Richard Lewis, comedian and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star, dies at age 76

Richard Lewis, the actor and comedian known for his long-running stand-up career and recurring role on the hit HBO series \”Curb Your Enthusiasm,\” has passed away at the age of 76, his publicist announced Wednesday.

The cause of death was a heart attack, according to his publicist, Jeff Abraham.

Lewis was a mainstay in the comedy club scene for many years, with his angsty, tortured, and neurotic act leading to numerous TV and film roles. He gained prominence after appearing on \”The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson\” and later starred in the sitcom \”Anything but Love\” alongside Jamie Lee Curtis. Additionally, he appeared in the film \”Drunks\” and portrayed Prince John in the 1993 movie \”Robin Hood: Men in Tights.\”

Throughout the 24 years of \”Curb Your Enthusiasm,\” Lewis played a semi-fictionalized version of himself. He had a long-standing friendship with the show’s creator, Larry David, dating back to when they met at summer camp at age 12, making him the perfect irksome counterpart to the already curmudgeonly protagonist.

Last year in April, Lewis announced his retirement from stand-up comedy and disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease two years prior, as stated in a video posted on Twitter.

\”His wife, Joyce Lapinsky, expresses her gratitude for all the love, friendship, and support and requests privacy during this time,\” Abraham said in a statement.