Richard Lewis's First Appearance on Letterman, February 25, 1982 (fixed)

Preceded by Dave and Paul not yet finding their groove together in LN #16.
This was Richard's first of 47 Late Night appearances. A full compilation will be in the works after the remaining seven shows have been digitized.

[@robotorch]

I grew up in the 80s and thought he would be around forever! A giant, and a seemingly friendly, introspective funny man who was too hard on himself.

[@momtorachie]

I felt the same. I’m 50, which is inconceivable, but so many people I’ve always viewed as permanent fixtures in this world is so strange and uncomfortable.

[@FlyRoni]

Rodney Dangerfield also had the same self-deprecating humor

[@user-nn3ii1ct7k]

Same. A brilliant and unique comic 🎁💕💕💕💕💕

[@glen4326]

So true, Richard was hilarious on Curb. The stories he knew, I need to see if he wrote any books because his observation about life is really sharp and he doesn't rely on swearing and dirty humor.

[@savethezombies]

I always felt he was too hard on himself too. Hopefully it was just a character he did; like a Pee Wee or Gilbert Gottfried.

[@anniehall9589]

Richard Lewis, the legend. RIP sir! Your humor will be missed.

[@wholovesyoubabywholovesyou1147]

Someone told Richard that his hair looked good and that's why he has kept it for 72 years

[@delilh325]

I wish I could keep my hair 5 more years

[@MrFabiomassid]

Jealous?

[@kurtreber9813]

@@MrFabiomassid bald people would be jealous of his hair, yes. I would know...

[@benkleschinsky]

You call this a boycott?

[@mr.m325]

but before the all black clothes

[@derricksargent9980]

Rest easy, Rich. Thanks for all the laughs.

[@lauriebradman9661]

Huge crush on Richard when I was a kid in the 80s... LOVED his hair. 💔 Gonna check him out on 'Curb'...

[@cynthiamadrid1430]

Me too

[@swimlaps1]

Yes!

[@lms2932]

Me too

[@MothGirl007]

Same.

[@nrusso967]

Yup, me too!

[@anthonyf.9170]

Rest in peace. I loved watching you. We lost a great talent. 🙏

[@Ericotheriault]

I always enjoyed Richard Lewis…great seeing him on Letterman back in the day

[@zed4692]

RIP Sir. Thanks for making the world a little brighter while you were here.

[@GaryDGuitar]

Wow, didn't know he wore other colors than black.

[@nylabo]

Omg you’re right!!!

[@user-um6lz9hg3r]

I am so sorry to hear of Richard Lewis' passing.

[@alexmartin-schael7556]

I was amazed by Lewis' incredible quick wit. What a great loss. RIP.

[@DavidH1]

We will miss you Richard. Thanks for everything.

[@victorbasta7359]

I was 19 when this first aired. Worked 4-midnight, got home just in time for the 1230 start of the show. I really enjoyed Dave's brand of dorky humor.

[@steveconn]

RIP dear Richard. So glad I saw you once. 😢😢😢

[@tnrc75]

Always an incredible guest on Dave's show. He was vulnerable and unafraid, that's what made him great. Rest easy legend.

[@turnsufficient4971]

He was so good and I like how he always just said what wad on his mind. His specials from the 80s were hilarious - RIP good sir - Posted comment on February 29th, 2024 @12:18AM EST

[@peskypesky]

RIP. Thank you for all the laughs.

[@Danuta628]

This was probably the first show I watched in real time… we loved it right out of the gate. Oh Richard - love you sir. ❤ GODSPEED

[@c.s.mcleod7383]

Yes Larry. I'm a recovering alcoholic. I'm an orphan Larry. Both my parents are dead.

[@thecrushedtwinkie6632]

When he's informed his time is up and he quips: "That wipes out the operetta I was guhna..." was a manifestation of the brilliant spontaneous wit that endeared him to millions. Truly a man to be admired for all time. (Milton Moore, a 75 year old fan from Dallas, Texas🤪😺👏👍)

[@DeadEndGoose]

Keep on rockin!

