Richard Lewis said he was ‘doing quite well’ in one of his last interviews amid three-year battle with Parkinson’s disease… before his death at 76 from a heart attack

Richard Lewis said in an interview less than three weeks ago that he was doing “pretty well” health-wise amid his battle with Parkinson’s disease.

The beloved comedian, who died Tuesday at the age of 76 after a fatal heart attack, spoke with People Feb. 9, saying he was “disappointed” he had to skip a Jan. 30 season 12 premiere party for Curb Your Enthusiasm to avoid setbacks during his health battle.

“I’ve been having walking problems off and on for the last few years due to Parkinson’s,” Lewis, who has played a fictional version of himself on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm since 2000, told the publication. ‘It’s not important.’

Lewis continued, “So far I’m getting through it just fine, but I didn’t feel like dealing with so many people for five or six hours. It’s just asking for trouble.’

Lewis, who appeared in films such as Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Wagons East, Once Upon a Crime… and Leaving Las Vegas, ultimately said: “All things considered, I’m doing pretty well.”

The comedian took to social media on April 24, 2023, and revealed that he had been battling Parkinson’s disease since 2021.

“Hey listen, I just finished season 12 of Curb Your Enthusiasm a few weeks ago and it was just an amazing season and I’m so grateful to be a part of that show,” he said. ‘But you know, the last three and a half years I’ve had a tough time and people are like, “I haven’t heard from you, are you still on tour?”

Lewis said, “Well, this is really what happened,” noting that he decided to stop touring three and a half years ago because he felt the time had come.

“I said, ‘You know, I’m at the top of my game – after almost 50 years, I’m just going to call it quits,’” he said. ‘And I loved that. And then, out of nowhere, the s*** hit the fan.”

Lewis, who starred in the ABC series Anything But Love opposite Jamie Lee Curtis from 1989 to 1992, said he had four consecutive operations on his back, shoulder and hip, adding that “it was bad luck, but that’s the way it is life.’

Lewis said that “on top of all this,” two years ago he “started walking a little stiff” and “shuffling” his feet, which led him to visit a neurologist. He said he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after a brain scan.

“Luckily I got it later in life, and they say you progress very slowly, if at all, and I’m on the right meds and it’s cool,” Lewis said. “I just wanted to let you know it’s going on there.

“I’m done with stand-up, I’m just focusing on writing and acting. “I have Parkinson’s disease, but I’m under a doctor’s care and everything is cool and I love my wife, I love my little puppy dog ​​and I love all my friends and my fans.”

Lewis told People earlier this month that he was “disappointed” that he had to skip the season 12 premiere party for Curb Your Enthusiasm on Jan. 30 to avoid setbacks during his health battle. Pictured in 2017 in LA

The comedian took to social media on April 24, 2023, and revealed that he had been battling Parkinson’s disease since 2021

Lewis’ lifelong friend Larry David was among those who publicly mourned him following news of his death.

“Richard and I were born three days apart in the same hospital and for most of my life he has been like a brother to me,” David said in a statement released by HBO. “He had that rare combination of being the funniest person and also the sweetest. But today he made me sob and I will never forgive him.”

Some of the other notable names in the entertainment world who greeted the late comedian included Bette Midler, Steve Martin, Jimmy Kimmel, Jamie Lee Curtis, Albert Brooks and Michael McKean.