Helen and Morty Seinfeld also had a strong disdain for George's parents. The actor was 80 years old. However, they soon run into problems when no one will take the leftover stumps, and only by calling in "The Cleaner" (who turns out to be Newman) can they get rid of them. It is not revealed if Mema is her maternal or paternal grandmother. Unfortunately, Scrubs actor Sam Lloyd was only 55when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and lung cancer. George and Frank are clearly related, but the apple has fallen far from the tree with Morty and Jerry; the two have very little in common. Her boyfriend incorrectly assumed that she was Hispanic in "The Wizard". As for the guy they've hired, he's not the best mohel. The episode was written by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld and was directed by Tom Cherones. Over the span of 27 episodes of "Seinfeld," viewers got a chance to see just why George Costanza was the way he was neurotic, emotionally volatile, and self-loathing. The actor was 88 years old. ", During her interview on Inside the Actors Studio, Julia Louis-Dreyfus said she believed Jerry and Elaine were soul mates but would never end up together because they were both too "insane and messed up.". It out. The material was later included on the Seinfeld Volume 1 DVD set. That list, of course, includes the likes of Bryan Cranston, Mariska Hargitay, James Spader, and Bob Odenkirk, among numerous others. Played by Twin Peaks alumniWarren Frost and Grace Zabriskie, Mr. and Mrs. Ross never liked George and made no secret that they thought he was terrible for their daughter. But the Season 2 episode titled "The Jacket" remains one of the series' best episodes, in large part thanks to the scene-stealing work of the man behind the eternally crabby Mr. Benes. After that episode, one of the show's creators, Larry David decided that the character as played by Bruns was too laid back, and felt Jerry should have a more crotchety dad. Wretched though Elaine Benes might be in her personal life, she demonstrates professionalism at work at least compared to George. Victim number 3 coming up', said one watcher. Played by British actor Ian Abercrombie, Mr. Pitt's idiosyncrasies almost put Kramer's to shame. May 12, 2020 - 7:36AM. But, before all that, Christine played Jerry's girlfriend, Ellen, in the Season 8 episode "The Van Buren Boys." As a side note, Christine's real-life father-in-law, Jerry Stiller, played the . He was also a prolific cartoonist, and guest-starred on lots of TV shows in the '80s and '90s, capped with his Emmy-nominated turn in "Seinfeld." The father of Elaine and her sister Gail, Alton Benes, made his first, and only, appearance in the show during the episode, The Jacket. After it was discovered that Jerry Seinfeld once dated writer and comedian Carol Leifer, speculation grew that Elaine was based on Leifer, though that was later largely denied. Puddy has a casual approach to their relationship as seen in "The Voice" when Puddy claims he just likes her for the sex. Seinfeld Actors You May Not Know Passed Away. He was the titular gangster John Dillinger in the 1945 Dillinger, and also made an appearance in Quentin Tarantinos classic film Reservoir Dogs. 2. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . The parents of Jerry and George are frequently the center of "Seinfeld" plot arcs, but Elaine's father, Alton Benes, makes just one appearance in the Season 2 episode, "The Jacket." Martin brought a cantankerous edge to Morty, a stark contrast from Bruns' interpretation in "The Stake Out." He mentions this to the mayor, who eventually loses re-election as a result. She was 93. But the highlight is George going to dinner at the home of his girlfriend. Unlike her three close friends, Elaine is absent from the pilot episode. In an interview Jason Alexander gave to Howard Stern in 2015, the actor retold the story of how Susan's death came to be written. Mabel Choate also testifies against Jerry at the trial in the series finale, noting that he never expressed remorse for stealing from her, a little old lady. Here's some Seinfeld trivia for ya: Fans of a certain age may not remember, but Jerry Stiller wasn't always the Festivus-creating patriarch of the Costanza family. Martin, and Jack actor Sandy Baron, both had a stubbornness to their portrayals that made their interactions hilarious to watch. Years ago, Warburton told an outlet that he "desperately avoided" Jerry Seinfeld while on set out of fear of saying something stupid. Lawrence Tierney's performance as Alton Benes was praised by the cast and crew. He was introduced in the season 2 episode "The Jacket," and was played by Lawrence Tierney. 