'Curb Your Enthusiasm's' Richard Lewis comes to Newton
NEWTON — Sometimes you just need a break to recharge. And that's exactly what comedian Richard Lewis did after 44 years of non-stop touring.
"I was doing five or six cities in a row," Lewis said. "At one point I did 25 shows in 40 days. No one forced me to do it, I just did it… I am a recovering alcoholic and drug addict for 20 years, but even my body started hallucinating and I just knew I had to stop what I was doing."
Taking a break
He took five months off at the beginning of this year for the first time ever since beginning his stand-up career at 22 years old while in college. Hitting the road again, three months ago, the HBO "Curb Your Enthusiasm" television star will be making a stop on his tour at the Newton Theatre on Friday, Dec. 6.
"It was like I was addicted to (touring)," Lewis said. "It's hard to tell someone to stop getting so much pleasure… particularly when you are young you just have to learn for yourself. Like when I bottomed out on drugs you gotta just, people can tell you all they want but unless you do it yourself... Unless you are very mature to know you need some balance in your life, it will catch up to you and it caught up to me."
During his five month break, Lewis retreated to the television where he would rent entire series of shows. He also discovered a love for dogs.
"We got a rescue dog and it came at the perfect time," Lewis said. "I have puppy love. My wife sends me photos now of the dog on the bed on my pillow while I am away touring and I never thought I would be such a softy like this."
Returning to comedy
Getting back in his groove, Lewis has no problem jotting down jokes for his acts.
"I write 40 to 50 jokes a day," Lewis said. "I have 50 to 60 hours of jokes I will never use."
In addition to stand-up comedy, Lewis has appeared in many movies and television shows, most notably as one of Larry David’s closest friends on the award-winning HBO hit "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
Other shows include starring with Jamie Lee Curtis in the ABC sitcom "Anything But Love;" co-starring with Don Rickles on "Daddy Dearest;" and a recurring role on the Showtime series "Rude Awakening."
He has also appeared in such films as "Leaving Las Vegas," "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" and the upcoming 2014 release "Squirrels to Nuts," starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson.
Lewis has countless appearances on late night shows with David Letterman, Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, Jon Stewart, Howard Stern, Craig Ferguson and Bill Maher.
Throughout his career, stand up has remained the most important to Lewis.
"There are so many things going on in my life but at the core of everything is comedy," Lewis said. "I find things funny and I write them down and hopefully get to say it on stage to see if it pays off or not. That’s really been at the center of my life."