Richard Lewis, born in Brooklyn in 1947, was a comedy pioneer who turned his “angst, addiction struggles, and mental turbulence” into unforgettable humor. Known as the “Prince of Pain,” his raw, self-deprecating style mixed confession with comedy, making audiences laugh through his stream-of-consciousness monologues.

His career took off in the 1970s with appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and David Letterman’s late-night shows. Lewis became widely recognized through his HBO specials I’m in Pain, I’m Exhausted, I’m Doomed, and The Magical Misery Tour, where he transformed suffering into laughter.

Beyond stand-up, Lewis shined in acting. He starred in Anything but Love, appeared in Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and played a fictionalized version of himself on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm alongside Larry David.

What made Lewis compelling was his openness about “addiction, depression, hypochondria, jealousy, and social anxiety”—often using them as punchlines. Psychologists called this the “sad clown paradox,” where comedy masks inner struggles.

Even after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, he returned for Curb Your Enthusiasm’s Season 12, weaving mortality into his jokes. Richard Lewis leaves a lasting legacy: proof that the sharpest laughs can rise from life’s darkest truths.