Jamie Lee Curtis has paid an emotional tribute to her close friend and Curb Your Enthusiasm star Richard Lewis, who died on Tuesday at the age of 76 from a heart attack. The 65-year-old actress took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a series of throwback photos and a heartfelt caption, revealing that Lewis was 'the reason I am sober'.
Curtis and Lewis starred together in the ABC sitcom Anything But Love, which aired from 1989 to 1992. In her tribute, Curtis recalled meeting Lewis during the casting process for the show. 'I thought he was handsome. He made me laugh,' she wrote, adding that he 'blew everyone else away' in the audition.
The actress also opened up about Lewis's support during her sobriety journey. 'He also is the reason I am sober. He helped me. I am forever grateful for him for that act of grace alone,' she wrote. Curtis recently celebrated 25 years of sobriety after battling addiction to opioids.
Curtis remembered Lewis as a 'wonderful actor' who was 'deep and so freaking funny'. She noted that his last text to her was hoping she could convince ABC/Disney to release another box set of Anything But Love episodes. She also referenced his wife, Joyce Lapinsky, saying, 'He found love with Joyce and that, of course, besides his sobriety, is what mattered most to him.'
In a second post, Curtis shared lyrics from the show's theme song by JD Souther, dedicating them to Lewis. She concluded her tribute with: 'Rest in laughter, Richard. My Marty, I love you, Hannah!'
