Jamie Lee Curtis shared some heartbreaking words about her close friend, Richard Lewis, the star of Curb Your Enthusiasm, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 76 due to a heart attack.
Jamie, who’s well-known for her role in Halloween, starred alongside Richard in the sitcom Anything But Love for four seasons between 1989 and 1992. Their friendship blossomed during that time and lasted for decades.
When Jamie heard the tragic news of Richard’s passing on Wednesday, she posted an emotional tribute on Instagram. The first to announce Richard’s death was Bette Midler, but Jamie’s message really captured the depth of her feelings.
In a touching statement, Jamie called Richard “the reason I am sober,” and shared several old photos of them together. This was especially meaningful since Jamie had recently celebrated 25 years of sobriety, having battled a serious addiction to opiates.
“I just learned about the passing of my dear friend Richard Lewis,” Jamie began. “I can still remember 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 pushed for him to audition for the role of Marty Gold, my best friend and potential love interest.”
She continued, “I thought he had a great look, and more importantly, he made me laugh. I still remember when he mispronounced ‘bundt cake’ during his audition—it cracked me up! He nailed the part and blew everyone else away.”
Even though the original pilot didn’t get picked up, the chemistry between Jamie and Richard was undeniable. “They saw how great Richard and I were together, and we reworked the show, which ended up running for two more years,” Jamie explained.
Jamie shared some fun behind-the-scenes memories too, like how Richard wasn’t a fan of performing stand-up in front of live audiences, even though she thought he was amazing. “He would cleverly hide his lines all over the set—even on my face during close-ups!” Jamie laughed. “He always carried a clipboard with his lines written on it. It turns out he was a brilliant character actor—both hilarious and profound.”
The two grew 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 significant role in Jamie’s sobriety. “He’s the reason I’m sober,” she emphasized. “He was there for me during my darkest times, and I will 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, admitting 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, spoke to HBO about their close bond. “He’s been like a brother to me for most of my life,” Larry said. “We were born just three days apart in the same hospital.”
Larry added with a touch of 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 confessed. “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 real 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.
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