Born in Brooklyn in 1945, Richard Lewis had expressed an interest in comedy from a young age. He got his start in stand-up in the 1960s in Greenwich Village clubs. Lewis crafted a unique persona as an anxious, high-strung neurotic. This persona contrasted with many of his peers who performed more topical or observational styles of comedy.
Richard Lewis was best known for his influential stand-up comedy career that spanned over 50 years. He began performing stand-up in the 1960s in New York City clubs like The Bitter End and Catch a Rising Star. This helped him gain recognition as part of a new wave of younger comedians that also included Woody Allen, George Carlin, and Robert Klein.
While Richard Lewis left an indelible mark on stand-up comedy, he also created many iconic moments during television appearances over his long career. Here are a few that still bring laughter: I’m Batman on Letterman (1982) In one of his earliest Late Night appearances, Lewis riffed with David Letterman after being asked what movie he wanted to audition for. Lewis insists he’s right for the role of Batman, delivering an incredibly neurotic and paranoid Batman.