She was great at embarrassing her son, as was the case in her very first appearance in the 1992 episode "The Contest.". [4] David stated in an interview that Richard Yates was "every bit as intimidating as Alton Benes". Hall was a member of writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson's repertory players, landing major parts in "Hard Eight," "Boogie Nights," and "Magnolia." George winds up needing to use a cane afterhe attempts to shave with butter and sprains a leg in the Season 9 premiere, "The Butter Shave." This dynamic was perfectly encapsulated as early as "The Pen," proving David made the right choice for Seinfeldby moving on from Bruns. You'd think after so many years on air and in reruns, Seinfeldwould bring us a little bit closer to understanding how Jerry's brain works, but as we see with the Nana subplot, his behavior remains a mystery. Chris has attended several events for Screen Rant, including San Diego Comic-Con and Star Wars Celebration. The New Jersey native was best known for his turn as croupier and bartender Jacques Renault in David Lynch's "Twin Peaks" (1990). "How could anyone not like him?" "Seinfeld" fans will no doubt remember Olkewicz from his memorable guest star role in the 1996 two-part episode "The Cadillac." Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place. Easy enough for the guy who played Elaine Benes' on-and-off boyfriend on "Seinfeld" for 10 episodes of the cult classic sitcom but is still one of the most quoted and memorable characters from the long-running show. First, when Elaine criticizes Sam's way of walking ("It's like she's carrying invisible suitcases"), Sam gets furious and threatens revenge. Out of Seinfeld's 172 episodes, . The character didn't reappear until season 5's episode "The Puffy Shirt," and this time, it was Jerry Stiller filling the role. Frank Costanza became a favoriteamongSeinfeld's recurring cast after being played by Jerry Stiller. Oy vey. Elaine's best friend in the sitcom is her ex-boyfriend Jerry Seinfeld, and she is also good friends with George Costanza and Cosmo Kramer. Harris died in April 2022 at the age of 93. He is Jerry Seinfeld's father. And she quits. The titular old man in the Season 4 "Seinfeld" episode, "The Old Man" is played by Bill Erwin. It was filmed in front of a live audience on December 4, 1990. The Seinfeld crew intended to have another recurring parent on the show: Alton Benes, father of Elaine. He's hired by the very welcoming Mr. Thomassoulo, who appears again in the episode, "The Voice" to fire George, the source of disdain and hatred among all the other employees. 34. For example, in the early seasons of the series, Kramer occasionally mentions his mother, and that she has a problem with alcohol. In The Jacket, Jerry and George met Alton, who proceeds to refer to George as "chorus boy" for his singing "Master of the House". This plan was scrapped after Tierney stole a knife from the set of Jerrys kitchen, which the real Seinfeld called him out for doing. 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. Answer (1 of 3): Morty Seinfeld was originally played by Phil Bruns, who appeared in only the second episode. In "The Mango", Jerry is shocked to discover that Elaine had feigned her orgasms while they were together. He succumbed to his illnesses in May 2020 at the age of 56. The cycle goes on forever and ever as Jerry's and Seinfeld's continue on an infinite loop creating an even more . [2] Tierney's appearance in the episode is one of his only comedic roles. Elaine Marie Benes (/ b n s /) is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus.Elaine's best friend in the sitcom is her ex-boyfriend Jerry Seinfeld, and she is also good friends with George Costanza and Cosmo Kramer.Louis-Dreyfus received critical acclaim for her performance as Elaine, winning an Emmy, a Golden Globe and five SAG Awards. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Kellie Waymire appeared in mostly supporting roles in indie movies and network television shows, including "Friends," "NYPD Blue," and "Six Feet Under." Colin Jacobson of DVD Movie Guide stated, "An otherwise mediocre episode, Lawrence Tierney's gruff turn as Elaine's father helps redeem 'The Jacket. Elaines father was set to become a regular part of the show in the second season, but that plan was eventually canceled because of the on-set actions of actor Lawrence Tierney. He now has a wide range of cinematic tastes, enjoying the latest Hollywood blockbusters, Oscar contenders, and everything in between. Morty refuses to let Jerry pay for a meal . He also has an unusual quirk of believing everyone is gay. It started with Seinfeld, where she played Molly Dalrymple, daughter of NBC president Russell. Thisbrilliant comedic reversal makes Elaine one of the more fully rounded of these all-around awful characters. Expensive