Jamie Lee Curtis shared a deeply emotional tribute to her close friend, Richard Lewis, the beloved star of Curb Your Enthusiasm, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 76 after a heart attack.
The 65-year-old actress, famous for her role as Laurie Strode in Halloween, had a special bond with Richard, which began when they co-starred in the sitcom Anything But Love for four seasons from 1989 to 1992.
When Jamie heard the devastating news of Richard’s passing on Wednesday, she took to Instagram to express her grief. The news had been first shared by Bette Midler, but Jamie’s heartfelt post touched many.
In her message, Jamie described Richard as “the reason I am sober,” and shared several vintage photos of the two of them together. This was especially meaningful because Jamie recently celebrated 25 years of sobriety after battling an addiction to opiates.
“I just found out about the passing of my dear friend Richard Lewis,” Jamie began. “I can still picture myself standing on Sunset Boulevard, looking at a poster for one of his stand-up specials. When we were casting for the ABC pilot Anything But Love, I insisted that Richard try out for the role of Marty Gold, my best friend and potential love interest.”
She continued, “He had this look about him, and more importantly, he made me laugh. I still remember when he mispronounced ‘bundt cake’ during his audition—it was hilarious! He completely blew everyone else away.”
Although the original pilot didn’t get picked up, the chemistry between Jamie and Richard was undeniable. “The producers loved our chemistry so much that they reworked the show, and it ended up running for two more years,” Jamie explained.
Jamie shared more about their time working together, revealing that Richard wasn’t fond of doing stand-up in front of live audiences, even though she thought he was incredible. “He had this habit of hiding his lines all over the set—on door frames, props, and even on my face during close-ups!” Jamie recalled with a smile. “He always carried a clipboard with his lines scribbled on it. He was a brilliant actor, both funny and profound.”
The two became even closer as they mourned the loss of mutual friends, including John Ritter and Richard Frank. “We grieved together when our friends John and Richard passed away,” Jamie shared.
One of Richard’s last messages to Jamie was asking if she could get another boxed set of Anything But Love episodes from ABC/Disney. “Even in his final days, he was thinking about our time on the show,” Jamie said.
Richard also played a crucial role in Jamie’s sobriety. “He’s the reason I’m sober,” she emphasized. “He was there for me when I needed help the most, and I’ll always be grateful for his kindness.”
Jamie also spoke about Richard’s deep love for his wife, Joyce Lapinsky. “He found true love with Joyce, and that, along with his sobriety, was what mattered most to him,” she said, adding that writing these words brought tears to her eyes. “It feels strange to say this, but Richard, I hope you’re laughing wherever you are. My dear Marty, I love you.”
In another post, Jamie shared more memories of their time together, including a few lines from the theme song of Anything But Love. She mentioned that the song for the third and final season was written by the legendary JD Souther. “It’s a beautiful song,” Jamie said. “If you can, find it on YouTube and listen. But if not, I’ve recorded it here for 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.”
Many celebrities and fans have also paid tribute to Richard. Larry David, who co-starred with him on Curb Your Enthusiasm, shared how much Richard meant to him. “He’s been like a brother to me for most of my life,” Larry told HBO. “We were born just three days apart in the same hospital.”
Larry added with a mix of sadness and humor, “He was the sweetest and funniest guy you could ever meet. But today, he made me cry, and I’ll never forgive him for that.”
Cheryl Hines, another Curb co-star, shared her own memories of Richard. “I had the biggest crush on Richard Lewis when I was younger,” she admitted. “No one was more charming or funnier on stage. Working with him on Curb Your Enthusiasm was a dream come true.”
As she got to know Richard better, Cheryl discovered more about the man behind the jokes. “He wasn’t just funny; he was one of the kindest people I’ve ever met,” she said. “In the last few years, he always made sure to tell the people he loved how much they meant to him.”
She ended with a heartfelt message: “To be loved by Richard Lewis was a true gift. I love you, Richard. You will be deeply missed. And I love you, Joyce, and the entire Lewis family. Richard, you were so loved—but you already knew that.”
Richard Lewis’s passing has left a huge void in the lives of those who knew him, but his legacy of laughter, kindness, and love will live on in their hearts forever.
Share your thoughts in the comments down below!
