Jamie Lee Curtis shared some deeply emotional words about her dear friend and Curb Your Enthusiasm star Richard Lewis, who sadly passed away on Tuesday from a heart attack at the age of 76.
The 65-year-old actress, known for her role in Halloween, also starred alongside Lewis in the sitcom Anything But Love, which ran for four seasons from 1989 to 1992.
After hearing the heartbreaking news, Curtis took to her main Instagram page on Wednesday to express her sorrow. Bette Midler was the one who first shared the news.
In a touching post, Curtis shared several old photos of herself with Lewis and wrote a heartfelt caption, thanking the late star for being “the reason I am sober.”
This month, Jamie celebrated 25 years of sobriety after struggling with an opioid addiction.
“I just learned that my friend Richard Lewis has died.” I recall exactly where I was on Sunset Boulevard when I spotted a billboard of him for a stand-up special. It was during the casting process for the ABC pilot Anything But Love, and I asked the casting team to bring him in to audition for the role of Marty Gold, my best friend and would-be boyfriend.
“I thought he looked promising.” Someone made me laugh, which is something a strong woman can’t really do for herself. I laughed out loud when he mispronounced the word “Bundt cake,” but he got the role.
“He outshone everyone,” Jamie said. Although the pilot for the love triangle show wasn’t picked up initially, they came back to me saying, “The chemistry with Richard was exceptional. Could we revamp the pilot?” That led to us making the show for two years.
“He was also a stand-up comedian, but he disliked performing in front of live audiences. I, on the other hand, loved it.”
He would hide his lines on props, door frames, and even my face during close-ups. He also always had his lines written on a clipboard. He played roles wonderfully. It was deep and incredibly funny.
She also mentioned, “We mourned together over the loss of our friend and co-star Richard Frank and our friend and producer John Ritter.”
“In his last text message to me, Richard wished I could get ABC/Disney to release another boxed set of episodes of the show,” she shared with her fans.
Jamie then added, “He’s also the reason I’m sober.” He helped me. I will always be grateful to him for that act of kindness.
They chatted about his wife, Joyce Lapinsky, and she remarked, “He found love with Joyce, and of course, along with sobriety, that was what mattered most to him.” It brings tears to my eyes to write this.
This is a bittersweet way to thank such a kind and amusing man. Richard, may you rest in laughter. “My Marty, I love you, Hannah!” she concluded.
Jamie also penned a second post expressing her sorrow over the loss of her longtime friend and former co-star.
She included another old picture of herself with Lewis and some lyrics from the Anything But Love theme song.
“In the third and final season of the TV show ANYTHING BUT LOVE, which aired on ABC for a few years, the incredible singer-songwriter JD Souther wrote this beautiful theme song,” Curtis wrote.
“Try to find it on YouTube and listen to it. If not, I’ve written it down here for you.” Today I’m giving these lyrics to my friend Richard Lewis.
She shared lyrics that said, “If we had never met/And the world got on without us/Just as if we were never that at all,” We would still be looking for the next big thing and trying not to fall…
“Anything but love will do and hearts that beat like thunder.” For everyone but you, anything but love would be enough.
Larry David, who also stars on Curb Your Enthusiasm, along with other celebrities and fans, paid tribute to the late Richard Lewis.
“He’s been like a brother to me for most of my life,” he told HBO. “Richard and I were born three days apart in the same hospital.”
“He was the funniest and kindest person at the same time, which is rare.” The comedian told Variety, “But today he made me cry, and I’ll never forgive him for that.”
Cheryl Hines, who worked with Lewis on the popular show, wrote, “When I was young, I had the biggest crush on Richard Lewis.”
“There was no one funnier or more handsome on stage than him.” Then I got to work with him on Curb Your Enthusiasm, which was a dream come true.
“Over the years, I learned more about Richard and the gifts he gave.” I fell in love with him because of his humor, but he also turned out to be one of the nicest people I know.
“Especially in the last few years,” Cheryl said, “he would take the time to tell those he loved how much they meant to him.” He made sure I knew how important I was to him while shooting Curb.
“To be loved by Richard Lewis.” A true gift. Richard, I love you. We will miss you. I love you, Joyce, and everyone in Richard’s family. Lawrence, Richard loved you…You already know