jacket, almost 10 gay jokes in 20 minutes, Kramer is rude to Jerry, Elaine's story why she is late. 4. He was 70. He also played supporting roles in Mel Brooks' The Producers (1967), and the Dudley Moore comedy Arthur (1981). He has doubts about buying the jacket because it is highly expensive and has a pink and white candy-stripe lining. In addition to a three-year run in "General Hospital," Nettleton appeared in "Cagney and Lacey," "The Twilight Zone," and "The Golden Girls," which earned her an Emmy nominationfor outstanding guest performer in a comedy series. It's hard to picture Morty's rivalry with Jack Klompus being as effective with Bruns in the role. Later, when Jerry chides her for fighting with an old man, she says, "Hey, he wrote the check. Recasting isn't new for sitcoms when it comes to side characters. 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. She returns later to accept his proposal, but Jerry has by that time settled to his usual stable emotional state and says "I don't see it happening." And I say this with an unblemished record of staunch heterosexuality. Jerry Seinfeld (Jerry Seinfeld), Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), George Costanza (Jason Alexander), and Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) make up one of the well-know comedy casts of all-time for their work on the sitcom Seinfeld. '"[12] DVD reviewer Jonathan Boudreaux considered "The Jacket" one of season two's best episodes, along with "The Chinese Restaurant". Countless career ups and downs ensued, though Tierney booked an impressive run of work in the 1980s via roles in JohnCassavetes' "Gloria," and the Stephen King adaptation"Silver Bullet." If the idea was to give Jerry a"harsher parent," Seinfeld and David were successful in that goal, just as they were with George's dad. His character died in the cult show, but Lynch insisted on bringing him back for the film "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me," released two years later. Morty Seinfeld was recast after season 1 for the same reasonas Frank Costanza the show creators wanted to go a different direction with the character. In "The Stakeout", Jerry tells his parents that the reason for the break-up had to do with fighting too much and "physical chemistry". Season 4, Episode 7 - The Bubble Boy | IMDb rating: 8.9 - Air date: Oct. 7, 1992. Randolph died in February 2004 at home in Hollywood, his family told the Los Angeles Times. 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. Outside of Screen Rant, Chris enjoys watching his favorite sports teams (Giants, Yankees, and Knicks) and playing video games. While Phil Bruns originally played Jerry's dad, Morty Seinfeld, . Jerry Seinfeld played a fictionalized version of himself on the hit sitcom. In 2008,Cohen died of a heart attack at 78. He also originated the role of Amos Hart (Mr. Cellophane) in the 1976 Broadway production of Chicago. In the series, Elaine's father is a noted author, Alton Benes. Chris has attended several events for Screen Rant, including San Diego Comic-Con and Star Wars Celebration. Chris credits Toy Story and Star Wars with launching a lifelong fascination with movies that led him on the path to his career. Jerry offends Elaine's assistant. In the same episode, when Elaine tells him that they're back together, he answers "Oh, no". His favorite games include Marvel's Spider-Man, The Last of Us, God of War, and Hades. In "The Summer of George", Elaine makes an enemy of her coworker Sam (Molly Shannon). Regarding Tierney's alleged behind-the-scenes antics on "Seinfeld," that was sort of par for the course for the actor whose personal troubles were well-documented throughout his career. Here's why Elaine Benes' father only appeared on oneSeinfeld episode. Morty made a living selling raincoats under a man named Harry Fleming for 38 years and considers his invention of "the beltless trench coat" (also called "the executive") his greatest accomplishment. Jerry Stiller passed away in his sleep in May 2020 at the age of 96, having spent the last 60 years of his life making people laugh, from his early appearances on the Ed Sullivan Showto Zoolander. They buy a "lesser" cinnamon babka and must deal with the busy, harried counterwoman (Kates) to return it. While a second remarked: 'Think Elaine will be for . Rance Howard, Ron Howard's dad. "David said, 'We love what you did, we want you for the movie,'" Olkewicz told The Jersey Journal. