Richard Lewis

Perhaps Mel Brooks put it best when he said, "Richard Lewis may just be the Franz Kafka of modern day comedy."

Lewis has taken his lifelong therapy fodder and carved it into a commanding, compelling art form. His early career as a stand-up brought him to the top of his ranks and over time he broadened the scope of opportunities so others could share in his brilliantly warped world. The NY Post recently said; "Richard Lewis built the strongest stand-up comedy career on a blazing trail of neuroses since Woody Allen."

Lewis is "jazzed" about the seventh season return of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" in September which also features the cast of "Seinfeld" throughout it. He is continuing his "Misery Loves Company Stand-Up Tour" and is also now developing his own dark ensemble comedy.

The first printing of his memoir, "The Other Great Depression," was in 2000 through the prestigious Perseus/ Public Affairs Books and was reissued later with a new, passionate afterword. In the memoir he is as brave, insightful and forthcoming as he is in his comedy. He disrobes his substance abuse and recovery, skewing it his unique way. The book is a collection of fearless, essay style riffs featuring Lewis' dark stream-of-consciousness personal observations. Also, the reissue of "The Other Great Depression" is now available on audio, read unabridged by the author from Phoenix Audio. "Richard Lewis Naked," a companion documentary, is also available from that book-promotional tour.

This is from a recent Huffington Post: "Other than Lewis's paperback catharsis, which probably belongs in the alienated, dyspeptic Jewish-American canon along with Philip Roth, Henry Roth, Lenny Bruce, and all the rest, comedians' memoirs tend to be pretty breezy--and very short--reads.." New York Magazine said, "Lewis's standard of total honesty has allowed him to unearth neuroses he'd never even touch onstage--or on the couch."; Entertainment Weekly added, [An] urgent, nervous, heartfelt book . . .Lewis writes with an addict's jumpy restlessness, staggering from hurt to hurt, from tensely jokey confession to confession, from twitchy spiritual discovery to discovery."; --USA Today said it was "Candid and inspirational." ; While the Cleveland Plain Dealer notes, "Lewis…has narrative gifts few celebrity authors xhibit."

Curb's 6th season received an Emmy nomination for "Best Comedy Series." SAG nominated Lewis for his work in the ensemble category for his recurring guest star role, playing true-to-life as one of Larry David's closest friends in "Curb Your Enthusiasm," the Seinfeld co-creator's hit HBO series. The show has garnered many awards to include over six Emmy nominations and high praise. Vanity Fair stated, "The supporting cast of Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm is a murderer's row of stand-up comedians--Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, Richard Lewis, Cheryl Hines, Shelley Berman--cutting loose in character roles with killer instinct."

Through the years Richard has received much kudos for his work alongside his buddy, Larry David. The New York Times commented that, "...not nearly enough of Richard Lewis, whose job is the hardest of all because his character must truly suffer and endure in a context where feelings are as anathema as M&M's in a dentist's office. Never upsetting the show's distinct tenor of emotional apathy, Mr. Lewis here showcases his particular genius through a bout with kidney failure. He needs a new one, and oh, by the way, guess who isn't donating?" The Los Angeles Times added, ..."But it's comedian Richard Lewis--himself famous for an act built on despair--who memorably sulks his way through a pair of early episodes as one of the few people in the business who can match David hang-up for hang-up, neurosis for neurosis...David and Lewis reluctantly help a blind man move furniture in his new apartment. It's a classic."

Lewis is often compared to a jazz musician for his wild riffs that fly out into space but always find a way to float back into rhythm as they splatter recurring themes against a spiraling, lyrical backdrop. At Mort Saul's' 80th birthday tribute this summer, featuring a who's who of comic genius, Mark Groubert writing for the web site, Crooksandliars.com, commented.: "But this Night at the Opera belonged to none other than Richard Lewis…has hit his comic stride entering the free form worlds of both Lenny Bruce and the under appreciated Lord Buckley. Groovin' high, and dressed in a zippered black suit possibly designed by the mistress of the Dali Lama, the 'Prince of Pain' came to compete. Melting the house and forcing grown men to weep openly Richard Lewis bombarded the crowd from one obtuse comedy angle after another. If this was the comedy World Series, Lewis was the King in his Court. For nearly twenty minutes he induced non-stop howling by every living, breathing thing in the house."

