“Curb Your Enthusiasm” creator Larry David posted a heartfelt tribute to his late friend and colleague Richard Lewis, who passed away this week.
“Richard and I were born three days apart in the same hospital and for most of my life he’s been like a brother to me,” David wrote in a statement shared by HBO, per Variety. “He had that rare combination of being the funniest person and also the sweetest. But today he made me sob and for that I’ll never forgive him.”
Lewis played a fictionalized version of himself opposite David in the long-running comedy series.
“Comedian/Actor Richard Lewis passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles last night after suffering a heart attack,” Lewis’ rep shared in a statement on Wednesday. “His wife, Joyce Lapinsky, thanks everyone for all the love, friendship and support and asks for privacy at this time,” the statement continued.
The news comes almost one year after Lewis announced that he was retiring from stand-up comedy after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
“For the last three-and-a-half years, I’ve had sort of a rocky time,” Lewis said in a video he posted on social media in April 2023.
“I went to a neurologist and they gave me a brain scan and I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and that was about two years ago,” he added. “But luckily I got it late in life and they say you progress very slowly if at all and I’m on the right meds so I’m cool.”
Lewis and David discussed the reality of death in an episode of “Curb” which aired shortly before Lewis’ death this week.
“I’m leaving you in my will. I’m tweaking it, and you’re in it,” Lewis said in the episode, which aired February 18. David got annoyed at the prospect, saying he didn’t need the money.
“When I die, I want you to know how much I cared about you,” Lewis said. “You’re my best friend. You’re getting it.”
David kept insisting against it, but Lewis won out, saying it was happening anyway. David finally replied by saying, “Oh my God, f*** you.”
Later in the episode, David accused Lewis of making the gesture just so David would reciprocate. This led to them arguing about who would live longer.
“I’m going to outlive you by 20 years,” David told his friend.