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Curb Your Enthusiasm star Richard Lewis has announced his retirement after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
The 75-year-old shared a heartfelt video message, confirming that he’ll be giving up stand-up performances to focus on his health. It is caused by a loss of nerve cells in a part of the brain.
As stated by the NHS, Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years.
Richard – who rose to prominence as a stand-up comedian in the 1980s – told his followers: ‘I just wrapped a couple of weeks ago, season 12 of Curb Your Enthusiasm and it was just an amazing season and I’m so grateful to be part of that show.
‘But, you know, the last three and a half years, I’ve had, sort of, a rocky time and people have said, “I haven’t heard from you, are you still touring?” Well, here’s really what happened.’
He continued in the message shared to social media: ‘Three and a half years ago, I was in the middle of a tour and I finally ended it with a show. I said, you know, I’m at the top of my game, after 50 years almost, I’m gonna just call it quits, and I felt great about that.
Richard Lewis was diagnosed with Parkinson’s two years ago (Picture: Larry Marano/REX/Shutterstock)
‘Then, out of the blue, the s**t hit the fan. I had four surgeries, back to back to back, it was incredible. I couldn’t believe it, it was bad luck but it’s life! I had a back surgery, then I had a shoulder surgery, then I had shoulder replacement surgery, then a hip replacement.’
He added that he had ‘months’ where all he focused on was his recovery then, two years ago, after noticing his walking became ‘stiff’ and he was ‘shuffling’ his feet, he went to see a neurologist for a brain scan.
It was then that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but feels ‘lucky’ to have got it late in life.
‘They say it’s progressed really slowly, if at all, and I’m on the right meds, so I’m cool,’ he assured.
‘So, I guess I just wanted you to 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 and I love my wife, I love my little puppy dog, and I love all my friends and my fans.’
The comedy star took to Twitter to send a message to his fans (Picture: Twitter)
Richard admitted he’s had a ‘rocky’ time of things (Picture: Twitter)
‘Now you know where it’s been at the last three and a half years. God bless you,’ he signed off.
The TV star received an outpouring of love from his supporters and famous friends.
Actor Mark Hamill replied: ‘Wishing you all the best & thanking you for a lifetime of laughs.’
His co-star Cheryl Hines added: ‘I love you, Richard! Before I ever knew you, I loved watching you perform. You’re just a beautiful person. I hope the love you’re receiving from everyone will continue to make you stronger everyday [sic].’
Richard is also known for starring alongside Jamie Lee Curtis in Anything But Love.
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His other acting credits include Robin Hood: Men in Tights and, of course, his recurring role as a semi-fictionalised version of himself in HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm.
The sitcom was first broadcast in the year 2000 and was created by Larry David, who stars in the cast alongside names such as Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, and J. B. Smoove.
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