The best Richard Lewis movies and TV shows reveal just why the stand-up comedian and writer had such an easy and successful transition to both the big and small screens. Born in New York in 1947, Richard Lewis found his footing performing at open mic nights in New York’s Greenwich Village in the early 1970s. After moving to L.A. at the advice of fellow comedian David Brenner, Lewis started getting regular slots on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
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Thanks to his incredibly self-deprecating and, often, dark comedic style, Richard Lewis managed to gain the attention of many network executives. This led to his big break in 1979 with the leading role in the NBC direct-to-TV movie Diary of a Young Comic, which he also co-wrote. From there he quickly became a household name, especially after appearing alongside lifelong friend Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm. While he tragically passed away in 2024, the best Richard Lewis movies and TV shows leave an enduring legacy for one of the most unique comedic talents of the 20th and 21st centuries.
You are watching: Richard Lewis’s 10 Best Movies And TV Shows
10
Diary Of A Young Comic (1979)
Richard Lewis Plays Billy Goldstein
One of the comedian’s earliest performances still stands as one of the best Richard Lewis movies, and this is 1971’s Diary of a Young Comic. Richard Lewis plays Billy Goldstein in the satirical comedy, a character loosely based on himself. The movie follows Goldstein as he attempts to make it as a stand-up comedian in New York – though, when he changes his last name to Gondola, he earns the ire of his family.
Directed by Gary Weis, the NBC made-for-TV film is every bit as sharp and witty as many of the Richard Lewis’ movies from his later career, Diary of a Young Comic should be considered essential viewing for his fans. It was clear from this early appearance that Lewis had a bright future ahead of him. What’s more, he co-wrote the story and script for Diary of a Young Comic (partnering with Bennett Tramer), meaning every character and scene contains a part of Lewis’ unique comedic mind in some way.
9
Wagons East (1994)
Richard Lewis Plays Phil Taylor
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Wagons East
PG-13
Wagons East is a comedy released in 1994, starring John Candy and Richard Lewis. The film follows a group of misfit settlers who, disillusioned with their pioneer lifestyle, decide to head back East. Enlisted to lead the journey is the drunk and bumbling wagon master, played by Candy. The film blends humor with the trials of the Old West in a lighthearted portrayal of American frontier life.
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Release Date
August 26, 1994
Runtime
107 Minutes
Cast
John Candy
, Richard Lewis
, John C. McGinley
, Ellen Greene
, Robert Picardo
, Ed Lauter
, William Sanderson
, Rodney A. Grant
Director
Peter Markle
Starring alongside the equally legendary John Candy, Wagons East sees Richard Lewis take on the Western genre in a satire that sees two former pioneers get fed up with Manifest Destiny. Directed by Peter Markle, Wagons East follows Richard Lewis’ Phil Taylor and John Candy’s James Harlow as they give up their dreams of settling the Wild West and decide to head back to the East Coast.
Richard Lewis and John Candy have some incredible chemistry, and the two make great co-leads. The movie was panned by critics upon its release, though has been looked upon more fondly in retrospect (especially since it was Candy’s final movie before his death). While the plot and slapstick comedy moments satire may not be groundbreaking in and of itself, Richard Lewis’ performance as Phil Taylor secures it as one of the best movies of his career.
8
Game Day (1999)
Richard Lewis Plays Steve Adler
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Game Day
R
Game Day follows Steven Adler, a former high-profile college basketball coach plagued by past failures, now leading a mediocre program in a modest town. As he guides his underdog team to the finals, the film examines his struggle with personal demons and questions his ability to reclaim his life’s direction.
