Veteran comedians Richard Lewis and Richard Belzer share the stage March 22 at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe.

Lewis has made a career out of being miserable, inspiring his nickname “The Prince of Pain.” His neurotic, stream-of-conscious comedy act almost is like therapy, for him and his audience.

“I don’t think it’s funnier, but misery is funny,” Lewis said to the Palm Beach (Fla.) Post. “Misery loves company. I used to tell people that everybody is in the same boat.

“You get to live through me for an hour and forget your problems. I’m like the Dinah Shore of comedy. I know that sounds hokey, but I always wanted validation for feeling miserable, for so many reasons. But I can tell people, ‘Hey, you’re not alone.’ It lets you laugh about it. It does help,” he said.

Lewis has been able to parlay being miserable into a successful career as an actor and a stand-up comic.

On the big screen, Lewis has appeared in “Robin Hood: Men in Tights,” “Wagons East” and “Leaving Las Vegas.” His TV comedy specials include “The Magical Misery Tour,” “I’m Doomed,” “I’m Exhausted” and “I’m in Pain.” He co-starred with Jamie Lee Curtis in the TV series “Anything But Love” that aired from 1989-1992.

Lewis has a recurring role as Larry David’s best friend on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

“(The show) is a dream come true,” Lewis, 60, said to the Post. “Everybody has something to complain about. But I really love what I’m doing. To be able to have done Carnegie Hall, all these specials and ‘Curb.’ It’s a gift.”

Comedian-actor Belzer is recognized for portraying Detective John Munch. Since debuting as Munch on “Homicide: Life on the Street” in 1993, Belzer has the distinction of being the only actor to play the same character in nine TV series, according to IMDb.com. Other Munch appearances include “Law & Order,” “The X Files,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “The Best,” “Law & Order: Trial by Jury,” “Arrested Development,” “The Wire” and “Paris enquetes criminelles” (“Paris Criminal Investigations”).

Last June, Belzer signed a book deal to write two mysteries featuring himself as a TV performer caught up in his own plot, according to an Associated Press story. The first book, titled “I Am Not a Cop,” is scheduled for a fall 2008 release. He’s authored two others books: “How to Be Stand-up Comic” and “UFOs, JFK and Elvis: Conspiracies You Don’t Have to Be Crazy to Believe.”

Born in 1944 in Bridgeport, Conn., Belzer had problems staying in school because of his comedic talent.

“At school I was always getting into trouble or kicked out for making people laugh,” he said to the Daily Telegraph (Australia). “I was the class clown. People kept telling me I should be an actor because I was also quite gifted at impressions.”

Belzer moved to New York City and worked the stand-up comedy circuit. His act featured his acerbic wit, as well as musical comedy and impressions.

He made his acting debut in “The Groove Tube,” a 1974 cult classic that also featured Chevy Chase. Belzer’s other film credits include “Fame,” “Night Shift,” “Scarface,” “The Bonfire of the Vanities,” “Mad Dog and Glory” and “A Very Brady Sequel.”