Lewis with three photos of the two together, each taken nearly two decades apart.
‘1984. 2004. 2023,’ he wrote, referring to when the pictures were snapped. ‘Reeling from the news. The suddenness of it. I love you, Pal. Always have. Always will.’
Nancy Sinatra shared a report of the comic’s death, writing, ‘This is dreadful news. I will always love Richard.’
The stand-up star Bill Burr wrote that Lewis was a ‘true original’ and ‘an absolutely fearless comedian who did and said what he wanted.’
Fellow comedian Dane Cook added: ‘Aww @TheRichardLewis I love you and will miss you man. You were a champion. RIP.’
‘Richard Lewis was the best,’ wrote Loni Love. ‘he was lovely, hilarious and authentic. Make God laugh my friend.’
The English comedy writer Danny Baker tried to tap into some gallows humor that Lewis might have appreciated.
‘Told my wife the awful news Richard Lewis had did. She said, “Oh. But he never looked well though did he?”‘
Sam Morril recalled one of his favorite lines from Lewis’ book I’m Dying Up Here after sharing his sorry at his death: ‘I’ll buy you a tuna sandwich anywhere in this city’
The guitarist Nils Lofgren shared a photo of himself with Lewis. ‘Say it ain’t so!!’ he wrote ‘Damn, we needed you here’
The comedian Jeffrey Ross recalled seeing Lewis at Carnegie Hall in 1989, and he said the veteran comic taught him that ‘you don’t have to play guitar or write songs to be a rockstar’
Dave Attell called Lewis ‘one of the Greats’
Todd Snider wrote that he would be ‘lost without’ his ‘daily phone calls’ to Lewis. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever been sadder than I am right now and I will think of you every day’
He clarified that she meant, ‘”He always looked like his time was up.”‘
Baker added, ‘I realized this is a very Larry David (and correct) response.’
Sam Morril recalled one of his favorite lines from Lewis’ book I’m Dying Up Here after sharing his sorry at his death: ‘I’ll buy you a tuna sandwich anywhere in this city.’
The guitarist Nils Lofgren shared a photo of himself with Lewis.
‘Say it ain’t so!!’ he wrote ‘Damn, we needed you here.’
The comedian Jeffrey Ross recalled seeing Lewis at Carnegie Hall in 1989, and he said the veteran comic taught him that ‘you don’t have to play guitar or write songs to be a rockstar.’
‘We called each other “son of a caterer” because both our dads ran famous catering halls in New Jersey,’ he shared. ‘He was such a mensch. Long Live King Richard! — son of a caterer.’
Dave Attell called Lewis ‘one of the Greats.’
Todd Snider wrote that he would be ‘lost without’ his ‘daily phone calls’ to Lewis.
Judy Gold called Lewis a ‘gift’ and shared a sweet text message of the two saying they loved each other.
HBO, where Lewis was a mainstay, also paid tribute to him in a social media post
‘I don’t think I’ve ever been sadder than I am right now and I will think of you every day,’ he added.
Judy Gold called Lewis a ‘gift’ and shared a sweet text message of the two saying they loved each other.
HBO, where Lewis was a mainstay, also paid tribute to him in a social media post.
‘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,’ the cable channel shared on its X account. ‘Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends and all the fans who could count on Richard to brighten their days with laughter.’