3 min read. In "The Understudy", after she thinks her Korean manicurists are making fun of her, she angers them by bringing in Frank Costanza, who is fluent in Korean, to eavesdrop on them. While a second remarked: 'Think Elaine will be for . Julia Louis-Dreyfus played Elaine Benes on 'Seinfeld' starting 30 years ago this week. [4] David stated in an interview that Richard Yates was "every bit as intimidating as Alton Benes". When did this happen? His career as an author may have been the inspiration for Elaine to grow up and work as an editor at Pendant Publishing and later as a writer for the J. Peterman Catalog. Cutell's close friend Mark Furman announced on Facebook in November 2021 that the prolific actor and "Seinfeld" guest star had passed away. Jerry Seinfeld and George Costanza | Dan Zaitz/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images . Alton is also a successful author, and wrote the book titled Fair Game. After appearing inThe Jacket,Tierneys character was set to become a recurring character in the show. The doting, relentlessly sunny and persuasive Helen appeared in 21 "Seinfeld" episodes over the course of the series. It gained a Nielsen rating of 10.4 and an audience share of 16, this means that 10.4% of American households watched the episode, and that 16% of all televisions in use at the time were tuned into it. In "The Chinese Woman", Jerry describes how Elaine has had a destructive effect on her relationship with her friend Noreen. Because Nana no longer has that particular account anymore, the checks bounce, and she gets dressed up in her finest to go down to the bank to get it sorted out. Peterman also fires her twice: first when her penchant for poppy seed muffins causes her to fail a drug test in "The Shower Head" and later in "The English Patient" when she expresses her hatred for the movie The English Patient. In the last few years of Seinfeld, she was earning $600,000 per episode. Recasting isn't new for sitcoms when it comes to side characters. In "The Junk Mail", Elaine dates Jack, the TV pitchman for The Wiz. George is his incredibly insensitive self, despite what seems like a tragedy. Before Stiller portrayed Frank, John Randolph did. Every single character in Seinfeld is a certified drama queen whose unnecessary shenanigans take the story to Bizarro World and back, but the most absurd of them all might be Cosmo Kramer. It started with Seinfeld, where she played Molly Dalrymple, daughter of NBC president Russell. Morty Seinfeld, played by Barney Martin, is a fictional character on Seinfeld. With Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards, Jason Alexander. The character didn't reappear until season 5's episode "The Puffy Shirt," and this time, it was Jerry Stiller filling the role. That factored into Jump's death at age 71 in 2003 at his home in California. Lloyd Braun suggests this idea to the mayor, who likes it so much that he adds it to his campaign, subsequently leading to his loss in the mayoral elections. Character actor Walter Olkewicz, who played Nick the cable guy in "Seinfeld," died of complications from infections in 2021. Larry David's actual father would later be played by the brilliant Shelley Berman (prior to his tragic passing) in his HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm, although the character's name was Nat . His body was discovered in a hotel room there, and the local medical examiner's office ruled that the comic and actor died of natural causes brought on by a pulmonary embolism. Expensive jacket, almost 10 gay jokes in 20 minutes, Kramer is rude to Jerry, Elaine's story why she is late. And I say this with an unblemished record of staunch heterosexuality. Shows don't often recast recurring roles, due to flack from many. During his quest to get his grizzled mug on television or in a movie, he meets Helena, a former actress who haunts the hallways of his new apartment building. Related:Has Seinfeld Aged Badly - Does It Need To Be "Fixed"? Stiller, who played Frank . He'd go on to land a seven-episode run on "Hill Street Blues," work opposite Jack Nicholson in theOscar-winning "Prizzi's Honor," and portray holodeck gangster Cyrus Redblock on "Star Trek: The Next Generation." However, they refuse to help because he often underestimates how long things take to do. CNN . He also causes Jerry to ruin his suede jacket by not letting him turn it inside out for the snow. Jump's family told the Los Angeles Times that the actor had pulmonary fibrosis, a condition characterized by air sac scarring in the lungs, which leads to fatal respiratory or heart failure. Elaine accompanies Jerry as he visits his parents . Alton fought in the Korean War, and once mentioned a friend of his he knew back in Korea