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. Veteran comic performer and actor Jerry Stiller is best known for his recurring role as the perpetually apoplectic Frank Costanza, father of George, in "Seinfeld," but he wasn't the first person to play the part. The character was also partially based on Monica Yates (daughter of novelist Richard Yates), whom Larry David once dated; they remained good friends after they broke up. As they enter Alton Benes' hotel, Elaine has not arrived yet, forcing them to wait with her father for 30 minutes. Izzy first gets our attention when, irritated by Jerry, he challenges him to feats of physical prowess that land Izzy in the hospital. "How could she leave us alone with this lunatic?"Season 2 Episode 5 'The Jacket': Jerry wears an expensive jacket when he meets Elaine's father, but an argum. George Costanza: This is huge! Pinette was 50 years old. Whether the two uncles are the same person is not revealed. But they couldn't name his father the same way because they already had a Jerry (though George's dad was originally played by John Randolph before being recast with Jerry Stiller). 6 Estelle Harris (Estelle Costanza) Estelle Harris is a veteran in the game of acting and plays the marvelous role of George's Mother, Estelle Costanza in Seinfeld. In "The Postponement" and "The Fatigues", Elaine states that she is not Jewish. Elaine Marie Benes (/bns/) is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. No one was more baffled or unsettled by George's unruly work behavior than his boss at Yankee Stadium,Mr. Matt Wilhelm. He mentions this to the mayor, who eventually loses re-election as a result. Elaine's longest relationship, besides that with Jerry, is with Puddy (Patrick Warburton), an auto mechanic turned car salesman. The Cheever Letters: Directed by Tom Cherones. [8], In "The Andrea Doria", Elaine dates Alan, a "bad breaker-upper", who makes her feel insecure about having a big head. In spite of itself, Seinfeld did promote coping skills. One of the places where we see her struggle the most is in her role as assistant to Justin Pitt, one of Doubleday Publishing's top executives. 3 min read. Gideon died at age 58. They eventually go to Tuscany together. Kruger's first major story involves a trip to the beach with his family and a resulting photograph that George mucks up completely. In "The Bizarro Jerry", she dates Kevin, the nice, kind antithesis of Jerry whose friends Gene, Feldman and Vargas are polar opposites of George, Kramer and Newman, respectively, each described as coming from the backwards Bizarro World of Superman comics. George looks in admiration at the jacket]. 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 Opposite"). 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. The character known only as Vivian appeared in just a single episode of "Seinfeld" Season 9's "The Blood." They both felt they were in the right and wouldn't back down from each other. The reason for this is never made explicit, but it could be the result of Elaine and Peterman hooking up and her breaking . 2. Most of George Costanza's bosses expected far more from him than he was ever able to provide, but not Mr. Kruger, George's beleaguered boss at Kruger Industrial Smoothing. She loses her job at the end of Season 5 when the company goes bankrupt and a misunderstanding resulting from her penchant for chewy, speech-impairing Jujyfruit candies thwarts a merger that might have saved the company. She was 73. In later years, he popped up in "Grey's Anatomy" and "Betty White's Off Their Rockers," and before "Seinfeld," he played Big Larry in "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" and Dr. Brainard in "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids." 1". And yet the road that her character paved, as a strong, flawed woman, is still being trod. In "The Checks", her boyfriend Brett is so obsessed with the song "Desperado" that she feels ignored whenever it comes on. Herd even made a final appearance in the series finale, along with Mr. Steinbrenner. 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." He is portrayed by John O'Hurley. In November 2003, Deseret News reported that Waymire died suddenly at her Los Angeles home from a previously undiagnosed and undisclosed medical issue. Elaine accompanies Jerry as he visits his parents . Both George and Jerry are anxious about meeting Alton because they are in awe of his writings. Via ScreenPrism.com. Over the course of nine seasons and 180 episodes, Seinfeldbecame one of the shows that defined the 1990s. 