Release Date
September 21, 1999
Runtime
106 minutes
Cast
Richard Lewis
, Sean Squire
, Gerry Becker
, Alicia Minshew
, Kenny Albert
, Lee Bryan
, Richard ‘Batt’ Johnson
, Nicole Bradin
, Valorie Hubbard
, Hillel Meltzer
, Jaliyl Lynn
, Brad Beyer
, Frank Gorshin
, Jim Marcus
, Robert Petkoff
Director
Steve Klein
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1999’s Game Day is incredibly under the radar as far as the best Richard Lewis movies go, but deserves recognition thanks to how much of the comedian’s range he managed to show compared to his other roles. The sports comedy, directed by Steve Klein, stars Lewis as Steve Adler, a formerly successful college basketball coach who, after a career slump, finds himself managing a team of misfits and low-energy athletes in a backwater town.
Game Day sees Richard Lewis adopting a dry, sarcastic, and snarky persona that works incredibly well. While not the most widely known or critically celebrated Richard Lewis out there, it’s definitely an important performance in his wider filmography, as it sees him take a step out of his comedic comfort zone. This results in Steve Adler being a hilarious character, and one that props up the rest of the otherwise by-the-numbers sports comedy (though one that still manages to net an 82% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes).
7
Once Upon A Crime… (1992)
Richard Lewis Plays Julian Peters
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Once Upon a Crime
PG
Once Upon a Crime is a comedic film featuring an ensemble cast, centered around a group of travelers, including Marilyn and Neil, who become prime suspects in a murder investigation in Monte Carlo. As Inspector Bonnard pursues the case, the travelers are entangled in chaos, driven by a missing dog and a substantial reward.
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Release Date
March 6, 1992
Cast
Jim Belushi
, John Candy
, Cybill Shepherd
, Sean Young
, Richard Lewis
, Ornella Muti
, Giancarlo Giannini
, George Hamilton
, Roberto Sbaratto
, Joss Ackland
, Ann Way
, Geoffrey Andrews
, Caterina Boratto
, Elsa Martinelli
, Riccardo Parisio Perrotti
, Nino Richelmy
, Maria de Candia
, Giuseppe Perruccio
, Alessandro Maria Amen
, Franco Angrisano
, Georges Carlo
, Benedetto Fanna
, Christian Bianchi
, Marco Martinozzi
, Charles Dubourgeot
Director
Eugene Levy
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1992’s Once Upon a Crime finds Richard Lewis sharing a screen with some of the most well-known comic actors of the early 1990s. The cast includes the likes of John Candy and James Belushi, as well as sci-fi legend Sean Young and celebrated dramatic actress Cybill Shepherd. Like many of the best Richard Lewis movies, Once Upon a Crime was misunderstood by critics upon its release, though audiences loved director Eugene Levy’s crime mystery.
Richard Lewis stars in Once Upon a Crime as Julian Peters, a man who has traveled to Monte Carlo to return a dachshund to a wealthy heiress. However, he (along with many of the other characters), find themselves caught up in a Poirot-style murder investigation. As is often the case when Lewis finds himself part of an ensemble cast, the comedian more than holds his own, and he also once again displays great chemistry with the likes of John Candy as seen in 1994’s Wagons East.
6
Vamps (2012)
Richard Lewis Plays Danny
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Vamps
Vamps is a film directed by Amy Heckerling, featuring Alicia Silverstone and Krysten Ritter as two modern-day vampires navigating nightlife in New York. Their carefree existence is threatened by romantic encounters, forcing them to confront choices that could compromise their immortality.
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Release Date
August 25, 2012
Runtime
93 minutes
Cast
Krysten Ritter
, Sigourney Weaver
, Alicia Silverstone
, Asim Ahmad
, Richard Lewis
, Kristen Johnston
Director
Amy Heckerling
One of the best Richard Lewis movies from his later career is undoubtedly Vamps, the 2012 comedy horror from director Amy Heckerling. Lewis plays Danny Horowitz, the ex-boyfriend of the immortal vampire Goody Rutherford (Alicia Silverstone). However, when the pair run into one another in the present day, he’s still unaware that she’s a vampire, and believes her to be the daughter of his former flame.
