Richard Lewis said in an interview less than three weeks ago that he was doing “pretty well” health-wise as he battled Parkinson's disease.
The popular comedian, who died Tuesday at age 76 following a fatal heart attack, spoke to People on Feb. 9 and said he was “disappointed” to miss the Season 12 premiere party on Jan. 30 Had to skip “Curb Your Enthusiasm” to avoid setbacks from his health battle.
“I've had occasional difficulty walking over the last few years due to Parkinson's disease,” Lewis, who has played a fictional version of himself on the HBO series “Curb Your Enthusiasm” since 2000, told the publication. “It’s nothing big.”
Lewis continued: “So far I'm coping well, but I didn't want to sit around so many people for five or six hours. 'It's just asking for trouble.'
Lewis, who has appeared in films such as “Robin Hood: Men in Tights,” “Wagons East,” “Once Upon a Crime…” and “Leaving Las Vegas,” concluded, “All in all, I'm doing pretty well.”
Richard Lewis said in an interview less than three weeks ago, before his death at the age of 76 on Tuesday, that he had been doing “quite well” health-wise while battling Parkinson's disease. Pictured in NYC in 2015
The comedian took to social media on April 24, 2023 and revealed that he has been battling Parkinson's disease since 2021.
“Hey, listen, I just finished Season 12 of Curb Your Enthusiasm a few weeks ago and it was just an amazing season and I'm so grateful to be a part of this show,” he said. “But you know, in the last three and a half years I've had a pretty difficult time and people have been like, 'I haven't heard from you, are you still touring?'
Lewis said, “Well, here's really what happened,” noting that he decided to stop touring three and a half years ago because he felt the time had come.
“I said, 'You know, I'm at the top of my game – after almost 50 years, I'm just going to call it a day,'” he said. “And I felt great about it. And then, out of the blue, the shit hit the steam.'
Lewis, who starred opposite Jamie Lee Curtis in the ABC series “Anything But Love” from 1989 to 1992, said he had four consecutive operations on his back, shoulder and hip, adding: “It was bad luck, but that's how it is the life.”
Lewis said that “on top of all that,” two years ago he started “walking a little stiffly” and “shuffling” his feet, which led him to see a neurologist. He said he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease after a brain scan.
“Luckily I got it late in life and they say you progress very slowly, if at all, and I'm on the right medication and it's cool,” Lewis said. “I just wanted you to know that’s the case.”
“I'm done with standup and I'm just concentrating on writing and acting.” I have Parkinson's disease but I'm under medical treatment and everything is cool and I love my wife, I love my little puppy and I love all my friends and fans.”
Lewis told People earlier this month that he was “disappointed” that he had to skip the season 12 premiere party of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” on January 30 to avoid setbacks in his battle for health. Pictured in 2017 in LA
The comedian took to social media on April 24, 2023 and revealed that he has been battling Parkinson's disease since 2021
Lewis' lifelong friend Larry David was among those who publicly mourned him when news of his death broke.
“Richard and I were born three days apart in the same hospital and he was like a brother to me for most of my life,” David said in a statement released by HBO. “He had that rare combination of being both the funniest and the sweetest person. “But today he made me cry and I'll never forgive him for that.”
Other notable names in entertainment who praised the late comedian included Bette Midler, Steve Martin, Jimmy Kimmel, Jamie Lee Curtis, Albert Brooks and Michael McKean.