Joyce Lapinsky, the wife of the late comedian Richard Lewis, played a significant role in his life and career. The couple met in 1998 at an album release party hosted by former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr. Lapinsky was working in music publishing at the time. Their connection was instant, and they began dating for several years before getting engaged in 2004 and marrying in 2005.
In a 2007 interview, Lewis described their first meeting, mentioning Lapinsky’s nickname for the moment, “the snake dance,” as he charmed her with his antics. They shared a unique living arrangement, with two homes: one in Los Angeles and a cabin in the mountains, where they spent their time together.
Their relationship was marked by Lewis’s deep appreciation for Lapinsky’s stabilizing presence. He once recounted seeking therapy to address his commitment issues and was shocked into realization by his therapist’s blunt assessment that Lapinsky was “as good as it gets.” Despite Lewis’s reputation for comedic melancholy, Lapinsky provided him with unwavering love and support.
Lapinsky’s professional endeavors included producing the 2014 biopic “House of a Lifetime: Richard Lewis” and working as a program-development consultant for the nonprofit organization Urban Farming.
In the wake of Richard Lewis’s passing, Joyce Lapinsky remains his sole surviving spouse, as the couple did not have any children together.
