Richard Lewis was an American actor, best known for his razor-sharp sense of humor. Lewis won hearts with his uncanny ability to make people around him laugh, especially with his self-deprecating jokes.
Richard Lewis rose to prominence in the 1980s, and he used his growing popularity to his advantage. He starred in a number of shows, like Anything But Love and the long-running HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Unfortunately, Lewis’ death shocked the television world, as he had become a dearly beloved friend and colleague to many. Not only did his passing leave a void, but it raised pertinent questions about his role on the show. However, Jeff Schafer, the writer of the show, has put some of the speculation to rest.
Richard Lewis will appear posthumously on Curb Your Enthusiasm
Richard Lewis died in February earlier this year. At the time of his death, the comedian was 76 years old, but Schafer believed that Lewis could still continue on the show.
The WGA and the SAG-AFTRA strike in 2023 disrupted the production of a lot of shows, including Schafer’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. By the time the strikes were called off, the production team still had a bit of shooting left to do.
Lewis was one of the actors who returned to shoot his parts for the 12th and final season of the HBO show. They continued shooting for three weeks until his death. Schafer revealed that Lewis looked great and was even moving better than before. Moreover, he was quite excited to promote the final season of the show.
When Lewis was diagnosed with a debilitating disease last year, he had to step away from the show. However, the actor will appear in a couple of episodes posthumously.
Jeff Schafer recalled what an amazing sport Lewis was and how he always brought so much joy to the show. “I want people to know that he was the sweetest, kindest man. Everyone loved him. He loved being on the show. He will be missed,” he said (via the Hollywood Reporter).
Richard Lewis’ cause of death
The beloved actor died of a cardiopulmonary attack on February 27th, at 9.22 pm. Lewis was 76 years old at the time of his death.
In April 2023, Lewis was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disease that progresses very quickly. Following this news, Richard Lewis took a step back from doing stand-up shows, but he did return to Curb Your Enthusiasm.
People reported that Parkinson’s disease was the secondary cause of death listed on his death certificate. The prognosis had him battling with it in the months that followed, but he succumbed to it in February.
Richard Lewis was a beloved actor and comedian. He spread joy through his craft, and it also speaks volumes about the kind of person he was. His death has left a chasm that will not be filled so easily.
