Jamie Lee Curtis shared a deeply emotional tribute to her close friend and fellow actor Richard Lewis, who tragically passed away at the age of 76 after suffering a heart attack. Richard, best known for his role in “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” was a beloved figure in the entertainment industry, and his death has left many mourning.
Jamie, the star of the iconic “Halloween” films, and Richard were co-stars on the sitcom “Anything But Love,” which aired for four seasons from 1989 to 1992. Their friendship blossomed during this time, and they remained close ever since.
After hearing the sad news of Richard’s passing, Jamie took to Instagram to express her grief. Bette Midler had been the first to break the news, but Jamie’s heartfelt message stood out. Alongside several old photos of her and Richard, she wrote a touching post, calling him “the reason I am sober.”
Reflecting on their long friendship, Jamie recalled how she first encountered Richard’s talent. “I remember standing on Sunset Boulevard, staring at a poster for his stand-up special,” she wrote. “During the casting process for the ABC pilot ‘Anything But Love,’ I urged the team to bring him in for the role of Marty Gold, my best friend and potential love interest.”
Jamie vividly remembered her first impression of Richard: “I thought he had a great look. It’s not something a strong woman can easily do for herself, but he made me laugh so hard. He even mispronounced ‘bundt cake,’ but still nailed the role. I laughed out loud, and he blew everyone else away.”
Despite some initial doubts about the show, the chemistry between Jamie and Richard was undeniable. “The response was overwhelming,” she recalled. “Even though the pilot wasn’t picked up as a love triangle show, we reworked it, and it ran for two more years.”
Jamie also shared some behind-the-scenes moments, revealing that Richard wasn’t fond of performing stand-up in front of live audiences. “But I thought he was fantastic,” she admitted.
She recounted how Richard would sneakily hide his lines around the set, even on her face during close-ups, and how he always carried a clipboard with his lines written on it. “It turns out he was a brilliant character actor, funny and profound.”
Their bond deepened over time, as they both faced personal losses. “We grieved together over the deaths of our friend and producer John Ritter, as well as our co-star Richard Frank,” Jamie shared.
In one of their final exchanges, Richard had texted her asking for another boxed set of the show’s episodes from ABC/Disney. Jamie revealed to her followers, “In that last message, he reminded me of how much this show meant to both of us.”
“He is also the reason I am sober,” Jamie continued. “He helped me through a tough time in my life, and I will always be grateful for his kindness.”
Richard had found happiness with his wife, Joyce Lapinsky, and Jamie noted that this, along with his sobriety, was what mattered most to him. “He found love with Joyce, and that brought him so much joy,” Jamie wrote, her eyes welling up with tears as she typed. “Writing this breaks my heart, but I hope Richard is laughing somewhere, even now. My dear Marty, I love you.”
In another Instagram post, Jamie shared more memories of their time together, including a line from the theme song of “Anything But Love.” She explained that the theme song for the third and final season was written by the legendary singer-songwriter JD Souther. “It’s a beautiful song,” Jamie said. “Look it up on YouTube and listen to it. I’m sharing this with you, Richard.”
She quoted the lyrics, “We would still be searching for the next big thing and trying not to fall… If we had never met/And the world got on without us/Just as if we were never that at all.”
The loss of Richard Lewis has touched many, including his “Curb Your Enthusiasm” co-star Larry David. In a statement to HBO, Larry shared his grief, saying, “He’s been like a brother to me for most of my life. We were born just three days apart in the same hospital.”
Larry added with his trademark humor, “It doesn’t happen often, but he was the sweetest and funniest guy at the same time. But today he made me cry, and I’ll never forgive him for that.”
Cheryl Hines, another “Curb Your Enthusiasm” co-star, also paid tribute to Richard, recalling her teenage crush on him. “No one was cuter or more charming on stage,” she said. “Working with him on ‘Curb’ was a dream come true.”
As she got to know Richard better, Cheryl discovered more about the man behind the humor. “He was not only funny, but also one of the kindest people I’ve ever met,” she said. “He took the time to tell the people he loved how much they meant to him, especially in the last few years.”
Cheryl concluded with a heartfelt message: “To have Richard Lewis love you was a true gift. I adore you, Richard. You will be missed so much. I love you, Joyce, and the entire Lewis family. Richard, you were loved by so many.”
Richard Lewis leaves behind a legacy of laughter, kindness, and love. His friends and fans will miss him dearly, but his memory will continue to bring smiles to those who knew and loved him.
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