Jamie Lee Curtis has shared a heart-wrenching tribute to her close friend Richard Lewis, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 76 following a heart attack. Curtis and Lewis, who starred together in the sitcom Anything But Love from 1989 to 1992, had a deep and enduring friendship.
Curtis announced the news on Instagram, where Bette Midler was the first to break the news. In her post, Curtis reminisced about their time together and shared vintage photos of them.
She credited Lewis with playing a significant role in her sobriety journey, having battled opiate addiction before celebrating 25 years of sobriety this month.
“I vividly remember standing on Sunset Boulevard, looking at a poster for his stand-up special and urging the casting team to consider him for Anything But Love,” Curtis wrote. She recalled Lewis’s comedic talent and the chemistry they shared on the show, even though the pilot wasn’t initially picked up.
Curtis also reflected on their personal moments, including their grief over the losses of friends and their mutual admiration for each other’s work. She shared that Lewis was a source of great support for her and expressed her profound gratitude for his friendship.
In a second Instagram post, Curtis included lyrics from the Anything But Love theme song and an old photo of the two of them. She encouraged her followers to listen to the song, which she dedicated to Lewis.
The entertainment community has paid tribute to Lewis, with Larry David describing him as a brother and Cheryl Hines recalling her admiration and the kindness Lewis showed her.
Curtis concluded her tribute with heartfelt words, expressing her love for Lewis and his family, and lamenting his loss.