Legendary comedian Richard Lewis' official cause of death was revealed Friday when his death certificate was made public.
Lewis died Tuesday evening at the age of 76 after suffering a heart attack amid his battle with Parkinson's disease.
Three days later, a copy of his death certificate obtained by The explosion indicated that the cause of death was “cardiopulmonary arrest”.
Parkinson's disease, which prompted Lewis to retire from stand-up following his diagnosis in April 2023, was noted as his secondary cause of death.
The news came after Lewis' widow shared her appreciation for the many “loving tributes” from his fans in a social media post on Thursday.
Legendary comedian Richard Lewis' official cause of death was revealed Friday when his death certificate was made public; photo 2011
Lewis died Tuesday evening at the age of 76 after suffering a heart attack amid his battle with Parkinson's disease.
Joyce Lapinsky, who married the stand-up star in 2005, shared a message via her late husband's account on X (formerly Twitter).
It came just hours after the Curb Your Enthusiasm star reportedly died at home of a heart attack at the age of 76.
“This is Joyce, Richard’s wife. Thank you for your loving tributes,” she wrote. “He would be beyond delighted and touched, just like me.”
Many of Lewis' fans sought to make donations in his honor to demonstrate his kindness and positive impact on friends like Jamie Lee Curtisso his widow shared a way to honor his life and work.
“In response to the many questions, I know Richard would appreciate donations in his memory to the Los Angeles-based charity comedivesback.com or the charity of your choice,” she added.
Comedy Gives Back is a registered charity which provides financial assistance to struggling comedians, including payments to help cover insurance premiums and rent.
It also announces that it helps comedians find and pay for mental health treatment, and that it offers a service that provides an alternative to health insurance for low-income, uninsured comedians.
Comedians also have access to addiction services and charity boats offering weekly 12-step meetings in Los Angeles, as well as hosting meetings and comedy festivals for traveling comedians.
Joyce Lapinsky (right), Lewis's widow, shared a message to fans on her X account on Thursday after his death at age 76 from a heart attack; seen in 2018 in Los Angeles
She thanked fans for their “loving tributes” and said Lewis “would be beyond delighted and touched, as would I”. She urged his fans to donate to Comedy Gives Back, a charity he supported.
The organization was important to Lewis, who is currently listed as a member of its “talent council,” alongside Caroline Rhea and Howie Mandel.
Following Lapinsky's message, the charity was flooded with donations in honor of the latest comedian.
Lewis had spoken openly over the years about his decades-long struggle with alcohol and drug addiction.
He cited 1994 as the year he finally got sober, after being hospitalized following a cocaine overdose.
It was also the year his friend John Candy died of a heart attack at age 43 after battling drug and alcohol abuse over the years.
Lewis has spoken openly about his decades-long struggle with drug and alcohol addiction. He became sober in 1994 after being hospitalized due to a cocaine overdose; seen in 2015 in New York
Lewis and Lapinsky were introduced in 1998 at a party for Ringo Starr, and they began dating soon after. The two got engaged in 2004; seen in 2018 in Los Angeles
Lewis had starred with Candy in his last film, the Western comedy Wagons East, which required a significant rewrite of the script and had to rely on a body double for scenes that were not filmed before Candy's death during production.
Although fans of Lewis' sketch comedy or his dozens of appearances on Curb Your Enthusiasm were probably familiar with his jokes about his romantic life and fear of intimacy, he was dating or married to Lapinsky for a much of this period.
The future couple were introduced to each other in 1998 when they both attended an album release party for Ringo Starr.
In a 2010 interview with Paul Freeman, Lewis revealed that a mutual friend had tried to set the two up years earlier while he was starring with Jamie Lee Curtis on the sitcom Anything But Love, but Lapinsky had them refused because she thought he was 'crazy' at the time.
But after working on her addiction issues, she was more receptive during their 1998 meeting.
“I guess she was Italian and 33 years old,” Lewis recalled of their first significant meeting. “She said, ‘Let’s nip this in the bud. I have 42 years old. I'm Jewish from Minnesota. So if that bothers you… And if kids are an important thing…” She felt like she was reading my book. 'She felt like she was reading my book.'
It was a chance meeting for Lewis, as he said he was able to “finally commit to someone.”
Lewis remembers his therapist shouting to him, “This is as good as it gets!” ” after bringing Lapinsky to her session to share her concerns about the relationship. They married in 2005; seen in 2018 in Los Angeles
“I met the right woman at the right time,” he added.
The couple remained together for several more years and did not become engaged until 2004 after Lewis took Lapinsky to one of his therapy sessions, during which he said his therapist shouted “That's it.” is as good as it gets!” after sharing some of her concerns about the relationship.
The lovebirds married in 2005 and Lapinsky was with Lewis until the end.
Before his death, Lewis amended the standard mortgage on his home to a Rent Assignment Trust Deed, which make it easier for them to stay at home without him, according to New York Post.