Jamie Lee Curtis is overwhelmed with grief as she shares a heart-wrenching announcement about the passing of her close friend and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star, Richard Lewis, who died on Tuesday at the age of 76 from a heart attack. The 65-year-old actress, known for her role in “Halloween,” also starred alongside Lewis in the sitcom “Anything But Love,” which aired from 1989 to 1992.

In a deeply emotional post on Instagram, Curtis expressed her sorrow upon hearing the news. Bette Midler had been the first to break the news of Lewis’s passing. Curtis shared a collection of old photos of herself with Lewis, accompanied by a heartfelt message in which she expressed her gratitude to him for being “the reason I am sober.”

“I just found out that my dear friend Richard Lewis has passed away,” she wrote. “I remember exactly where I was on Sunset Boulevard when I first saw a billboard of him for a stand-up special. It was during the casting process for the ABC pilot of ‘Anything But Love.’ I insisted that the casting team bring him in to audition for the role of Marty Gold, who was to be my best friend and possibly more.”

Curtis reminisced about the audition: “He had this presence that just felt right. He made me laugh, something that’s not easy to do. I couldn’t stop laughing when he mispronounced ‘Bundt cake,’ but it was clear he was the one for the part.”

Lewis’s performance impressed everyone, and while the original pilot wasn’t picked up, the chemistry between him and Curtis was undeniable, leading to the show being reworked and eventually produced. “He was also a stand-up comedian, but ironically, he hated performing in front of live audiences. He would hide his lines on props, door frames, and even on my face during close-ups,” she shared. “But despite his nerves, he was brilliant and deeply funny.”

Curtis also reflected on the bond they shared, especially during tough times: “We mourned together over the loss of our friend and co-star Richard Frank and later our friend and producer John Ritter.”

In a poignant revelation, Curtis mentioned the last text message she received from Lewis, in which he expressed a wish for ABC/Disney to release another boxed set of episodes from their show. “He’s also the reason I’m sober,” she continued. “He guided me through it, and I’ll forever be grateful for that act of kindness.”

Curtis spoke warmly of Lewis’s relationship with his wife, Joyce Lapinsky, saying, “He found love with Joyce, and that, along with his sobriety, meant the world to him. It brings me to tears just writing this.”

She concluded her tribute with a bittersweet farewell: “This is a strange way to say thank you to such a kind and funny man. Rest in laughter, Richard. My Marty, I love you, Hannah!”

In a second post, Curtis further expressed her grief over the loss of her longtime friend, sharing another old photo of the two of them along with lyrics from the “Anything But Love” theme song.

“In the final season of ‘Anything But Love,’ the incredible singer-songwriter JD Souther wrote this beautiful theme song,” Curtis wrote. “I encourage you to find it on YouTube and listen to it. If you can’t, I’ve written it down here for you. Today, I dedicate these lyrics to my friend Richard Lewis.”

The lyrics read: “If we had never met / And the world went on without us / Just as if we were never there at all / We’d still be searching for the next big thing / And trying not to fall… / Anything but love would do / And hearts that beat like thunder / For everyone but you / Anything but love would be enough.”

The loss of Richard Lewis has sparked an outpouring of tributes, including from Larry David, who also starred alongside Lewis in “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” David shared his sorrow, saying, “He’s been like a brother to me for most of my life. Richard and I were born three days apart in the same hospital. He was the funniest and kindest person at the same time, which is rare. But today, he made me cry, and I’ll never forgive him for that.”

Cheryl Hines, another co-star, also paid tribute, writing, “When I was young, I had the biggest crush on Richard Lewis.”