Comedian Richard Lewis is retiring from stand-up after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease two years ago and personally dealing with it. video posted on twitter.
Lewis, 75, said he was diagnosed because he noticed a stiffness in his gait and was limping. Parkinson’s disease is an incurable disease that affects the part of the brain that controls movement.
“The last three and a half years I’ve been through some kind of tough times. People say, ‘I haven’t heard from you, are you still touring?'” he said Sunday night. to his nearly 240,000 Twitter followers. Explaining his own diagnosis, he said: I am concentrating on writing and acting. ”
Lewis, who recently wrapped season 12 of HBO’s hit show Curb the Frenzy with comedian Larry David, said he was lucky not to develop Parkinson’s until later in life. Jeez.
In addition to his Parkinson’s diagnosis, he has had four surgeries on his shoulder, back and hip in recent years. “Unlucky, but that’s life,” he said.
Born in Brooklyn in 1947, Lewis began performing his own stand-up routines in 1971 at Improvisation and Pips in New York. According to IMDB, entertainment website. After appearing in ‘The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson’ in 1974, she starred for four years in her ABC hit series ‘Anything But Love’ co-starring Curtis Jamie Lee. Comedy Central included Mr. Lewis in the top 50 of its list of the top 100 comedians of all time.
Mr. Lewis has also had many film roles, including Prince John in the 1993 adventure comedy film Robin Hood: Men in Tights. In his memoir, The Other Great Depression, he described his recovery from addiction and his discovery of spirituality.
Lewis, who has appeared on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” since his debut in 2000, said he has known David since they met at summer camp when they were 12 years old. 2010 interview with Howard Stern.
“I hated him and never saw him again until I became a cartoonist and became my best friend,” he said. , I also loved his work.”
