Jamie Lee Curtis recently commemorated 27 years of sobriety, highlighting how her late Anything But Love co-star Richard Lewis played a crucial role in her recovery. Curtis, aged 67, shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram on February 3, recalling how Lewis’s support helped initiate her journey toward lasting sobriety.
The Powerful Impact of Richard Lewis on Curtis’s Recovery
In her Instagram post, Curtis described the profound moment when she reached out for help during a period of pain and sorrow, and Richard Lewis responded by taking her hand. She explained that sobriety’s miracle lies in having someone who understands your feelings, which can transform a life. Lewis introduced her to a recovery community that provided ongoing support throughout the past 27 years, helping her connect with many others battling addiction.
27 years ago, I had pain and sorrow,
Jamie Lee Curtis wrote.
I reached out my hand, and my old colleague and friend, Richard Lewis, reached out and took my hand.
The miracle of sobriety is that it just takes one other person to relate to how you’re feeling, and THAT can change everything. Richard introduced me to many others, and for these 27 years, I have met so many people who share our common link of addiction and recovery from that daily prison.
She concluded by honoring those she meets on the recovery path and shared her commitment to offer help in the same way Lewis did. Curtis expressed deep gratitude for Lewis’s lasting gift, which she described as
“the gift that keeps on giving.”
I’m honored to be open with strangers, many who know me better than people I have spent my entire life with, and I try to honor all of their courage and strength, and hope daily and do what Richard did, which is reach my hand out to others in need. I miss my friend, but his gift to me IS the gift that keeps on giving.
Followers Celebrate Curtis’s Sobriety and Lewis’s Legacy
Curtis’s post received an outpouring of support from fans and followers who praised her honesty and recognized Richard Lewis’s positive influence on the recovery community. Among the comments, one follower recalled meeting Lewis at the UCLA book fair and described how his encouragement inspired their own sobriety journey.
I met Richard at the UCLA book fair when I first got sober around 2000. He was promoting his book. I whispered to him as I got it signed, ‘I am six months sober,’ and he said to me, ‘You’re my hero too.’
– Instagram user
Others expressed admiration for Curtis’s openness and strength, congratulating her on maintaining sobriety day by day, while also reflecting on Lewis’s warmth and humor.
Your transparency and authenticity is so incredible, powerful, and inspiring. Thank you for that. 🙏🏻💚.
– Instagram follower
Congratulations on 27 years. Every day we make a choice. And I’m proud of you for making it every day. I’m 6 and a half years sober. 💙💙.
– Instagram commenter
Happy Rebirth! Continued good health and healing. Loved Richard!
– Instagram fan
Congratulations on 27 years. Bless the souls that reach out. I miss him too, and I never met him. Funny guy.
– Instagram follower
The Shared History of Curtis and Lewis on Anything But Love
Jamie Lee Curtis and Richard Lewis first worked together on the ABC sitcom Anything But Love, which aired from 1989 to 1992. The show centered on Hannah Miller (Curtis) and Marty Bold (Lewis), coworkers at a Chicago magazine who engaged in a charming, will-they-or-won’t-they relationship. Their professional partnership evolved into a meaningful personal connection that extended well beyond the series.
The Enduring Influence of Sobriety and Friendship
Jamie Lee Curtis’s sobriety journey continues to serve as an inspiration for many, underscored by her candid sharing of the struggles and triumphs that come with recovery. The support Richard Lewis provided over nearly three decades highlights the vital importance of connection and community in overcoming addiction. As Curtis honors his memory, her ongoing commitment to reach out to others struggling with similar challenges points to a legacy that will resonate within the recovery world for years to come.