Howard Reich, of the Chicago Tribune reflected on his history with Lewis. "Nearly 20 years ago... I headed for Zanie's and witnessed the most audacious comic wordsmith this side of Lenny Bruce: a young neurotic comedian named Richard Lewis. Ever since that revelatory evening I've followed Richard's ascent as perhaps the most gifted comedian of his generation." Indeed others agree. The Baltimore Jewish Times said, "Lewis is oftentimes compared to the late Lenny Bruce, the prolific, dissenting comedic voice of the '60's. And the two share many things in common--Judaism, an uncommon intelligence and irreverence for topics considered untouchable. Like Bruce, Mr. Lewis lays his soul bare on the stage, with fearlessness and many times, recklessness..."

Comedy Central has recognized Mr. Lewis as one of the top 50 stand-up comedians of all time and he was charted on GQ Magazine's list of the '20th Century's Most Influential Humorists'. Philadelphia's City Paper says, "Indeed, he is the Jimi Hendrix of monologists, whose virtuoso free-form riffs on ex-girlfriends, family and other antagonistic denizens from hell are delivered in a mesmerizing, stream-of-consciousness frenzy, a piss-yourself-laughing assault on the senses. Not only is he one of the undisputed masters of postmodern comedy, but also to incurable, self-loathing neurotics he is a patron saint who deserves to be canonized".

Lewis has in release a boxed set of his Concerts from Hell" (The Vintage Years) containing three comedy specials: HBO originally aired "I'm Exhausted," earning him an ACE nomination for Best Stand-Up Comedy Special and I'm Doomed, his second for HBO, also earned an Ace nomination. His cable-special debut, "I'm In Pain" had aired on Showtime. Playboy says, "Kvetching is elevated to surreal art in these great comedy performances. The titles say it all. Don't miss."

He's now featured in a high profile book on comedy, "I'm Dying Up Here," which chronicles the collective coming of age of the standup comedians who defined American humor during the past three decades: Letterman, Leno, Robin Williams, Andy Kaufman, Richard Lewis and Garry Shandling among others, by author William Knoedelseder.

He further redefined himself with his appearance in "Leaving Las Vegas," which was a great kick-start for Mr. Lewis getting dramatic roles, and led to his first major dramatic role as Jimmy Epstein, an addict fighting for his life in the indie film, "Drunks," with a brilliant cast that includes Dianne Weist, Faye Dunaway and Amanda Plummer. Built around an AA meeting, he received rave reviews.

With scores of other guest acting appearances in TV series and films he tries to be as diverse as possible in his choices from appearing on such shows as "2 1/2 Men" and a 3-part arc in the new series, 'Til Death" starring Emmy Award winning Brad Garrett . He's being featured in the season finale of A&E's "The Cleaner," portraying a junkie with his life very much on the line. Other guest starring stints have included "The Dead Zone," "Alias," and "Seventh Heaven." He mixes it up between heaven and hell so to speak.

Yet, most close to his heart was his four year run in ABC's critically acclaimed series "Anything But Love," co-starring with Jamie Lee Curtis, "Anything but Love", now out on DVD with Volume One of the four year situation comedy. "Diary of a Young Comic," which he starred in and co-wrote, first aired on NBC in the "Saturday Night Live" time slot a tits highest ratings period and is considered a cult classic. Late night TV viewers and media junkies in general are familiar with his frequent guest appearances. He may hold title to having the most late night appearances, chalking up well over 100 appearances with Dave, Jay, Conan, Jon, Stern, Ferguson and Maher.

Regarded by his peers as a 'comic's comic', Lewis' neuroses have become a part of our language as in the now infamous, "I had a date from Hell!" He finally got his due when Yale's Book of Quotations attributed the now-common phrase, "the [blank] from hell" to him in '06.

In December of 1989, Lewis achieved a very personal goal...he performed at Carnegie Hall to a standing room only audience. To close, in his own words--"I go on a long tour and make people happy that they're not me and go home."