Richard Lewis (comedian) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Lewis
Richard Lewis in 2018
Born	(1947-06-29)June 29, 1947 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	February 28, 2024(2024-02-28) (aged 76)
Medium	Stand-up, television, film
Genres	Dark comedy, surreal humor
Subject(s)	Self-deprecation, neuroticism, psychotherapy, hypochondria, paranoia, depression, bipolar disorder, Jewish culture, pop culture, family, eating disorders, annoyance
Spouse	Joyce Lapinsky ​ (m. 2005)​

Richard Philip Lewis (born June 29, 1947 – died February 2024) was a famous American actor, writer, and stand-up comedian. He became well-known in the 1980s. People knew him for his unique style of humor.

His comedy was often described as "dark" and "self-deprecating." This means he joked about serious topics and made fun of himself. As an actor, he starred with Jamie Lee Curtis in the TV show Anything but Love. He also played Prince John in the movie Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Many people remember him for playing a funny, slightly fictional version of himself in HBO's hit show Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Richard Lewis's Early Life

Richard Lewis was born in Brooklyn, New York, on June 29, 1947. He grew up in Englewood, New Jersey. His family was Jewish, but they were not very religious. His father, Bill, owned a catering business. His mother, Blanche, was an actress in local plays.

Richard was the youngest of three children. His brother was 6 years older, and his sister was 9 years older. His father's business kept him very busy. By the 1960s, his older siblings had moved out. This left Richard at home mostly with his mother, and they often didn't get along. He once joked that he thought his birth might have been a mistake!

At school, Richard was known for being the class clown and getting into mischief. He finished Dwight Morrow High School in 1965. Later, he went to Ohio State University and earned a degree in marketing.

Richard Lewis's Comedy Career

Richard Lewis in Curb Your Enthusiasm, 2023

Richard Lewis first tried stand-up comedy in 1971. This was at an open-mic night in Greenwich Village, New York. He started writing and performing comedy regularly in 1972. At the same time, he worked as a writer for an advertising company.

Comedian David Brenner discovered Lewis performing in Greenwich Village. Brenner helped Lewis's career a lot. He introduced him to comedy clubs in Los Angeles. He also helped Lewis get his first appearance on The Tonight Show. By the mid-1970s, Lewis was appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Magazines like New York Magazine called him one of the "new breed" of comedians. Other famous comedians from that time included Robert Klein and Richard Pryor.

Lewis was famous for his "dark comedy" and for making fun of himself. He also openly talked about his worries and anxieties. He often wore all-black clothes during his shows. He would pace and use wild hand gestures while performing. In his early days, he even brought taped-together sheets of paper on stage. These notes helped him remember his jokes and topics.

Acting on Screen

Lewis made his first acting appearance in a film called Diary of a Young Comic in 1979. This 90-minute movie was shown on NBC. It was a funny look at the Hollywood comedy scene. Lewis played Billy Gondola, a young Jewish comedian. Billy leaves New York City to try and become famous in Los Angeles. Lewis helped write the script for this movie.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Lewis became even more famous. He appeared many times on popular talk shows. These included The Tonight Show and Late Show with David Letterman. He also created several comedy specials for TV. These specials had funny titles like I'm in Pain and I'm Exhausted.

From 1988 to 1992, he co-starred with Jamie Lee Curtis in the TV show Anything but Love. He also played Prince John in the 1993 movie Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Lewis appeared in other films too, such as Drunks (1995) and Leaving Las Vegas (1995).

In the 2000s, Lewis had regular roles on TV shows. He played a movie producer on Rude Awakening. He also played Rabbi Richard Glass on the family show 7th Heaven.

One of his most famous roles was playing a version of himself on Curb Your Enthusiasm. He acted alongside the show's creator, Larry David. Richard Lewis and Larry David actually met at summer camp when they were 12 years old! Lewis said they didn't like each other much back then. But they met again years later as stand-up comedians in New York and became good friends. They were even born in the same hospital, just three days apart.

Richard Lewis's Recognition

Richard Lewis was recognized for his unique comedic talent. GQ magazine named him one of "The 20th Century's Most Influential Humorists." In 2004, Comedy Central ranked him #45 on their list of the "100 Greatest Standups of All Time."

In 2006, a book called The Yale Book of Quotations included a phrase linked to Lewis. This was the expression "the ______ from hell" (like "the night from hell" or "the date from hell"). Lewis believed he helped make this phrase popular. He even tried to get it added to another famous quote book, Bartlett's Familiar Quotations. This funny story was even part of an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Richard Lewis's Personal Life

Richard Lewis met Joyce Lapinsky in 1998 at a party for Ringo Starr's album. Joyce worked in music publishing. They got engaged in 2004 and were married the next year.

Richard Lewis often talked about his personal struggles in his comedy. He was open about dealing with anxiety and depression. He also spoke about going to therapy sessions. He also mentioned that he had an eating disorder due to body dysmorphia. This means he saw his body differently than it really was.

In 2000, Lewis published a book about his life called The Other Great Depression. He wrote another book in 2015 called Reflections From Hell: Richard Lewis' Guide on How Not to Live. This book was full of his funny thoughts and one-liners.

Health Challenges

Richard Lewis faced several health challenges throughout his life. He had multiple surgeries. In 2016, he broke his right hand after falling from his roof. In 2019, he had back surgery. In early 2020, he broke his shoulder, needing another surgery.

He experienced a lot of pain while filming Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2020. In 2021, he announced he would only appear in one episode of the show's 11th season. However, he did return for the show's 12th and final season.

In April 2023, Lewis shared that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease two years earlier. This disease affects movement. He said he would stop performing stand-up comedy. Instead, he planned to focus on writing and acting. Richard Lewis passed away in February 2024.

Richard Lewis's Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Richard Lewis's Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Richard Lewis para niños