Richard Lewis is Amazing
Richard Lewis is one of the most beloved people in comedy. He just wrapped Season 12 of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and in the past couple of days had the courage to go public with the fact that just after he announced his retirement from stand-up comedy after almost 50 years, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
I was literally about to call him when I got an e-mail from him with a video he posted sharing the details. ( See below) It made me think back of all the fun things we shared in our long-time friendship. My history with Richard Lewis goes back to the early 90’s if not the 80’s, but my first real memory of us together was in 1995 at the NY premiere of the film Drunks in which he was the star. Richard had a reputation of never using anyone else to write for him, but I was determined to at least give it a shot.
Just from listening to him, I felt like I knew him so well, and that he was me in a different body. I related to every story he told about his family. His persona was very comfortable to me. His nervousness, his self-deprecation, his Jewish background. It was me in a different body. At least that’s how I felt. Anyway, I was invited to the premiere and I wrote up a bunch of jokes, proposing a tour that would be called “Born To Be Nervous”, because if I ever got a tattoo, that’s what it would say. Some guys get “Born To Be Wild”! I get “Born To Be Nervous.” I got to the theatre early hoping to see Richard to give him the material which I had typed up and put into a folder. Probably after having made a carbon copy! (Some of you probably don’t even know what that is! (LOL)
All I remember is getting on the wrong line, which is perfect for me, in exact alignment with my ADHD, and what usually happens, … and I recall being told that I just missed Richard and that he was already in the theatre. I decided to go to the rest room, and as I was going down the stairs, who was coming up the stairs but Richard Lewis, which is also the kind of thing that often happens to me. He looks at me surprised and says, ” What are you doing here?” And I said, “Picking up some chop meat for my mother” which was my usual answer if I was somewhere like on the beach and someone greeted me with an inane question like, ” What are YOU doing here?” as if I was not allowed to go to the beach like everyone else! I blurted out that I was there to see the film and support him and that I brought him these jokes that I wanted him to read. Inside was a note asking him to let me know his thoughts. He took the envelope and went into the theatre.
I don’t think I saw him when it was over, or before I left but that very same night, he left a message on my answering machine which I still have to this day. Twenty-eight years later! It’s one of the two voicemail messages I treasure, the other one being from Patrice O’Neal asking me to do a show just with him. Just the two of us! Richard’s voicemail used the word “hilarious” three times. He said it was obvious that I really knew how to write a good joke and that he never used anyone else’s material but if he did he would use mine.
When I wrote my first Happiness book called “Healing Your Heart, By Changing Your Mind- A Spiritual and Humorous Approach To Achieving Happiness” in my other persona, I asked Richard for a blurb and this is what he wrote for the cover: “Dr. Gurian is a master of so many disciplines , including being a brilliant humorist, the pressure probably caused his own heart attack. Lucky for us, his genius helps us minimize our risk and live healthier after an episode. He’s on my speed dial along with God.” When I wrote the book “Man Robs Bank With His Chin – And Other Unusual Stories Missed By Mainstream Media” he gave me this blurb which is on the cover: “These hilarious stories and the author’s longtime reputation as a top comedian makes you wonder why he isn’t selling out clubs in North Korea.” And when I produced a 400 person black-tie event in honor of Susie Essman for the Gold Coast International Film Festival Richard and I met up at The Friars Club, when it was still prestigious to be a member of the Friars Club, and we shot a little tribute to Susie, … where else but in the Men’s Room! The Friars had just done a big article on me in The Friars Epistle which is what we were reading! We also shot a bunch of other fun videos at The Friars and whenever Richard was coming to town he’d let me know and we’d hang out and have lunch, which was a good thing to do when The Friars was The Friars!
So when I heard the news that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease I was very upset. I had spoken to him fairly recently when he told me he was shooting Season 12 of Curb, and was very excited about it.
I had planned to call him, when just as I was about to, he sent me that e-mail with the little video he posted on Twitter. This is the link where he describes what he’s been through in the last few years.
— Richard Lewis (@TheRichardLewis) April 24, 2023
I only knew about two of the surgeries not about all four, and had no idea that he made the choice to retire before this diagnosis happened. All I do know is that life is very crazy, and that Richard Lewis is amazing, a true tower of strength, and one of the funniest guys of all time, and I know he’ll be okay. He’s truly beloved. Sending prayers for his continued good health, and much gratitude for his longtime friendship.
IN THE MEN’S ROOM OF THE FRIARS READING THE STORY THEY DID ABOUT ME, AND GETTING READY TO SHOOT A VIDEO HONORING SUSIE ESSMAN
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