Curb Your Enthusiasm and Arrested Development actor Bob Einstein has passed away at the age of 76. The two-time Emmy winner was recently diagnosed with cancer.

The brother of actor-director Albert Brooks (whose real name is Albert Einstein), Bob Einstein broke into television in the 1960s as a writer on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. Einstein would later distinguish himself as a comedic performer, first through his memorable character Super Dave Osborne, and later as a featured player on shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and Arrested Development. Einstein also became known as a brilliant talk show guest, especially during his many appearances with David Letterman.

As reported by Deadline, Einstein passed away in Indian Wells, CA on January 2, 2019 at the age of 76. Tributes have since poured in from all over the entertainment industry, as Einstein's former co-stars remember his unique comedic gifts. One of the most touching tributes came from his own brother Albert Brooks, who said on Twitter "R.I.P. My dear brother Bob Einstein. A great brother, father and husband. A brilliantly funny man. You will be missed forever." Einstein was also recalled by his Curb Your Enthusiasm co-star Cheryl Hines. See the tweet below:

Einstein first joined the cast of Curb in season 4, playing the memorable character Marty Funkhouser, an old friend of Larry David's who like everyone else in Larry's life always ends up becoming befuddled by his insane antics. With his raspy voice and dead-pan delivery, Einstein made an art of the slow-burn, an art he displayed to brilliant effect as one of Larry David's many comic foils on Curb. But long before he hooked up with David, Einstein perfected his brand of slow-mounting exasperation as Super Dave Osborne, a satirical character he first created on the John Byner Comedy Hour in the early '70s and later turned into a signature routine. A send-up of daredevil Evel Knievel, Super Dave approaches his ridiculous stunts with supreme confidence, only to find himself failing spectacularly each time.

Einstein would play the Super Dave character in multiple venues over the years, becoming almost inseparable from the comedic creation. It was only when he took on the role of Marty Funkhouser that Einstein truly separated himself from Super Dave, and began to be appreciated as a comedic supporting actor capable of bringing his own special brand of humor to whatever role he took on. In 2005, Einstein joined another classic sitcom, playing the character of Larry Middleman the professional surrogate on Arrested Development. Einstein returned to Curb Your Enthusiasm for its season 9 return in 2017, and it's not yet known if he completed any work on the upcoming tenth season, which is currently in production.

REST IN PEACE BOB EINSTEIN: NOVEMBER 20, 1942 - JANUARY 2, 2019

Source: Deadline