[@27inzenith]

R.I.P. Richard Lewis.

[@mackdaddyg321]

I've loved Richard Lewis for so many years! Looking forward to the compilation. Thanks again for all of your hard work!

[@fightmal1]

he coined the phrase "date from hell"

[@dropitstudio8759]

Only know him from curb. What made him famous?

[@DJRitty]

@@fightmal1 no he coined BLANK from hell.

[@DJRitty]

@@dropitstudio8759 His stand up career.

[@davidzimmerman2241]

@@dropitstudio8759 Sitcom Anything but Love, but superb standup since the 70's

[@BobKnight-mm2ze]

Whew, that whole crop of dudes Richard, Belzer, Shandling, David Steinberg. Man, time just flies. You'd see these guys on the shows, then maybe go to sleep watching Tom Snyder. Time just keeps on rolling.

[@kennethbrady]

Good times. How about getting in kind of late, slightly buzzed and discovering Second City TV? Martin Short doing Jerry Lewis. Yeah...good times.

[@BobKnight-mm2ze]

@@kennethbradyThe other night Kimmel had Eugene on, and I literally spent half an hour trying to remember SCTV names AND eras without google. I had Candy, Flaherty, Eugene, Andrea, Maureen. And it seems like Dave and Rick were a different time because they did that song with Rush "take off." But yeah, times come and go...because I somehow missed Martin until SNL and the "I must say" character.

[@SuperC888]

@@BobKnight-mm2zeEd Grimley.

[@curtspins7626]

@@BobKnight-mm2ze Without Google?! And yet, you had to share with the Internet what you were able to recall in you memory palace here on KZbin. Thank you for restoring our collective faith in humanity. We CAN defeat Artificial Intelligence!

[@carolwisniewski6740]

LOL I LOVE the 80's nose check on his way in through the curtain. Oh, and he keeps sniffing and touching his nose. I miss the 80's.

[@b.b.6673]

He's dressed like the "cool" teacher lol

[@samsts7682]

bryson brown accurate af

[@howard5992]

The "cool" teachers didn't usually come to class with a nose full of snow. God bless Richard that he didn't kill himself.

[@b.b.6673]

@@howard5992 No. Those were the really cool teachers lol.

[@howard5992]

@@b.b.6673 I remember - I had a few.

[@sampleoffers1978]

Nobody's listening to bald people tell these meandering Yickfa stories

[@chickeastwater9883]

I saw Richard Lewis @ Caroline's & met Richard & David Letterman after the Show. Great Memories I took 2 guys , from Japan... They had no Clue , what he was saying. HA HA HAAA

[@chmartin444]

Brilliant natural comedian the best kind. Nothing forced just naturally funny

[@craigstephens149]

Ch Martin the drugs helped

[@spartyman7]

Rest in Laughs Richard Lewis. Brilliant and so funny, and a kind soul.

[@mazzie9663]

He lived a lot longer than I thought, with severe addictions to meth and coke for many years and then Parkinson’s Disease in later years. He was funny and bright and I enjoyed his performances. R.I.P. Richard Lewis

[@ncwayneeric]

Rest easy funny man. God bless the family of Richard Lewis.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

"Children?! You're 200 years old."

[@andrewholmes3116]

It's weird not seeing him dressed for a funeral

[@steveflor9942]

"Find Atlantis" It got a laugh, but it slayed me.

[@natewatson6962]

That one got me 🤣🤣🤣

[@OpheliaDarkling]

💯🤣🤣

[@brianjansen3103]

He seems to be suffering from seasonal allergies

[@cohencohen54]

Walt Sobchak back then it was called coke!

[@Frank_Cohen]

@@cohencohen54 No sheet

[@tdunph4250]

perhaps seasonal "cocaine use"

[@goeth89b]

80’s season

[@srconrad]

Not anymore.

