Source: Screenshot Twitter Video
The comedy legend Richard Lewis has announced that he is retiring from stand-up after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Lewis, 75, made this announcement in a video posted to his Twitter page on Monday.
“Hey, it’s Richard Lewis, how you doing?” Lewis began. “Just wrapped a couple weeks ago the season 12 finale of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and it was just an amazing season, and I’m so grateful to be a part of that show. But you know, the last three and a half years I’ve had sort of a rocky time.”
“And people have said, ‘Gee, I haven’t heard from you, and are you still touring?'” he added. “And here’s really what happened.”
Lewis went on to explain that he was on a comedy tour three and a half years ago, and at a certain point, he thought to himself, “You know, I’m at the top of my game. After 50 years almost, I’m just gonna call it quits.”
While he “felt great about it” at the time, soon after he made that decision, “s— hit the fan.”
“I had four surgeries, back to back to back to back,” he recounted. “It was incredible, I couldn’t believe it. I mean, it’s bad luck, but it’s life.”
Related: Michael J. Fox Admits Parkinson’s Diagnosis Led To Him Becoming An Alcoholic
Lewis said that he had surgery on his back, on his shoulder, another surgery on his shoulder, then a hip replacement. Though he spent a lot of time in physical therapy, things sadly only got worse from there.
“Two years ago, I started 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,” he continued.
While this diagnosis is a scary one, Lewis has been told by his doctors that he is doing well.
“Luckily I got it late in life,” he said, “and they say you progress very slowly, if at all, and I’m on the right meds, so I’m cool.”
Lewis ended the video by confirming that while his stand-up career is over, fans haven’t seen the last of him yet.
“I’m finished with stand-up, I’m focusing on writing and acting,” he said.
“I have Parkinson’s disease but I’m under a doctor’s care and everything is cool and I love my wife, I love my little puppy dog, and I love all my friends and my fans, and now you know where it’s been at the last three and a half years,” Lewis concluded. “God bless you.”
Related: Michael J. Fox Gives Sad Update About His Health After Battling Parkinson’s For Over 30 Years
The BBC reported that the American Association of Neurological Surgeons describes Parkinson’s as “a progressive disorder that is caused by degeneration of nerve cells in the part of the brain called the substantia nigra, which controls movement.”
While there is no cure for Parkinson’s medication can be used to ease symptoms, which typically include tremors, speech changes, and impaired balance.
Other celebrities who have famously battled Parkinson’s include the singer Neil Diamond and the actor Michael J. Fox, who was only 29 when he was diagnosed.
Being diagnosed with Parkinson’s is obviously not something that anyone wants to have happen to them, but Lewis seems to be dealing with this as well as can be expected. Please join us in saying a prayer for him and his family during this difficult time!
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