Jamie Lee Curtis expressed profound sadness and heartfelt gratitude for her close friend, Richard Lewis, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 76 due to a heart attack. The 65-year-old actress, known for her role as the witch in Halloween, shared a long-standing friendship with Lewis, extending back to their time co-starring in the sitcom Anything But Love, which aired for four seasons from 1989 to 1992.
Curtis took to Instagram on Wednesday to pay tribute to Lewis, posting several nostalgic photos and a lengthy caption in which she thanked him for being “the reason I am sober.” Curtis recently celebrated 25 years of sobriety after battling an opioid addiction, a milestone she credits, in part, to Lewis’s support and influence.
Reflecting on her initial encounter with Lewis, Curtis recalled a moment on Sunset Boulevard when she saw a billboard for one of his stand-up specials. This was during the casting process for the ABC pilot Anything But Love. Curtis remembered thinking he looked perfect for the role of Marty Gold, her character’s best friend and potential boyfriend. She urged the casting staff to bring him in for an audition.
“I thought he looked good,” she wrote. “Someone made me laugh, which is something a strong woman can’t really do for herself. I laughed out loud when he pronounced the word ‘Bundt cake’ wrong, but he got the part. He blew everyone else away.”
Despite initial setbacks with the pilot, Curtis and Lewis’s chemistry was undeniable. This led to the show’s successful run for two years. Curtis reminisced about Lewis’s unique approach to acting, noting how he often hid his lines on props, door frames, and even her face during close-ups. Despite his discomfort with live audiences, his performances were always deeply funny and impactful.
Curtis shared that they grieved together over the deaths of their friend and co-star Richard Frank and their friend and producer John Ritter. In one of their last text exchanges, Lewis expressed his hope that Curtis could persuade ABC/Disney to release another boxed set of episodes from the show.
“He’s also the reason I’m sober,” Curtis revealed. “He helped me. I will always be grateful to him for that act of kindness.”
Curtis also touched on Lewis’s love for his wife, Joyce Lapinsky, emphasizing how their relationship, along with his sobriety, were the most important things in his life. “He found love with Joyce, and that, of course, along with being sober, was what mattered most to him. It makes me cry to write this.”
In a second Instagram post, Curtis shared additional sentiments about Lewis’s passing, including a photo and lyrics from the Anything But Love theme song, written by JD Souther. “Try to find it on YouTube and listen to it. If not, I’ve written it down here for you. Today I’m giving them to my friend Richard Lewis,” she wrote, sharing the poignant lyrics as a tribute.
Other tributes poured in from colleagues and friends. Larry David, Lewis’s longtime friend and co-star on Curb Your Enthusiasm, expressed his deep sorrow. “He’s been like a brother to me for most of my life,” David told HBO. “Richard and I were born three days apart in the same hospital. He was the funniest and nicest person at the same time, which doesn’t happen very often. But today he made me cry, and I’ll never forgive him for that.”
Cheryl Hines, who also worked with Lewis on Curb Your Enthusiasm, shared her memories and admiration. “When I was young, I had the biggest crush on Richard Lewis,” she wrote. “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.”
Hines spoke about the deeper qualities she discovered in Lewis over the years. “He was funny, but he was also one of the nicest people I know. Especially in the last few years, he would take the time to tell the people he loved how much they meant to him. He told me how important I was to him and how much he loved me in between takes on Curb.”
“To be loved by Richard Lewis was a real 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 that, though.”
Lewis’s death leaves a significant void in the lives of his friends, family, and fans. His legacy, marked by humor, kindness, and resilience, will continue to inspire and comfort those who knew and loved him.