– Richard Lewis, an American stand-up comedian and actor, died at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 76. The cause was reported to be a heart attack.
– Lewis came to prominence in the 1970s and 80s for his acerbic, neurotic style of stand-up comedy. He became a frequent guest on late night talk shows and had many successful comedy specials.
– In addition to his stand-up career, Lewis also acted in numerous TV shows and movies, most notably playing a semi-fictionalized version of himself in the HBO series “Curb Your Enthusiasm”.
– Lewis was considered part of a generation of influential comedians from the 70s-80s era known for their sarcastic, observational humor dealing with urban issues. Comedians like Billy Crystal praised Lewis’ open and honest emotionally-driven style.
– In recent years Lewis had continued acting while also being public about his struggles with addiction, depression, and 2020 announcement that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
– Lewis passed away at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 76 from an apparent heart attack. He is survived by his wife Joyce Lapinsky.
Source: NY Times
