RICHARD LEWIS, R.I.P.

This is one tiny tribute I really hate writing. I believe the entire world is shocked by the death of comedian and writer Richard Lewis the other day; it seemed to come out of the blue, even for those who knew he was having some health issues.

Richard Lewis doing one of his famous stand-up routines.

Even though I had not seen Richard in a long time, (and others who have been paying bigger tributes knew him a zillion times better than I ever did,) I always felt simpatico with him, being born-in-Brooklyn Jewish personalities. He also had a positive effect on my career, so I feel the need to share my personal experience of the man. Here it is:

It seems as though I had always known of Richard Lewis’ stand-up comedy, but I never knew that he was also a writer. And then when I was a very young actress just starting out in the business, I auditioned for my first sitcom role. I didn’t get the gig, but I was told that Richard was on the writing team for that series, and that when he saw my audition, he actually wrote a much better part for me, (as a pain-in-the-butt date for the ladies man on the show, Ray Buktenica.) I’ve always been grateful to him for that.

Even without knowing me personally, he hit my character out of the park. I loved that role! (It was the first one of only two he wrote for that series!) And, although total strangers at the time, it made me feel bonded to him forever after.

Richard Lewis.

That was a year or two before I started my local cable TV show. So after I was doing it for a little bit, I saw Richard Lewis at an event, and got brave enough to approach him to tell him how much I loved his writing for that sitcom episode.

And he told me that he loved my show! That was high praise coming from someone as funny as he was. He also said that he had never realized that I was that same girl for whom he had written that sitcom part. I could not wait to run home and tell Mr. X, “Richard Lewis watches my show!!!”

On the few occasions that we bumped into each other after that, I was so happy.

Mr. X is an actor who also knew Richard, and had worked with him a time or two, back in the day, and he is crushed that the “nice guy” has passed. He always liked him. The two guys ran into each other one time shortly after Mr. X had been a mystery guest on my show, and Richard told him he was like DeNiro on there, which totally cracked Mr. X up. Only Richard Lewis would think of a hilarious “review” like that!

Richard Lewis, back in the day.

I’m sure that every single person who knew Richard has a wonderful story like that about him. Even with his comic take on his own neuroses, I’m sure he brightened everyone’s day.

That is why his loss is so hard for all of us, even if we didn’t know him well.

My heart goes out to his friends, fans, and especially, of course, his family. I’m glad the world has so much of his work on film and tape to make us laugh in perpetuity.

R.I.P., Richard Lewis.