Richard Lewis was a stand-up comedian who first rose to fame in the 1980s for his trademark dry, dark sense of humor, a trait he later parlayed into an acting career, starring in Robin Hood: In the Tights. He has worked on films such as “The Man Who Was There'' and Rerun. The actor, who appeared as himself on HBO's “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” died Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 76 years old.
His publicist, Jeff Abraham, said the cause was a heart attack. Mr. Lewis announced last year that he has Parkinson's disease.
Mr. Lewis was one of the best-known figures of the generation of comedians who came of age in the 1970s and 1980s, and his world-weary comedy style well reflected the urban malaise in which many of them made their living. He was characterized by his sarcastic wit. .
He became a regular on late-night talk shows, gaining popularity not only for his casual, open amiability as an interviewee, but also for his tight acting. And he was at the forefront of his stand-up comedy boom that accompanied the expansion of cable and television in the late 1980s.
Mr. Lewis later moved into the world of acting. He starred opposite Jamie Lee Curtis in the comedy Anything But Love from 1989 to 1992. Starting in 1999, he had a regular role on Curb Your Enthusiasm, playing Larry's good friend and golf buddy. David, the star and creator of the show.
Although he did not appear in every episode, he appeared regularly, including in the current season, which was the last season of the show.
A full obituary will be posted soon.
orlando mallorquin Contributed to the report.