Larry David remembers late 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' co-star Richard Lewis: 'He's been like a brother'

Longtime friends and colleagues are saying goodbye to comedian and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" star Richard Lewis, who died Tuesday at 76 years old.

Larry David, Lewis' longtime co-star and creator of the beloved HBO comedy, released a statement on the death of his friend Wednesday, which was shared with USA TODAY.

"Richard and I were born three days apart in the same hospital and for most of my life he's been like a brother to me," David said in a statement. "He had that rare combination of being the funniest person and also the sweetest. But today he made me sob and for that I’ll never forgive him."

Here's how stars mourned Lewis on social media.

'Curb Your Enthusiasm' tributes pour in from HBO, Cheryl Hines

Co-star Cheryl Hines, who plays Cheryl on "Curb Your Enthusiasm," honored Lewis in an Instagram post, in which she confessed to having the "biggest crush" on the actor when she was younger. "He was the funniest person on stage and the most handsome comedian," she wrote.

Cheryl called working with the actor "a dream come true."

She continued, "Through the years I learned who Richard really was and the gifts he gave. Yes, he was the comedian I fell in love with, but he was also one of the most loving people I know. He would take time to tell the people he loved what they meant to him - especially in recent years. In between takes on Curb, he would tell me how special I was to him and how much he loved me."

"To be loved by Richard Lewis. A true gift. ... Larry, Richard adored you," Hines concluded. "But you know that."

A comedy great remembered: Richard Lewis, 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' actor, dies at 76

"We are heartbroken to learn that Richard Lewis has passed away. His comedic brilliance, wit and talent were unmatched," an HBO spokesperson said in a statement to USA TODAY.

"Richard will always be a cherished member of the HBO and 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' families, our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends and all the fans who could count on Richard to brighten their days with laughter," the statement continued.

Bette Midler, Mark Hamill pay tribute to Richard Lewis: 'Thank you for a lifetime of laughter'

Bette Midler seemingly broke the news Wednesday afternoon on X, formerly Twitter, writing, "on a sad note, the great Richard Lewis has died."

At a loss for words, Patton Oswalt let a photo do the talking, as he simply posted a black-and-white picture of Lewis on X.

Mark Hamill expressed his gratitude to Lewis, writing: "So sad to hear we have lost @TheRichardLewis. He was one-of-a-kind & always hilarious. Thank you for a lifetime of laughter."

Jamie Lee Curtis mourns Richard Lewis, says actor is the reason for her sobriety

Jamie Lee Curtis wrote a lengthy tribute in her friend's memory on Instagram shortly after Lewis' death became public.

"I remember exactly where I was when I saw a billboard of him about a stand up special on Sunset Boulevard when we were casting the ABC pilot Anything But Love and asked the casting people to bring him in to audition to play my best friend/maybe boyfriend, Marty Gold. I thought he was handsome. He made me laugh, which is the one thing that a strong, capable woman, can't really do for herself," Curtis wrote in the caption of a series of photos of them together.

She continued, "He got the part when I snort laughed when he mispronounced the word Bundt cake. He blew everyone else away It was a love triangle show and they didn't pick up that pilot but they came back to me and said that the chemistry with Richard was so great and could we revamp the original pilot which is the show we ended up making for a couple years."

The actor remembered him as "a stand-up comic (who) hated the live audience, where I, who had never done a play, loved it. He used to hide his lines everywhere on the set, on props, door frames, on my face in a close up and was always carrying a clipboard with his lines on them. It turns out he was a wonderful actor. Deep and so freaking funny."

On a serious note, Curtis revealed Lewis is "the reason I am sober."

"I am forever grateful for him for that act of grace alone," Curtis wrote. "He found love with Joyce and that, of course, besides his sobriety, is what mattered most to him. I'm weeping as I write this. Strange way of saying thank you to a sweet and funny man. Rest in laughter, Richard. My Marty, I love you, Hannah!"

Ben Stiller remembers Richard Lewis as an 'empathetic comedy genius'

Fellow comedy great Ben Stiller also shared a sweet message on social media: "I never met a kinder, more empathetic comedy genius. He was so funny. And deep. As a stand up he was really iconic in the 70s. Cool, funny, self deprecating and hip."

Stiller added, "He was a friend to my parents and the whole Stiller family. As a kid i remember seeing him at the Improv and how nice he was to me and my sister. Over the years he would always reach out with support and love or a kind word - sometimes out of the blue. It always felt special to hear from him."

He concluded, "I feel very lucky to have known him over all these years. I’m sad I won’t see him again. We’ll miss him very, very much. A true comedy great. Sending love to all of Richard’s family and friends."

Director Paul Feig 'devastated' by news of Richard Lewis' death

Paul Feig, director of "Bridesmaids" and "Ghostbusters," joined in paying tribute to the late comedian. "Absolutely devastated by this news," he wrote on X.

"Richard was my hero when I was a standup," the filmmaker added. "I was lucky enough to get to know him and he was the most wonderful man. So supportive and kind and truly one of the funniest people on the planet. You will be missed, my friend."

"Not Richard Lewis. Such a funny guy for so long. Watching a Curb as this news broke," stand-up comic Sam Morril wrote. "I remember reading his pickup line with the ladies in the book, I’m Dying Up Here, 'I’ll buy you a tuna sandwich anywhere in this city.' RIP."

"RIP Richard Lewis. A brilliantly funny man who will missed by all. The world needed him now more than ever," filmmaker Albert Brooks wrote on social media.

"I have never had a brother. From the day he came up and said hi in 1989 Richard Lewis and I called each other 'brother.' I used to kid him: if people knew how good and kind a person he was, it would ruin his career. He will always be with me," former MSNBC mainstay Keith Olbermann wrote on X.

Fellow comedian Dane Cook took to X to share, "Aww @TheRichardLewis I love you and will miss you man. You were a champion. RIP."

The National Comedy Center also honored Lewis in a statement from Executive Director Journey Gunderson that read, "Richard Lewis was part of a changing of the guard in stand-up history during the 1970s; his work exemplified and anticipated the deeply personal, raw, introspective and yes, neurotic, tone that has come to color so much contemporary comedy.

"His influence on the art form was profound, and we are proud to preserve his enduring contribution to comedy’s heritage."

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Richard Lewis tributes: Larry David, Jamie Lee Curtis mourn actor