While not a central member of the cast as he was in Once Upon a Crime, for example, Richard Lewis delivers one of the strongest and most surprising performances of his career in Vamps. He shares some genuinely emotional screentime with Alicia Silverstone, and few of the best Richard Lewis movies showcase this side of his range as an actor. What’s more, by the end of the film, many viewers will leave thinking that Danny reconnecting with Goody should have been the central story, rather than a side-narrative.
5
Drunks (1995)
Richard Lewis Plays Jim
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Drunks
R
Drunks, directed by Peter Cohn, explores the experiences of attendees at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. As Jim, a participant, shares his struggles and then disappears into the night, the group members recount their own stories of addiction and recovery, revealing their battles and personal journeys.
Release Date
March 14, 1997
Runtime
90 Minutes
Cast
Richard Lewis
, Liza Harris
, Liam Ahern
, George Martin
, Sam Rockwell
, Amanda Plummer
, Kevin Corrigan
, Fanni Green
Director
Peter Cohn
Much like 2012’s Vamps, 1995’s Drunks secures a spot among the best Richard Lewis movies not because of how it showcases his skills as a comedian, but because it’s an example of how adept he was in more serious, dramatic roles too. Directed by Peter Cohn, Drunks focuses on several members of an Alcoholics Anonymous group. Richard Lewis takes the central role of Jim, a recovering alcoholic whose struggles to maintain his sobriety have come to dominate his life.
Drunks is a standout role among Richard Lewis’ best movies, and reveals that he could have had considerably more career success in dramatic roles had he taken on fewer comedy movies. The film was well received by critics, with many citing the performance of Richard Lewis as Jim as a key strength. Lewis brings a surprising level of authenticity to Lewis’ story as viewers follow him resisting the urge to relapse, and it’s a genuine surprise that the comedian didn’t take on more similar roles.
4
Anything But Love (1989-1992)
Richard Lewis Plays Marty Gold
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Anything But Love
TV-PG
Anything But Love is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from 1989 to 1992. The series stars Richard Lewis and Jamie Lee Curtis as coworkers with a romantic attraction in a Chicago magazine office. Created by Wendy Kout, it explores their attempt to maintain a professional relationship.
Release Date
March 7, 1989
Network
ABC
Cast
Jamie Lee Curtis
, Richard Lewis
, Richard Frank
, Holly Fulger
, Ann Magnuson
, Bruce Weitz
, Joseph Maher
, Billy Van Zandt
Creator(s)
Dennis Koenig
, Wendy Kout
, Peter Noah
Seasons
4
When it comes to the best Richard Lewis TV shows, the ABC sitcom Anything but Love is inarguably among the strongest – and it’s perhaps his most prominent role on the small screen. Running from 1989 to 1992, Anything but Love saw Richard Lewis co-leading the cast alongside Jamie Lee Curtis. The pair played Marty Gold and Hannah Miller, two co-workers at a Chicago magazine publisher doing everything they could to resist a mutual romantic attraction.
The classic will-they-won’t-they sitcom storyline was played to perfection by Richard Lewis and Jamie Lee Curtis, with their chemistry managing to keep Anything but Love on the air for 56 episodes across 4 seasons. Not only was Anything but Love an important career stepping-stone for Richard Lewis, but Marty Gold remains one of the most hilarious characters he played.
3
Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
Richard Lewis Plays Peter
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Leaving Las Vegas
R
Leaving Las Vegas is a drama directed by Mike Figgis, featuring Nicolas Cage as Ben Sanderson, an alcoholic screenwriter who decides to drink himself to death in Las Vegas. Elisabeth Shue stars as Sera, a prostitute who forms a complex relationship with Ben. The film explores themes of addiction, despair, and human connection.
