Richard Lewis, the stand-up comedian and co-star of Curb Your Enthusiasm, has passed away at the age of 76.

According to his publicist, Jeff Abraham, Lewis peacefully died at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday night following a heart attack.

Last April, Lewis disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and would be retiring from stand-up comedy.

Renowned for his self-deprecating humor, Lewis gained prominence during the 1980s. He was a fixture alongside Larry David in the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm, portraying a semi-fictionalized version of himself.

His most recent appearance was in Season 12 of the show, currently airing on HBO. The network expressed deep sorrow upon learning of his passing, describing Lewis as having unparalleled comedic brilliance, wit, and talent.

In a statement released by Lewis' publicist, his wife, Joyce Lapinsky, expressed gratitude for the love, friendship, and support received, while requesting privacy during this period.

Larry David, Lewis' co-star, honored his friend in a statement provided by HBO to the media, reminiscing about their lifelong bond and describing Lewis as a rare combination of being both the funniest and the sweetest person. David also expressed his sorrow, noting that Lewis had brought him to tears, a moment he would never forget.

Born in Brooklyn and raised in New Jersey, Lewis made a name for himself in the 1970s performing in clubs in New York City and on late-night TV.

Nicknamed "The Prince of Pain", Lewis was known for poking fun at his own neuroses and hypochondria during his comedy routines. Dressed nearly always all in black, he once joked he was the "Descartes of anxiety; I panic, therefore I am".

Lewis was also open about his struggles with addiction and depression and had been sober for decades. His edgy act found favour among talk show hosts, and Lewis became a firm favourite of late-night legends David Letterman and Jay Leno.

Comedy Central had called him one of the top 50 stand-up comedians of all time and GQ Magazine included him in its list of the 20th Century's Most Influential Humourists.

In 1979, he made his acting debut in the NBC special Diary of a Young Comic. The film followed the satirical journey of a young comedian seeking to make it in Los Angeles.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he starred in a host of TV shows, including the sitcom Anything but Love, where he played opposite Jamie Lee Curtis from 1989 to 1992.

But it on Curb Your Enthusiasm where Lewis found his signature role. Premiering in 2000, his stint playing a fictionalised version of himself won plaudits.

Lewis had to take a break from starring in Season 11 of Curb Your Enthusiasm due to a series of surgeries.

"I've had sort of a rocky time," he said last year announcing the news of his diagnosis.

He added that he had undergone back surgery, shoulder surgery, shoulder replacement surgery and hip replacement surgery. "I had four surgeries, back to back to back... It was bad luck, but it's life."

News of his death prompted a stream of tributes from a host of famous faces, including Daily Show host Jon Stewart, Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and Curb Your Enthusiasm actress Cheryl Hines.

In a post on Instagram, Curtis called her former co-star "deep and so freaking funny".

"He also is the reason I am sober. He helped me. I am forever grateful for him for that act of grace alone," she said.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, fellow comedian Bill Burr called Lewis a"true original".

"An absolutely fearless comedian who did and said what he wanted", Burr wrote.

May his soul rest in peace.