Famous stand-up comedian Richard Lewis, from his generation, recently learned he has Parkinson’s disease and declared he is “finished with the stand-up”.
The 75-year-old comedian, who is also well known for portraying a fictionalized version of himself on the HBO comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, made the announcement via social media yesterday.
In response to questions from fans about why he hasn’t been performing stand-up comedy, he claims that the last three and a half years have been a “rocky time” for him. About “what happened,” he speaks.
Lewis remembered: “I was in the middle of a tour, and then I finally finished it with a gig. You know, I’m at the top of my game, I said”.
I’ll give up and end our relationship after nearly 50 years. And that gave me great joy. ”.
Lewis says that soon after deciding to retire, “s**t hit the fan” and he had to have four surgeries in a row, including hip and shoulder replacements.
Lewis also disclosed that he had received a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis.
“I started walking stiffly about two years ago,” he claimed. “I visited the doctor after noticing that my feet were shuffling, and following a brain scan, I was given the Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. That incident took place about two years ago”.
Lewis asserts that despite his grim prognosis, he has a happy outlook on life.
“Thank God I found out about it late in life, and they say I’m doing fine because I’m taking the right medication and progressing very slowly, if at all. It wasn’t my intention to do anything more than tell you where it was. For me, stand-up is done. Writing and acting are my top priorities. Everything is fine even though I have Parkinson’s disease because a doctor is looking after me. In addition to my wife, dog, friends, and hands, I cherish my connections with them. And now that you are aware of where it has been over the previous 3+5 years. God’s blessings”.
Lewis was a successful stand-up comic who worked in the 1970s and 1980s. He is well known for his self-deprecating, neurotic sense of humor and for being open about his battles with drug and alcohol addiction.
He frequently made guest appearances on late-night programs such as The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Late Night with David Letterman, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
Lewis is well-known for his work in television, both for playing a fictionalized version of himself in Curb Your Enthusiasm and for starring alongside Jamie Lee Curtis in the comedy Anything but Love, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. His most recognizable performance is as Prince John in Mel Brooks’ Robin Hood: Men in Tights.
He is listed among the top and most influential comedians by GQ and Comedy Central.
As Richard Lewis fights Parkinson’s disease and ends his stand-up career, we send him our best wishes. Through the years, Richard Lewis, a comedian, has made us all laugh together.
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