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Release Date
February 9, 1996
Cast
Nicolas Cage
, Elisabeth Shue
, Julian Sands
, Richard Lewis
Director
Mike Figgis
Directed by Miki Figgis, Leaving Las Vegas is the most critically acclaimed of all the best Richard Lewis movies. What’s more, like Drunks, it showcases a more serious side of Lewis’ abilities as an actor, as it’s a down-to-earth drama rather than a bombastic comedy (one that, also like Drunks, explores the struggles of alcoholism). Among the awards earned by Leaving Las Vegas were the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Actor for Nicolas Cage – though the lack of accolades for Lewis doesn’t preclude it from being one of his best movies.
Richard Lewis doesn’t lead the cast of Leaving Las Vegas, but his performance as Peter is both incredible and career-defining in many ways. He has incredible chemistry with leading man Nicolas Cage, and the pair share many poignant and emotional scenes as Peter attempts to help Cage’s character, Ben Sanderson, find his way out of his self-destructive alcohol dependency.
2
Robin Hood: Men In Tights (1997)
Richard Lewis Plays Prince John
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Robin Hood: Men in Tights
PG-13
Robin Hood: Men in Tights is a comedic reimagining of the classic Robin Hood legend, directed by Mel Brooks. Cary Elwes stars as Robin Hood, leading a group of merry men in a fight against the tyrannical Prince John and the Sheriff of Rottingham. This parody film combines humor and satire, featuring memorable performances and musical numbers that poke fun at the genre and various pop culture elements.
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Release Date
July 28, 1993
Runtime
104 Minutes
Cast
Cary Elwes
, Richard Lewis
, Roger Rees
, Amy Yasbeck
, Mark Blankfield
, Dave Chappelle
, Isaac Hayes
, Megan Cavanagh
Director
Mel Brooks
When it comes to the comedian’s appearances on the big screen, none are more deserving of being thought of as the best Richard Lewis movie as 1997’s Robin Hood: Men In Tights. Not only was the hilarious adventure comedy written and directed by the legendary Mel Brooks, but Robin Hood: Men In Tights also had Richard Lewis as one fo the most central roles – that of Prince John, the villain in more-or-less every interpretation of Robin Hood.
Richard Lewis was incredible in the role, bringing a unique and zany spin to the character of Prince John that perfectly suited the distinctly Mel Brooks tone of Robin Hood: Men In Tights. Like many of the best Richard Lewis movies, the response from critics was markedly mixed when the film released in 1997s, but audiences fell in love with it. The cult classic remains Richard Lewis’ most celebrated appearance on the big screen, and inarguably one of the comedian’s funniest performances.
1
Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-2024)
Richard Lewis Plays A Fictionalized Version Of Himself
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Curb Your Enthusiasm
TV-MA
Curb Your Enthusiasm is a Comedy television show created by Larry David, the same creative mind behind the wildly popular sitcom, Seinfeld. Starring Larry David himself, along with Cheryl Hines, and Jeff Garlin, the show acts as a semi-fictionalized look at Larry’s every day life and the people he would come in contact with.
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Release Date
October 15, 2000
Network
HBO Max
Cast
Larry David
, Jeff Garlin
, Cheryl Hines
, Susie Essman
, J.B. Smoove
Seasons
12
Writers
Jeff Schaffer
, Larry David
Showrunner
Jeff Schaffer
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Curb Your Enthusiasm is the groundbreaking sitcom created by Larry David, loosely based on his own life. However, as strong as David’s performance and writing is, it’s the many supporting characters that make Curb Your Enthusiasm so renowned – and few have been as integral to its success as Richard Lewis as the semi-fictionalized version of himself. Appearing in 45 episodes of the sitcom overall, Richard Lewis became a fan-favorite presence on Curb Your Enthusiasm, and it’s hard to argue against it being the best TV show of his career.
Richard Lewis and Larry David were best friends in real life, but on the show, the pair are constantly at odds. Whether it’s season 1’s “The Bracelet”, season 3’s “The Benadryl Brownie”, or season 5’s “Lewis Needs A Kidney”, many fans consider the Richard Lewis episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm among the best in the series, and few other projects so rightly deserve the title of the best Richard Lewis TV show.
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Category: Entertainment