Tributes have been paid to the comedian Richard Lewis who has died, aged 76.

Lewis was best known for playing a version of himself on the Larry David comedy, Curb Your Enthusiasm. David [aid tribute to Lewis on social media:

"Richard and I were born three days apart in the same hospital and for most of my life he's been like a brother to me. He had that rare combination of being the funniest person and also the sweetest. But today he made me sob and for that I'll never forgive him." 

Curb co-star Cheryl Hines wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "He would take time to tell the people he loved what they meant to him. In between takes on Curb, he would tell me how special I was to him and how much he loved me. To be loved by Richard Lewis. A true gift. I love you Richard. You will be missed."

Before Curb he was a successful stand-up and also co-starred in the sitcom Anything But Love with Jamie Lee Curtis who said: "He got the part when I snort laughed when he mispronounced the word Bundt cake...It turns out he was a wonderful actor. Deep and so freaking funny. He found love with Joyce and that, of course, besides his sobriety, is what mattered most to him. I'm weeping as I write this," she said, mentioning Lewis' wife, Joyce Lapinsky. "Strange way of saying thank you to a sweet and funny man. Rest in laughter, Richard."

Ben Stiller wrote on X: "I never met a kinder, more empathetic comedy genius. He was so funny. And deep. As a stand up he was really iconic in the 70s. Cool, funny, self deprecating and hip. He was a friend to my parents and the whole Stiller family. As a kid i remember seeing him at the Improv and how nice he was to me and my sister. Over the years he would always reach out with support and love or a kind word - sometimes out of the blue. It always felt special to hear from him. I feel very lucky to have known him over all these years. I’m sad I won’t see him again. We’ll miss him very, very much. A true comedy great. Sending love to all of Richard’s family and friends."