Jamie Lee Curtis shared an emotional tribute that felt deeply personal rather than ceremonial, reflecting a profound sense of loss for a longtime friend whose influence extended far beyond comedy. Her words conveyed grief, gratitude, and remembrance, painting a portrait of a man whose presence shaped both her career and her life in lasting ways.
She recalled first noticing his face on a Sunset Boulevard billboard and immediately encouraging him to audition for the role of Marty Gold on Anything But Love. According to Curtis, he stood out instantly, delivering a performance that surpassed expectations. Behind his well-known anxious humor, she revealed a performer riddled with fear before scenes.
Hiding lines on props, door frames, and even on her face during close-ups, yet somehow producing work that felt effortless, layered, and genuinely funny. The tribute grew more intimate when Curtis explained how deeply he affected her life off camera. She credited him with helping guide her toward sobriety, describing his support as quiet, steady, and life-changing.
They shared years of friendship marked by loss and reflection, and she recalled one of his final messages urging that more episodes of their show be released, a reminder of how much the work still mattered to him. Curtis also honored the love he found with his wife, Joyce Lapinsky, and the stability sobriety brought to his life. She remembered Richard Lewis as a beautiful soul defined by kindness, vulnerability, and the quiet ways he changed the lives of those closest to him.