[@ranatlas]

Thank you for posting this. One of my absolute fave comedians and comic actors. I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with him (although very briefly) when he was touring with Dennis Miller around the year 1990. Really nice guy.

[@wackydsquarediv3805]

ranatlas Whopper!

[@anthony_barba]

A rarity... I laughed out loud at a comedian... That dog clearing his throat line.. Gold!

[@andyinoregon]

Both were age 34 when this show aired, so more than half a lifetime ago.

[@777jones]

andyinoregon that’s so unbelievable lol. He is so much older than I am, but not in this video. He is acting much older than he is.

[@jhock9171]

Damn. I'm only 34 now, but I'm twice as old as both of them.

[@whataloadofbollox]

Richard Lewis, Larry David and Ted Danson were all born in 1947, hard to believe in my opinion lookswise !

[@Finn959]

Maybe for Ted. Not for Richard anymore and Larry has always looked old.

[@MrGSfan]

Include Letterman in there

[@dualshock3462]

@@Finn959 I like how in the first Curb season Richard, Ted, Jeff and all Larry's cousins looked 20 years younger than Larry and in the last season they look all the same age.

[@dennis_duran]

Richard and Larry were born in the same hospital three years apart and grew up knowing but hating each other until they got into comedy.

[@whataloadofbollox]

@@dennis_duran I already pointed out they were born in the same year and yet you say 3 years apart, perhaps you should write to Google and get them to correct their error !

[@cyrussaeed6846]

aaahhh the 80s!! ... the number of times he touches his nose!

[@alexscott730]

He had a Colombian cold...lol

[@TrickyBoa]

Cyrus Saeed no wonder he looks the way he does now.

[@poppadee6950]

That 80s cocaine was off the charts!!! lol!

[@TrickyBoa]

momentinpassing yea it’s crazy I was actually watching him on curb the other night and googled if he was even still alive from the time they shot the episode.

[@lefkytheshin]

Perhaps we need more coke nowadays, because the era is total shit.

[@jimbarrofficial]

Unique talent. RIP

[@marcelhaik8035]

Thank you Don for doing these! 😊

[@antlerking69]

Thank You Don He was a funny guy

[@declanjohn8517]

Richard was the first guest of the night when I went to a CBS taping of Dave's show (followed by Laura Linney). Instead of running backstage during the commercial periods, Dave stayed and chatted off-mike with Richard; my friend who had attended loads of Letterman tapings (she works for NBC) over the years said it was pretty rare for Dave to stay and interact with his guests once their segments had finished.

[@dongiller]

December 12, 2004. :) I have him as the second guest on that show, though. Jordan Zevon with The Wallflowers the musical act, performing his dad's "Lawyers, Guns and Money."

[@declanjohn8517]

12/12 may have been a repeat. I just looked up my emails from around that time (I was visiting my friend in NY as I live in Seattle) and was talking about the show on 10/14, so the taping must have been 10/12 or 13. That's the one, tho', Jordan Zevon.

[@dongiller]

My sloppy mistake! I meant October 12, 2004. For some inexcusable reason I read the "10" in my database as a "12." Mea culpa.

[@declanjohn8517]

Here, copied right from my 2004 email to a friend back in Seattle, is what I wrote after the show. In 2004 I also worked in TV but it was at Seattle's little KCTS, the PBS affiliate, so seeing the big leagues of CBS and NBC was great fun... "JT & I were in the balcony, near the front, for the taping. It was very fun. The set, of course, is much smaller than it appears on TV. Laura Linney was a guest, very last minute. She wasn't on the website or anything. She looked very good. I always like seeing actresses with real woman bodies instead of stick bodies. Richard Lewis was on too, and very funny. Interesting sensation attending a taping. You really feel like part of Dave's gang. He came out before the show and talked a bit, then during the show, make in-jokes just for us based on the before-the-show stuff."

