Profession: Comedian
Biography: Richard Lewis was an American stand-up comedian and actor known for his dark sense of humor which focused on his personal struggles and neuroses.
Lewis started doing stand-up comedy in the 1970s. He was part of a new group of comedians, including Richard Pryor and Andy Kaufman, who brought more serious topics into their jokes.
As a young comedian, Lewis became friends with Larry David who he had met at summer camp when they were children. Many years later, Lewis played himself on David's TV show "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (2000).
Lewis had problems with drugs and alcohol, including being addicted to cocaine and crystal meth, which caused him to stop doing stand-up for a few years in the 1990s. He later wrote a book called "The Other Great Depression" (2000) about his addiction and recovery.
In his comedy, Lewis often talked about his mental health. He was open about attending therapy and was diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and an eating disorder.
Lewis kept performing even as he got older. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2021 but only announced this and stopped performing two years later.
Born: June 29, 1947
Birthplace: NYC, New York, USA
Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Pig
Star Sign: Cancer
Died: February 27, 2024 (aged 76)
Cause of Death: Heart attack
References
Famous Comedians
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