Inside Curb Your Enthusiasm Stars Richard Lewis and Larry David’s Decades-Long Friendship

Richard Lewis and Larry David’s friendship spanned decades, on and off screen.

Born just three days apart in the same hospital in 1947, they were destined to become best friends. When they were 12 years old, they met for the first time at a summer camp, although they immediately fell out after meeting each other.

In an interview with The Spectator in 2023, Lewis recalled how he “disliked him very much”.

“When we were playing baseball, I tried to hit him with the ball,” he said. “We were the main rivals. I couldn’t wait for camp to end just to get away from Larry. I’m sure he felt the same way.”

Larry David (left) and Richard Lewis.

Charley Gallay/FilmMagic

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However, the stars aligned and Lewis and David met again 11 years later while working on the comedy scene in New York. The late actor admitted he didn’t recognize him until they had a few drinks one night and he finally managed to connect the face to the name.

“I looked at his face and said, ‘There’s something about you, man, that scares me.’ Just saying that scared everyone! It clicked. ‘You’re Richard Lewis!’ ‘You’re Larry David!’ … I was yelling at him, he was yelling at me,” he recalled with a laugh to The Spectator.

In a 2002 interview at the Paley Center for the Media, David fondly recalled their early memories and recounted how they became “instant best friends.”

The pair went on to dominate comedy in Hollywood, with Lewis eventually joining David’s Curb your enthusiasm 2000 The HBO series Lewis and David played fictionalized versions of themselves with Lewis appearing in over 40 episodes.

Larry David and Richard Lewis in ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’.

John P. Johnson/HBO

Comedian and Curb your enthusiasm Star Richard Lewis died at 76

“Our relationship in life is very, I would say, almost exactly what it is in life as what it is on the show,” David said at the Paley Center. “We scream at each other. We fight all the time, but we have a lot of fun. It’s nice for us. It’s a great friendship. I love him.”

In 2021, Lewis announced that he would be stepping down from the show and retiring from comedy to focus on his health. Two years later, in April 2023, he announced that he was privately dealing with Parkinson’s disease.

He eventually returned for the series’ 12th and final season Curb your enthusiasm, which is currently showing on HBO.

Larry David, Richard Lewis and Jeff Garlin in ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’.

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On Tuesday, PEOPLE confirmed that Lewis died peacefully at his home after suffering a heart attack. He was 76 years old.

Shortly after, David shared his reaction to the sad news and reflected on their lifelong friendship. “Richard and I were born three days apart in the same hospital and for most of my life he was like a brother to me,” he said in a statement. “He had that rare combination of being the funniest person and also the sweetest. But today he made me cry and I will never forgive him for that.”

In the episode Curb your enthusiasm that aired earlier this month, Lewis joked about writing Seinfeld co-creator to his will while playing a round of golf.

Richard Lewis and Larry David on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’.

John Johnson/HBO

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“I’ve got better news for you. I’m leaving you in my will. I’m finessing it, and you’re in it,” Lewis told David while discussing the happiness they’ve experienced in life.

“When I die, I want you to know how much I cared about you,” he explained after David’s protests, adding: “You’re my best friend. You understand.”

David kept saying he didn’t want the money, to which Lewis said he’d give it to him anyway, prompting David to say, “Oh my God. F— you.”

Lewis’ will was brought up again later in the episode when the two went golfing once more, and he said he would be seeing an estate attorney later that week.

Richard Lewis on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’.

John Johnson/HBO

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“You know, it’s kind of dawning on me what’s going on. You’re putting me in your will because you want me to put you in mine,” David said, to which Lewis asked, “Are you out of your fucking mind?” He noted that such a move would be “shallow” and “manipulative”.

After Lewis called it “a low point in their friendship,” David said he would leave Lewis in his will, and the two discussed how they would agree on what they would get each other.

“By the way, what makes you think I’ll die before you?” David later asked Lewis, who replied: “You’re a bit shabby now. I’m in a bit better shape than you.”

“You think so? Oh really. I’ll outlive you by 20 years,” Lewis said.

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New episodes Curb your enthusiasm are available to stream on Sundays on Max.

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Source: HIS Education