who was a tail gunner that "got his brains blown out all over the Pacific". Those visits usually morphed into meddling and butting in, verging on smothering. Next: The First Seinfeld Episode Elaine Wasn't In (& Why). . In "The Wait Out", Elaine tells David Lukner her father left the family when she was 9 years old. Kramer enters the apartment and asks them to guard his illegally parked car for two minutes as he carries down some doves that he is looking after for a magician friend. It was filmed in front of a live audience on December 4, 1990. He's prone to wild mood swings and maybe once faced malpractice allegations for botching another bris. Kramer persuades Jerry to give him his old leather jacket as he will no longer be needing it. At the end of the third season, Kramer gets annoyed after Jerry takes his keys back and decides he wants to go to Los Angeles to be an actor. 19 Jerry Made A Pregnant Julia Louis Dreyfus Cry. So, theSeinfeld crew felt it was for the best to just write Alton out of the show completely. He is Jerry Seinfeld's father. A courtroom circus develops, and it's all presided over by Mr. Hoyt, the crusading local District Attorney who swears to do whatever it takes to get Jerry and his friends prosecuted, which mainly involves bringing in character witnesses numerous people done wrong by the four defendants across the run of "Seinfeld.". Unfortunately, Nana discovers the bank isn't there anymore and the neighborhood is scarily run-down. He was introduced in the season 2 episode "The Jacket," and was played by Lawrence Tierney. In "The Yada Yada", Elaine refers to Alton when discussing alcohol as a religion with Jerry. Elaine's Dad Only Appeared Once Because The Actor Was Scary Miramax. [2][7] "The Jacket" is the only episode in which one of Elaine's parents appears; Louis-Dreyfus once suggested Mary Tyler Moore to portray Elaine's mother, but the character never appeared on the show. Answer (1 of 3): The character of Elaine Benes did not appear in the pilot episode of Seinfeld. Kramer's mother, Babs Kramer, was regularly mentioned and Elaine's father made an appearance. Seinfeld once jokingly stated that this was because the "Fatman" would run in the second half of the show. In Los Angeles, Kramer has been arrested under the . At the same time, some of Frank's best storylines included the running "serenity now"gag, and the rye bread incident. Shows don't often recast recurring roles, due to flack from many. Seinfeld's first episode aired back on the July 5, 1989, and went on to run for a hugely impressive nine seasons - with 180 episodes to its name - before its final episode which aired May 14, 1998. . In just four episodes, Poppie manages to cause quite a lot of damage, including with a medical condition that causes him to unknowingly urinate on Jerry's new couch. In the previous episode, Kramer burned down the cabin with one of his Cuban cigars, but the father hasn't heard this. "How could anyone not like him?" 26. Answer (1 of 3): Morty Seinfeld was originally played by Phil Bruns, who appeared in only the second episode. However, they were taken aback by his eccentric behavior. Kathryn Kates had a recurring role on "Seinfeld," portraying an unnamed but plot-pivotal character in two episodes that aired two years apart. In Season 6 of "Seinfeld," George very briefly dates a woman named Lindsay, and one of the reasons why the relationship fizzles out quickly is likely because of the influence of Lindsay's mother who witnesses a string of embarrassing and distinctively George incidents. Most of the episode's storyline was based on one of David's personal experiences. [8], In "The Andrea Doria", Elaine dates Alan, a "bad breaker-upper", who makes her feel insecure about having a big head. Among the most memorable were Jerry and George's parents - Morty & Helen Seinfeld, and Frank & Estelle Costanza. In "The Sponge", Elaine is desperate to buy a cache of discontinued contraceptive sponges before existing stock is exhausted. In "The Mango", Jerry is shocked to discover that Elaine had feigned her orgasms while they were together. She tries to find a song that they can share and comes up with "Witchy Woman", but it does not work. In addition to his one-off role in "Seinfeld," character actor Lou Cutell appeared in more than 100 films and TV shows. Both George and Jerry are anxious about meeting Alton because they are in awe of his writings. Like the show's star, Jerry Seinfeld, John Pinette came up in the stand-up comedy boom of the 1980s and 1990s. Co-starring are Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Jerry's ex-girlfriend and current platonic pal, Elaine Benes; Jason Alexander as George Costanza, Jerry's neurotic hard-luck best friend; and Michael Richards as Jerry's eccentric neighbor, Kramer.