Marc Maron to Be Honored With Inaugural Richard Lewis Award at Comedy Gives Back Gala

Comedy Gives Back — a nonprofit founded by Jodi Lieberman, Amber J. Lawson and Zoe Friedman to provide a safety net for the comedy community — is finding another way to do so by launching its first ever gala in honor of the late Richard Lewis.

The Richard Lewis Humor & Humanity Gala, dubbed “a night of comedy and neurosis,” is set to take place at Hollywood Improv in Los Angeles on Nov. 15. The organization will present an inaugural trophy that night as well, also called the Richard Lewis Humor & Humanity Award, in honor of his legacy and his years-long commitment to uplifting his peers. They’ve settled on the first recipient, Marc Maron, who will be feted at the event, which will be hosted by Jeff Garlin and feature Nick Kroll as a presenter.

“Richard Lewis was one of a kind. He was fearless, painfully honest and could make you laugh about the things most people are afraid to talk about. To receive an award in his name is incredibly meaningful, especially knowing it supports comedians who need help,” said Maron in a statement.

Lewis, who passed away at age 76 in February 2024, was an early supporter of Comedy Gives Back and he served as a member of the org’s board. The fundraiser will host comedy and entertainment insiders while raising money for the mission of providing financial assistance, mental health resources and addiction recovery support for comedians in need.

“Richard wasn’t just a comedy legend. He was our friend and an early champion of Comedy Gives Back. We couldn’t imagine a more fitting first honoree than Marc Maron. This evening is about celebrating Richard’s incredible legacy while continuing his commitment to taking care of the comedy community,” said co-founders Lieberman, Lawson and Friedman in a joint statement.

Maron, a veteran stand-up and actor, launched his podcast WTF With Marc Maron in 2009. After 16 years, he stepped away to focus on other endeavors like his acting career. He stars in Stick and recently appeared in the Bruce Springsteen biopic, Deliver Me From Nowhere.

Comedy Gives Back’s Richard Lewis Humor & Humanity Gala is being sponsored by HBO and the Johnny Carson Foundation. More intel can be found here.