Jamie Lee Curtis offered some really painful comments on her close friend and Curb Your Enthusiasm star Richard Lewis, who passed suddenly on Tuesday at the age of 76 following a heart attack.
For four seasons between 1989 and 1992, the comedian and the 65-year-old actress—who played the witch in Halloween—costarred on the comedy Anything But Love.
She posted something on her own Instagram site on Wednesday, following her discovery of the awful news of the actor’s death. Bette Midler was the first to share the news.
In a long statement, Curtis thanked the late musician for being “the reason I am sober” and included several old pictures of the two of them.
Before this month, when he celebrates 25 years sober, Jamie struggled with an opiate addiction.
“I recently learned that my friend Richard Lewis passed away.” I still vividly remember myself standing in front of a banner for a stand-up special featuring him on Sunset Boulevard. During the casting process for the ABC pilot Anything But Love, I pushed the casting crew to get him in to try out for the role of Marty Gold, my closest friend and future lover.
“I thought he looked good.” Although it’s not exactly something a strong woman can do for herself, I laughed at something. He played the role even though he mispronounced the term “bundt cake,” which made me laugh out loud.
“He blew everyone else away,” Jamie said. Even while they ultimately chose not to take up the pilot for the love triangle drama, they did note in their answer that “the chemistry with Richard was so great.” Should we revise the original pilot? In the end, we produced the program in this way for two years.
He was also a stand-up comedian, albeit he hated performing in front of live crowds. But in my opinion, it was excellent.
He would hide his marks on things, door frames, my face, even in close-up. Additionally, he always carried a clipboard with his lines scrawled on it. He was, as it happens, a really fine character actor. It’s both insightful and funny.
“Our friend and producer John Ritter and our friend and co-star Richard Frank passed away, and we grieved together,” she said.
“In his most recent text message to me, Richard expressed his desire for me to obtain another boxed set of show episodes from ABC/Disney,” the actress said to her fan base.
Jamie went on, “He is also the reason I am sober.” I found him to be useful. I will always be grateful for his generosity.
When they talked about his wife Joyce Lapinsky, she said, “He found love with Joyce, and that, of course, along with being sober, was what mattered most to him.” My eyes well up with tears as I write this.
It’s a strange way to thank a good-natured and funny man. I hope you laugh till the day you die, Richard. At the end, Hannah cried, “My Marty, I love you!”
In a subsequent post, Jamie conveyed her sorrow at the demise of her enduring companion and previous co-star.
She also shared another old picture of herself with Lewis and a few lines from the Anything But Love theme song.
Curtis stated, “This lovely theme song was written by the legendary singer-songwriter JD Souther for the third and last season of the TV show ANYTHING BUT LOVE, which aired on ABC for a few years.”
Check it out and listen to it on YouTube. If not, I’ve got a recording of it right here for you. Today, I’m giving these to my friend Richard Lewis.
She disclosed the lyrics, which said, “We would still be fighting not to collapse and looking for the next great thing. It would be as if we had never met and the world continued on without us.
“Hearts that pound like thunder will settle for anything other than love.”For everyone but you, everything would be enough, except love.
Larry David, who co-stars on Curb Your Enthusiasm, was among the celebrities and social media users who honored the late Richard Lewis.
“He’s been like a brother to me for most of my life,” he said to HBO. “Richard and I were born three days apart in the same hospital.”
He was the kindest and funniest man at the same time, which doesn’t happen very often. The comedian remarked, “But today he made me cry, and I’ll never forgive him for that,” in a Variety interview.
Cheryl Hines, who costarred with Lewis on the hit sitcom, said, “When I was younger, I had the biggest crush on Richard Lewis.”
“He was the cutest or most beautiful person on stage.” Then I got to work with him on Curb Your Enthusiasm, which was a dream come true.
“As time passed, I learned more about Richard and his abilities.” I fell in love with him because he was funny, but he was also one of the sweetest people I’ve ever encountered.
“Especially in the last few years,” Cheryl said, “he would take the time to tell the people he loved how much they meant to him.” He told me how much he loved me and how important I was to him in between takes on Curb.
“To be loved by Richard Lewis.” a real gift. Richard, you are amazing. We shall miss you. I love you, Joyce, and the whole family of Richard. Lawrence, Richard, I loved you.However, you are well aware of that.
