Comedian Richard Lewis, 75, revealed the health issues he’s been faced with over the last three-and-a-half years. The star of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm shared in a video posted to Twitter that amid four surgeries for his back, shoulder and hip, two years ago he was also diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Lewis said he wanted to address questions about if he will perform stand-up again, noting that he recently wrapped the 12th season of Curb Your Enthusiasm, on which Lewis is an original series regular. Lewis announced his retirement from stand-up, but says he plans to continue acting and writing. Lewis says was in the middle of a comedy tour before his health issues began, and decided to end on a high note. “I’m at the top of my game. After 50 years almost, I’m going to just call it quits. And I felt great about that. And then out of the blue, the shit hit the fan.” Lewis says he had four surgeries back-to-back, for issues with his back and shoulder, and then needed both shoulder and hip replacement. He continued: “And on top of all of that, two years ago I was walking a little stiffly, I was shuffling my feet. And I went to a neurologist and they gave me a brain scan, and I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. And that was about two years ago. But luckily, I got it late in life, and they say you progress very slowly if at all, and I’m on the right meds, so I’m cool.”
Lewis has alluded to health issues and complications on social media over the years, which kept him from appearing on Curb Your Enthusiasm as much as he would like. Lewis appeared in only one episode of the 11th season, and is slated to appear in the upcoming season 12. Lewis said in his video: “I guess I just wanted you to know that that’s where it’s been at. I’m finished with stand-up, I’m just focused 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 [Joyce Lapinsky], I love my little puppy dog and I love all of my friends and my fans.”
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