After living with Parkinson’s disease for many years, the cherished star has sadly died.

Richard Lewis’s life often felt like a raw, honest conversation with vulnerability itself. Whether on stage or on screen, he transformed anxiety and self-doubt into comedy, openly sharing his insecurities in a way that helped audiences feel less isolated in their own. In his later years, he was equally candid about his health struggles, including Parkinson’s disease, multiple surgeries, and the thoughtful decision to step back from stand-up while he still felt proud of what he had created.

Behind the scenes, his greatest grounding force was his wife, Joyce Lapinsky, whom he met in 1998 at a Ringo Starr album party. Their marriage in 2005 brought him a sense of stability that fame alone never provided. As tributes continue to come in from friends and fellow comedians like Larry David, Bette Midler, and Albert Brooks, along with countless fans, one sentiment remains clear: Richard Lewis didn’t just make people laugh—he made them feel understood, right up until his final days.