The US comedian and actor Richard Lewis, who appeared alongside “Seinfeld” producer Larry David in the sitcom “Leave it, Larry!” (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) is dead. He died peacefully in his home in Los Angeles after a heart attack, his spokesman Jeff Abraham said on Wednesday (local time). Lewis was 76 years old. He announced last year that he had Parkinson’s disease.
Lewis made his breakthrough in the United States in the 1980s as a stand-up comedian with his typically biting and dark humor. He became known to a wider audience through his role in Mel Brooks’ “Robin Hood” in the early 1990s, where Lewis played Prince John. He also repeatedly had guest appearances in the hit series “Leave it, Larry!”.
“The funniest and at the same time the sweetest person”
Numerous colleagues paid tribute to the late comedian. Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis described him as a wonderful actor and “incredibly funny”. She is eternally grateful to him for helping her overcome her addiction problems. She recalled their joint sitcom “Everything but Love” (1989 to 1992), in which they played lovers. Stars such as Bette Midler, Steve Martin, Albert Brooks and Ben Stiller also expressed their sadness and praised Lewis’ talent. Comedian Larry David described Lewis as a “rare mix, the funniest and at the same time the sweetest person.”
In the improv sitcom “Leave it, Larry!”, which has been running since 2000. Lewis had a supporting role as a cynical, neurotic comedian who plays a fictional version of himself. In addition to TV series, he also made feature films such as the Western parody “Wagons East” (1994) and “Leaving Las Vegas (1995) alongside Nicolas Cage.