[@jrpipik]

>>Jordan Zevon with The Wallflowers the musical act, performing his dad's "Lawyers, Guns and Money."

[@andyinoregon]

How was Richard Lewis not cast as Steven Van Zandt's mob brother on The Sopranos? What a missed opportunity!

[@josephlawson9950]

In memory of Richard

[@khalifla5990]

These seem to be a lot more natural than the interviews that are done today

[@greg_vrana]

Awesome. Thanks for putting these together. Loved Richard Lewis.

[@riobrasilsambashowssambist1453]

Lewis same hair cut for 72 years

[@GingerCC-he8be]

RIP Mr. Lewis! Thanks for the laughs 💐

[@tonydog4456]

Love this guy. Genuinely funny and he would be hilarious to talk to. Anyway, I was walking back from class at Ohio State in the fall of 1986 or 87. Friday evening around 6 pm and there’s a big commotion keeping me from crossing Woodruff Avenue. It’s homecoming week and there is a procession of cars with all the serious Queen candidates and then the car carrying the grand marshal. Who was it, you ask? None other than Richard F’n Lewis. I couldn’t believe it. He was having a great time. Waving, yelling stuff at the two dozen people lining the street. Good times.

[@andyinoregon]

Damn, tonydog, J. B. Smoove "Would love that muthafuckin' story!!"

[@factsoverfiction7826]

Lol, that's great! Just read he studied marketing at Ohio State.

[@franciet99]

I had such a crush on Richard when I was growing up. Watching him on Curb Your Enthusiasm there was no doubt he was in ill health. RIP dear man.

[@SnickasBah]

One of my favorite late night episodes was when they filmed the episode in his office. Richard Lewis and Terry Garr I think.

[@laudarevsonhunt]

and Terri took a shower

[@peterjonas4971]

Letterman was so great back then.

[@cameramanzoomit]

Lewis is one of the greats! There is a serious dearth of Richard Lewis/Letterman clips on KZbin.

[@cameramanzoomit]

And unfortunately that hasn't changed much since his death. RIP

[@JoeLink56]

Just watching Dave geek out on him and laugh and appreciate it, is funny and endearing too!

[@CatherineSweeney-lq6zc]

I love Richard Lewis thanks

[@gocygo63]

...I eff'n lost it with the bit about the family dog...LOL!!!

[@AudiophileTubes]

R.I.P. Richard Lewis. Thanks for the laughs! Happy 'Chronukkah' in the sky!

[@adash66]

RIP Richard Lewis

[@jrpipik]

And that set the template for every Lewis appearance to come.

[@doniellestenson3502]

Lewis was so handsome.

[@DebNKY]

Yes, he was. ❤

[@FFOGHORN]

Genuinely sweet and gentle guy. Always loved his comedy.

[@kevinwelsh9921]

Always looked forward to Richard Lewis and Jay Leno’s appearances on Letterman.

[@broncobilly4029]

He looks like Michael Douglas.

[@lefkytheshin]

It's incredible that, when I was a kid, I found Lewis to be really annoying. Later on, when I actually started to get his jokes and comedic style, I found him hilarious.

[@MrJamberee]

He is a funny guy, but this is just rambling and not very funny. I had to give up.

[@gavinbrando8255]

I was the same with Robin Williams as a kid. As I got older I caught all the things that went right over my head and I appreciated him more.

[@KOSMICKEN09]

I love him on curb your enthusiasm

[@plissken2156]

I feel the same way about Woody Allen and Albert Brooks. I guess what they say is true; tragedy + time = comedy.

[@sacrilegiousboi978]

Same with me with James May. As a kid he was my least favourite of the Top Gear trio, seemed boring and old fashioned. Now he’s by far my favourite.

[@HAL_9000__]

Another great one gone. Rest in peace Richard.

[@1kenodave1]

It would have been crazy to have Richard Lewis and Robin Williams in the same room.