#Seinfeld #LarryDavid #TheJacketGeorge \u0026 Jerry Meet Elaine's Father | The Jacket | Seinfeldhttps://bit.ly/OfficialSeinfeld Jerry Seinfeld played a fictionalized version of himself on the hit sitcom. Elaine's father Alton, a war veteran and writer, makes Jerry and his friend George Costanza very uncomfortable. Alton is a generally an intimidating man, and often makes people uncomfortable with his angry demeanor. His favorite games include Marvel's Spider-Man, The Last of Us, God of War, and Hades. She views saying "God bless you" as a "silly superstition" in "The Good Samaritan". The date takes a disastrous turn when Jerry sees that Poppie doesn't wash his hands after using the toilet, causing Jerry to refuse to eat the hand-tossed pizza Poppie made especially for them and insulting both father and daughter in the process. He was 91 years old and made his final appearance in Twin Peaks'third season. It's hard to picture Morty's rivalry with Jack Klompus being as effective with Bruns in the role. This is mostly due to the central ensemble of Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramerone of the greatest casts in television historybut they also had solid support from a wide range of minor characters. It's dark out, so Mabel doesn't recognize her assailant until another inopportune moment: when Morty Seinfeld is being impeached. Lawrence Tierney played Elaine's father, a famed novelist named Alton Benes, as early as season 2. George Costanza: [Nods] Can I say one thing to you? During Seasons 2 to 5, Elaine works at Pendant Publishing under her boss Mr. Lippman, where she served as a copy editor. Though they're supposed to be enjoying their golden years and relaxing in the sun, none of the other residents got this memo, and certainly not Jack Klompus, Morty Seinfeld's main nemesis. Hollywood icon (and father of Jeff Bridges)Lloyd Bridges died in March 1998 at 85 after several illnesses,Gene Dynarski passed in April 2020 after a series of heart issues, and Mandelbaum patriarch Earl Schuman died of undisclosed causes at 100 years old in March 2016. Related: Why Elaine Benes' Father Was Only On One Seinfeld Episode. He takes. But forSeinfeld, the new actors worked, and arguably, flourished in their respective parts. "Walter, you did great work," he said. [2] The episode was filmed at CBS Studio Center in Studio City, Los Angeles, California, where, starting with the season two premiere "The Ex-Girlfriend", all filming for the second season took place. Like tonight, I might've been a little nervous. Randolph died in February 2004 at home in Hollywood, his family told the Los Angeles Times. George Costanza: Master of the house, keeper of the inn [Jerry proudly models his new jacket in front of George. When confronted, he pretended to stab seinfeld with the knife and was not asked to return. The Seinfeld crew intended to have another recurring parent on the show: Alton Benes, father of Elaine. That said, Julia is a successful, wealthy actress in her own right. As happy as this tiny thing makes Jerry, it deeply upsets Valerie's stepmother, identified only as Mrs. Hamilton, so much so that he confronts Jerry in his car and tells him to back off of Valerie, or at least her phone. They both felt they were in the right and wouldn't back down from each other. Elaine has a particular affection for A Streetcar Named Desire. His wacky entrances into Seinfeld's apartment have an entire category of their own in Seinfeld's behind-the-scenes commentary,Notes About Nothing. Later, in "The Apology", Peggy thinks Elaine has germs, and in retaliation Elaine intentionally coughs on Peggy's doorknob, rubs her stapler in her armpit, and rubs her keyboard on her backside. But then Vivian gets involved with George, kindling an instant mutual attraction because they share a couple of specific quirks, such as a love of deli meats and a preference for watching TV while having sex. In the series, Elaine's father is a noted author, Alton Benes. Elaine's religious beliefs are never fully confirmed, and she appears to have little interest in religion. In the Season 5 episode, "The Opposite," George is interviewed by a tough hiring manager for the baseball team, Mr. Cushman, who is so impressed by George's resume and candor that he sends him through to team owner George Steinbrenner. DuringSeinfeld's nine-season run, a staple of the sitcom was its impressive roster of guest stars and recurring characters, some of whom became as iconic as Jerry, George, Kramer, and Elaine. Played by character actor Daniel von Bargen, Mr. Kruger has a few iconic plotlines even though he's only in four Seinfeld episodes. The actor