Curb Your Enthusiasm director Robert Weide has told of his surprise and gratitude after a touching tribute he posted to his late wife of 25 years swiftly went viral.
The 63-year-old wrote an obituary for wife Linda, who ‘believed everybody’s age was nobody’s business,’ in the Los Angeles Times and he encouraged people to ‘read it to the end’ after posting a copy of it on Twitter.
The heart-wrenching piece details the couple’s love affair and Robert describes his love – who died ‘peacefully’ in his arms on Christmas Day – as ‘brave,’ ‘remarkably low maintenance’ and ‘generous to a fault.’
He ended the personal essay writing: ‘Rest well, Bunnie. I hope we’ll be together again. For those who never knew her, I’m sorry for your loss.’
Curb Your Enthusiasm director Robert Weide has told of his surprise and gratitude after a touching tribute he posted to his wife, Linda, swiftly went viral
The 63-year-old wrote an obituary for Linda in the Los Angeles Times and he encouraged people to ‘read it to the end’ after posting a copy of it on Twitter
Robert revealed in the obituary that Linda was diagnosed with a rare and fatal neurological disease known as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy in 2018
This copy of Robert’s obituary which he posted to Twitter triggered hundreds of comments
Since sharing his story, thousands of people have reached out to Robert and he says he has been ‘knocked out’ by the ‘unexpected’ reaction.
Many commenters have deemed Robert’s tribute ‘beautiful’, ‘extraordinary’ and ‘wonderful’, and they have thanked him for sharing his his story.
In response to all of the comments and messages he has received the director, whose other projects include How to Lose Friends and Alienate People and Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time, tweeted: ‘I love that total strangers are confessing to tears and saying they can tell what a beautiful person Linda was.
‘The fact that so many are getting a small taste of what I blessed with for 28 years is so moving.
‘Many of the comments have made me cry, some make me laugh, others make me shout, “Yes, yes!”
‘Anyway, my deepest appreciation to everyone who’s taken the time to read or comment on the tribute.
‘You have made this new widower feel a little less lonely. And I know Linda sends her love, too. I’ll post more photos when I can.’
Robert revealed in the obituary that Linda was diagnosed with a rare and fatal neurological disease known as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy in 2018.
According to the University of California San Francisco, the brain disorder impacts about one in every 100,000 people over age 60 in the US.
Robert said that Linda’s ‘bravery and dignity in the face of this illness were awe-inspiring. But unfortunately, the House always wins.’
In her final months, Robert said Linda spent lots of time in front of the TV watching ‘familiar shows that she already loved,’ which included all 12 seasons of Frasier.
Since detailing his story, thousands of people have reached out to Robert and he says he has been ‘knocked out’ by the ‘unexpected’ reaction
As his obituary has captured so much public attention, Robert says he will post more ‘anecdotes, memories and photos’ of his late wife
Robert made a post for Valentine’s Day a day early and explained that it was because he is currently busy with work
While she couldn’t talk, Linda was still able to laugh.
Going back to the start of their love affair, Robert reveals how Linda moved to Los Angeles in 1989 to pursue an acting career and that’s when they both met.
He recounted: ‘She was born in Follansbee, West Virginia, to Lucy Gianinni and Victor Ubieta. Her Aunt Lee and Uncle Eli Rabb were important figures in her upbringing. She attended Bethany College, where she received a B.A. in Liberal Arts.
‘She lived for a time in Boston, then Manhattan. In 1989, she moved to Los Angeles. Thank G-d for that last move, because on September 30, 1994, I walked into Café Aroma in Studio City, and there she was.
‘She had it all – beauty, style, grace, intelligence, wit, a great laugh, a blinding smile and (can I say this in 2023) legs that demanded to be shown off, and were.
‘That night, I wrote in my journal, “I think I may be in big trouble.” We were married on July 11, 1998.’
Robert goes on to reveal that while Linda became ‘disenchanted with acting,’ she did pick up a few memorable roles with one being the part of Mindy Reiser in the Curb Your Enthusiasm episode, The Terrorist Attack.
Touching on some of his wife’s best qualities, Robert said she was very low maintenance and when he asked her what she would like for her birthday, she would say ‘a grilled cheese sandwich.’ He said this kind of behavior was ‘typical’.
Meanwhile, her ‘softest spot was reserved for animals, especially those in need’ and all of the couples’ pets were rescues. Linda also donated to many animal charities, with the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary being her ‘favorite’.
After running through some of Linda’s best features, Robert mused: ‘What a team we made. She was Gracie to my George. After we purchased side-by-side cemetery plots years ago, I asked her what she wanted her marker to say.
‘She answered, “I’m with Stupid.” (That request will not be honored.) Oh, dear – what am I ever supposed to do without her.’
After his obituary captured so much public attention, Robert says he will post more ‘anecdotes, memories and photos’ of his late wife in the coming days.
One Twitter user who read his story wrote: ‘Your words painted a wonderful, vivid picture of a wonderful, vivid woman. I was in tears and shared it with my partner and with many friends.
‘I’m so sorry for your loss and so glad we all got to glimpse a little bit of your love for each other. May her memory be a blessing.’
Echoing similar sentiments, another tweeted: ‘Just read this in Ireland Bob and I’m extremely sorry for your loss… as much as death is part of life, its ultimate reckoning is never easy – those 28 years you had with your clearly beloved wife are something to cherish until you hopefully meet again.’
Robert made a special post for Valentine’s Day a day early, explaining: ‘Posting this a day early because I’m back on the Curb set on Tuesday. But Happy Valentine’s Day from Linda Weide and her husband. Hold your Baby tight tonight and let them know you mean it.’
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