Bob Einstein, the Emmy-winning writer who appeared in US comedy shows Curb Your Enthusiasm and Arrested Development, has died aged 76.
His younger brother, comedian and actor Albert Brooks, said Bob was a “great brother, father and husband” and a “brilliantly funny man”. He added: “You will be missed forever.”
Einstein played Marty Funkhouser in Curb,Larry David’s hit HBO show, and was known for his deadpan delivery and his close-but-abrasive relationship with the lead character.
Richard Lewis, Einstein’s co-star on the show, wrote on Twitter: “I knew him forever. His long career is hard to match.
“His role on the show was excruciatingly brilliant. Our cast and crew will be devastated. He was so loved. He told me how much he loved Larry David and Curb. RIP buddy.”
In Arrested Development, he played Larry Middleman, a professional surrogate hired by George Bluth to act as his eyes and ears so that he can continue influencing the family’s dealings while under house arrest.
He was last pictured at the premiere of an HBO documentary on Robin Williams last summer, where he looked noticeably ill.
According to Deadline he had recently been diagnosed with cancer.
Einstein won his first Emmy as part of the writing team for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1969, and his second as a producer for Van Dyke and Company in 1977.
He also created Super Dave Osborne, a satirical stuntman character, whom he appeared as on numerous sketch shows for decades.
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