Renowned for his self-deprecating style of humor, Richard Lewis remains a cherished figure in stand-up comedy and acting. His sudden death at the age of 76, sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and among his fans worldwide.
The actor passed away at his residence in Los Angeles, with reports at the time of death indicating that he had suffered a heart attack, but the exact circumstances surrounding his death were not fully disclosed. However, in a recent development, the late actor’s official cause of death has now been made public following the release of his death certificate.
Richard Lewis’ cause of death
Lewis’s death certificate revealed that on February 27, 2024, at 9:22 pm., the comedian died of cardiopulmonary arrest— a critical condition in which the heart fails to pump blood effectively, coupled with inadequate respiration, leading to irreversible cessation of vital functions and ultimately death.
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Aside from the primary cause of death, the document also identified Parkinson’s disease as a secondary contributing factor. Lewis had battled the chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder for a short while before his demise.
Prior to the late actor’s death, he was known for his candidness regarding his health challenges. In a video shared on Twitter now X, Lewis bravely opened up about his battle with Parkinson’s disease. He disclosed that he received the diagnosis after he decided to step back from his career in stand-up comedy.
“After 50 years almost, I’m just gonna call it quits, and I felt great about that, and then, out of the blue, I started walking a little stiffly, I was shuffling my feet, and I went to a neurologist, and they gave me a brain scan, and I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and that was about two years ago,” Lewis confessed. “But luckily I got it late in life and they say you progress very slowly if at all and I’m on the right meds so I’m cool. I have Parkinson’s disease, but I’m under a doctor’s care, and everything is cool.”