[@maddymud]

he really came unraveled at end when Dave gave him a hurry up signal - he had been doing so well.

[@asadashraf2128]

I think Dave’s questions were “How are you Richard” and “how is it living in L.A”

[@SuperC888]

And Richard was off and running

[@mdro434]

First and only time seen Richard Lewis without a black jacket 🧥 RIP 🪦 Richard Lewis Great comedian

[@BadAcid999]

RIP Richard!

[@maudemathildeh335]

RIP Richard Lewis. I always liked him, he reminded me of Ray Davies.

[@BlownC5Z]

Funny Man Down. I remember seeing this then. Such a smart ass, in the good way.

[@PunkRockRog]

Geez…I’m exhausted from watching this 😑 😅

[@gerdbc9076]

Only Lewis has that body language. It's frantic and inviting

[@franfranfrancis]

His outfit is dope

[@charlenemack7040]

Rest in paradise Richard 😊

[@starling9172]

Richard Lewis has the prettiest hair

[@kenigma79]

Starling “had”

[@patrickscottwalsh]

@@kenigma79 he looks great on curb. imagine having that much hair at that age.

[@kenigma79]

Pat He looks great for 95 on Curb.

[@johnsmith-wx5fb]

@@patrickscottwalsh you ok bro?

[@riobrasilsambashowssambist1453]

Same.hair cut.for 72 years

[@DJRitty]

My fav comedian of all time. Robin MIT is Mel Brook's best so glad he's a part of it.

[@nicolaskillen6215]

RIP to a 🐐 😢

[@amcsibozgor6791]

Love at first sight! Little coke problem, but who didn't?

[@deanmcdiarmid7068]

Richard lewis is the greatest

[@andytheebandy]

that was a paul simon song without instrumentals

[@fredthompson1387]

Just saw a Curb snippet on You Tube a few days ago where he and Larry had a bit where they talked about putting each other in their will. Funny guy with acerbic wit. Thanks for the entertainment. RIP Richard

[@SandraLovesSun]

Thanks for uploading this.

[@Willkhalifa]

Badass how he explained how he wasn’t explaining thing for the host, but for himself.

[@dianespies3104]

Always liked him, a very unique guy. R.I.P. Richard

[@rohitkalra3988]

How is it fair to give one guy all these great hair.

[@6Glitch]

RIP to one of the best to ever do it 😢

[@SandraLovesSun]

I wonder if there was any cocaine in the green room. Edit: I didn't know he has addiction problems. I don't know much about him. Looked it up. I do love him on Curb Your Enthusiasm and I saw a stand-up gig. I thought he was wiping his nose an awful lot here. I'm really happy to know that he is sober. He seems like a good person.

[@Hs3u39]

I just think that neuroticism is his shtick. No drugs needed. On the other hand I’m pretty sure some guests powered their noses back in the day.

[@Steevee14]

@@Hs3u39 Is neuroticism his "schtick"? I think that's his genuine self, no?

[@carrera993]

RIP Richard! Too young.

[@jonRboy]

Thanks RIchard for everything you did. RIP.

[@smilevibes]

Thank you Don!!!!

[@FritzFritzarini]

He was a funny guy, no doubt about it. And I wish I could hear all of Drive My Car that the band started playing at the very end -- sounded like a kick ass version!

[@waynejkl4035]

He ALWAYS makes me laugh so hard ❤❤

[@hexchief]

I always thought he looked like Micheal Douglas and Al Pacino had a kid. RIP RL!

[@mandersj]

Did Robert Downey Junior steal this guys persona?

[@DaveShmadeCalabria]

Paul Reiser was accused of stealing his style too

[@laurakain1524]

And he of Allen. And Woody got it from Bob Hope

[@EddiePardovani-vb3zd]

Richard Lewis was amazing

[@glynismatthews5813]

Rip Mr. Lewis

[@DuduOhsson]

One of the last great times to be alive in NY. Thanks for the laughs Richard.