Richard Lewis has died at the age of 76.
The stand-up comedian, also known for playing his fictional self on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” died of a heart attack at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday night (February 27), his publicist Jeff Abraham said. . confirmed.
In a statement to Deadline, he added: “My wife, Joyce Lapinski, would like to thank you for your love, friendship and support and requests privacy at this time.”
The confirmation from Richard's publicist came after Bette Midler first broke the news of his death.
She wrote to X: “Sadly, the great Richard Lewis has passed away.”
Richard began his career as a comedian in New York and Los Angeles in the late 1970s and quickly became a late-night television favorite on shows such as “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”
Last year, he announced his retirement from stand-up after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
He told fans that he had been going through a “tough time” over the past three and a half years. That included four consecutive surgeries on his back, shoulder and hip, and being told two years ago that he had a progressive disease that caused him to “start walking a little stiff” and limping. After asking for help when I started.
In a video shared with “You know I'm at the top.” “My game, I've been doing it for almost 15 years and I think I'm going to call it quits.” And I was feeling really good about it, and then all of a sudden, the fans were shocked. ran. I underwent four surgeries in quick succession. It was unbelievable, unbelievable, unlucky, but that's life…
“I went to a neurologist and had a brain scan and he diagnosed me with Parkinson’s disease. That was about two years ago.
“I discovered this disease late in life, and progress is very slow, if at all.
“I just wanted you to know it was here.
“I'm done with stand-up. I'm just focusing on writing and acting. I have Parkinson's disease, but my doctors are treating me and everything is going well.”