He spent a lifetime turning his anxiety inside out and handing it to audiences as laughter. Richard Lewis’s jittery cadence, black-clad presence, and relentless self-examination changed what stand-up could be, giving permission to generations of comics to be vulnerable, flawed, and brutally honest. Onstage, he seemed perpetually on the verge of unraveling; offstage, he quietly fought battles his fans only glimpsed, including his recent struggle with Parkinson’s disease.

His partnership with Larry David on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” became a late-career crown, introducing his neurotic brilliance to millions who had never seen his early club sets or cable specials. When news broke that he died at 78 after a heart attack, the outpouring from comedians and actors felt like a roll call of everyone he’d touched. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones, but the echo of his punchlines will keep interrupting the silence he leaves behind.