Richard Lewis Retires from Stand-Up Comedy After Being Diagnosed With Parkinson’s Disease
If you have been following us for a while, you will know that we here at GeekTyrant are huge fans of Richard Lewis. Unfortunately, over the last few years, his performances have been few and far between. Now we know why.
Earlier today the stand-up comedian and Curb Your Enthusiasm regular, announced in a video that he will be retiring from stand-up due to being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He was able to candidly speak on his diagnosis the way that only Lewis could.
In the video he lets his fans know that he has wrapped his portion of the next season of Curb Your Enthusiasm and plans on still writing/acting as much as he can. He also explains what happened that lead him up to this point.
Lewis was not able to appear in Season 11 of the show due to health issues, and here is a little of what he said:
The last three and a half years, I’ve had sort of a rocky time and people said, ‘I haven’t heard from you, are you still touring?'. Here’s really what happened. Three and half years ago I was in the middle of a tour and I finally ended it with a show and I said, ‘You know I’m at the top of my game, after 50 years almost I’m going to call it quits.
And I felt great about that, and then out of the blue the shit the fan. I had four surgeries back to back to back to back. It was bad luck, but that’s life.”
When he noticed things weren’t quite what they used to be, he saw a neurologist, and talked about that experience, saying:
“They gave me a brain scan and I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and that was about two years ago. But luckily I got it late in life and they say you progress very slowly if at all and I’m on the right meds so I’m cool.”
“I just wanted to let you know that’s where it’s been at. I’m finished 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. I love my wife, I love my little puppy dog and I love all my friends and my fans. And now you know where it’s been at the last three and a half years. God bless you.
Watch the full video below:
I am a huge fan of Lewis’s work and I am truly saddened by the news of his diagnosis. I know that I speak for the GT crew when I say that he is responsible for some of the funniest/awkward moments in Curb. I am glad that we will still get him on the show and that he is hitting this issue head on with the support of friends/family/fans.
Billy out!