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.

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...