RIP Richard Lewis

Comedian Richard Lewis, one of the stars of Curb your Enthusiasm has died aged 76

There was a great episode of Curb entitled “the nanny from hell”. The title came from a subplot of the episode in which Lewis was trying to get credited for inventing the all-purpose phrase: “The […] from hell”.

This was actually true…

Lewis lobbied successfully to be recognised as the man who coined the phrase “…from hell.”

I heard a lovely story about Richard Lewis today.

He was a jobbing comic in the Los Angeles comedy circuit, in the late 1970s. He was successful, well known, and being routinely cast in guest roles on TV sitcoms.

So it was no surprise that he was invited to audition for the role of ‘Mork from Ork’, the alien who was to make his debut in Happy Days — the number one show on American television at the time.

Waiting behind him to audition was a young Robin Williams. Robin Williams was virtually unknown at the time. He was surviving as a street performer and late, late, late gigs in obscure comedy clubs.

But Richard Lewis knew him. He’d seen Williams perform and saw what he was like and what he was capable of.

Then Lewis was called into the audition room. He looks at the pages he’s been asked to read, but doesn’t say anything. Instead, he stands up and opens the door, signalling for Williams to come in.

Then he turns to the producers and says, “I won’t waste any more of your time. Let me just be the one who introduced you to the only man who can play Mork from Ork…”

Robin Williams landed the role, stole the show, and was promptly given a spin-off of his own. And the rest is history.

Don’t know why … I just think that’s a lovely story.

I am sure Robin Williams will be waiting for him

RIP