had a number of run-ins with the law before and after his episode of Seinfeld but continued to act until his death in 2002. He was hired by Screen Rant in 2013 to write box office prediction posts in conjunction with the Screen Rant Underground's Box Office Battle game, and his role at the site grew from there. The next day Kramer notices Jerry's jacket hanging in the bathroom, badly damaged by the snow, and asks if he can have it. In "The Wait Out", Elaine reveals to David Lookner that Alton left her and the rest of her family when she was nine years old. That career was nonetheless quite impressive, with the actor becoming one of Hollywood's go-to tough-guy criminal sorts. There's a period in Seinfeld where Peterman goes off the deep end and winds up in Burma as the result of a mental breakdown. Howie is one of the first of many to testify to the malicious nature of the main characters. "From Towson to Tinseltown,", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elaine_Benes&oldid=1137708670, This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 01:33. In November 2003, Deseret News reported that Waymire died suddenly at her Los Angeles home from a previously undiagnosed and undisclosed medical issue. Jerry makes a mistake and gets Elaine's assistant angry. Who Played Elaine's Dad On Seinfeld? Bay passed away at 92 years old in September 2011 after an accident left her with an amputated leg and a series of unfortunate health complications followed. Jerry and Elaine dated for a while before the show started. Harris has a distinct high-pitched voice that has gotten her far in her acting career. In March 1999,Wallace passed away from respiratory failure and emphysema at the age of 73. 4. The veteran character actor was 82. George Costanza, a lazy, obnoxious, and cantankerous ne'er-do-well, finds himself in a succession of great jobs throughout "Seinfeld," all of which he inevitably messes up and loses. His wife, Jerry's mother, is Helen Seinfeld. Recasting isn't new for sitcoms when it comes to side characters. He simply played Frank too subtly. as she was usually referred to. There's little he won't do to get what he wants, no matter how petty it is. The installment includes one of the most famous scenes ever on "Seinfeld." Either way, the casting worked wonders, and George's dad quickly joined the show's favorites, rivaling even Newman for popularity. Kramer gets involved, injures one of Mr. Thomassoulo's employees, and a lawsuit forces the man's company to go bankrupt. Some of the main topics of the show include romantic relationships, the challenges of finding a fulfilling career, and the numerous strange experiences and encounters of adult life. The implication is Bruns was too laid back for what the co-creators envisioned, so they took things in a different direction. Read Every Article Esquire Has Ever Published. In addition to the first episode, Elaine doesn't appear in "The Trip" (Louis-Dreyfus having been in the late stages of pregnancy at the time of filming) and therefore appears in fewer episodes than George and Jerry. Chris Agar is a senior movie/TV news editor for Screen Rant and one of Screen Rant's Rotten Tomatoes approved critics. Elaine's subplot in the Seinfeld Season 2 classic "The Busboy" involves a reunion with a one night stand from Seattle whom she grows to loathe and greatly anticipates his flight home . Finally, Izzy Mandelbaum Sr. appears and also tries to best Jerry. That episode, titled "The Jacket", had Jerry Seinfeld buying an expensive suede jacket and having dinner with the father of his ex-girlfriend Elaine. [9] He was known for his bad-guy roles in films during the 1940s and 1950s, such as Dillinger, The Hoodlum and Born to Kill. As they enter Alton Benes' hotel, Elaine has not arrived yet, forcing them to wait with her father for 30 minutes. Season 4, Episode 7 - The Bubble Boy | IMDb rating: 8.9 - Air date: Oct. 7, 1992. George looks in admiration at the jacket]. For three episodes, character actress Frances Bay plays Mabel, bringing scathing wit and impeccable comedic timing to this very physical role. )George's mother Estelle is named after her actress. 1. There isn't anyone on "Seinfeld" who loved, adored, and cherished the hard-to-love Jerry Seinfeld more than his mother, Helen Seinfeld. Uncredited and unnamed, Ruthie might not always get a speaking line, but during the show's nine seasons, she appeared in the most episodes besides the core cast of Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer. Besides the main cast of the show, Seinfeld featured many guest stars and recurring characters helped to make the show as popular as it is. There's one guy who played different characters in the same episode!