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. [5][11] Cherones stated that, afterwards, Larry David would jokingly threaten to have Tierney back on the show if Cherones did his work badly. comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment "The Jacket" premiered on American television on February 6, 1991, on NBC, it gained a Nielsen rating of 10.4/16 and was praised by critics. In May 2006, Gleason died at a hospital in Burbank, California, at age 67. Seinfeld portrayed a semi-fictionalized version of his life as a stand-up comedian on the sitcom. Erwin was primarily a stage actor, a veteran of several decades of the Los Angeles-area theater scene, according to CBS News. While Burns and Randolph did a good job with the material they were given, they didn't earn the raves Tierney did. While these characters had multiple appearances over the shows nine seasons, one character did not have a sustained run due to the actions of the actor who played him. Like the show's star, Jerry Seinfeld, John Pinette came up in the stand-up comedy boom of the 1980s and 1990s. Actress Ruth Cohen made a career of extra work on shows like The Golden Girls and Murder, She Wrote, with her main success as Seinfeld's most prolific background star. She is able to recover her job by agreeing to live temporarily in a remote cave in the desert of Tunisia. Alton also ruins Jerrys suede jacket when he doesnt allow Jerry to turn it inside out during a snowstorm. In "The Boyfriend", Elaine reveals her disgust for smokers, which leads to a breakup with Keith Hernandez. 27 votes, 13 comments. Played by British actor Ian Abercrombie, Mr. Pitt's idiosyncrasies almost put Kramer's to shame. However, they were taken aback by his eccentric behavior. The parents of each of the main four "Seinfeld" characters loom large over their lives as they're largely responsible for making the anti-heroes into the amusingly selfish, loathsome, nit-picking, stunted adults they'd become. You got it." Early Seinfeld episodes didnt age well. Nettleton died in Woodland Hills, California, in January 2008, due to complications of lung cancer, according to the New York Times. After "Seinfeld," she often played a version of Estelle Costanza as a voice actor, most notably as Mrs. 3. Jerry offends Elaine's assistant. In a cast filled with literally hundreds of memorable weirdos, Jerry's Uncle Leo is arguably one of the strangest. and for her leading role in a comedy for "Archie Bunker's Place." Among the most memorable were Jerry and George's parents - Morty & Helen Seinfeld, and Frank & Estelle Costanza. The 1993 "Seinfeld" episode "The Bris" revolves around many monumental life events involving birth and faith, and Jerry and the gang are characteristically uncomfortable with any and all displays of emotion or responsibility. Co-starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Jerry's ex-girlfriend turned co-complainer Elaine Benes, Jason Alexander as his embittered bestie George Costanza, and Michael Richards as his oddball neighbor Cosmo Kramer, this iconic cast of four led us through some of the most outrageous and hilarious scenarios to play out on screen. The parents and family members of several of the main characters are a frequent part of the show, including the late great Jerry Stiller who played Georges father Frank Costanza. Patrick Warburton has arguably one . Seinfeld character Elaine Benes . That doesn't stop them from having ridiculous conflicts. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. The parents of Jerry and George are frequently the center of "Seinfeld" plot arcs, but Elaine's father, Alton Benes, makes just . A box of letters from John Cheever is all that remains after Susan's father's cabin burns down. "Walter, you did great work," he said. Wretched though Elaine Benes might be in her personal life, she demonstrates professionalism at work at least compared to George. While Seinfeld was always a dark comedy, it had moments where it flirted with being downright disturbing, like the Ross family arc. Chris Agar is a senior movie/TV news editor for Screen Rant and one of Screen Rant's Rotten Tomatoes approved critics. It is not revealed if Mema is her maternal or paternal grandmother. Like jerry is a role in gymnastics - though the trailer for his. In "The Non-Fat Yogurt", Elaine suggests to Lloyd Braun, an advisor to Mayor David Dinkins, that everybody in the city should wear name tags. Unlike George, Jerry and Kramer, Elaine is not a native of New York City, having grown up in the affluent Baltimore suburb of Towson, and is shown to be a fan of the Baltimore Orioles. It also left an indelible mark on television comedy in the wake of its controversial finale in May of 1998. He also played Elaine's terrifying father in an episode of "Seinfeld" and made many TV appearances on other series such as "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" and "Law & Order." In the clip, Stiller, in character as George Costanza's bellicose father, stands over his TV son, played by Jason Alexander, and faces off against Julia Louis-Dreyfus in character as Elaine . Elaine's father, a published author, was inspired by Richard Yates, author of Revolutionary Road, whom Larry David had met while dating his daughter. However, their theory is ruined when Elaine is furious over Jerry giving her $182 as a birthday gift. 3. 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. . Seinfeld director Tom Cherones joked Larry David would threaten to bring Tierney back if"I wasn't good.". Sony Pictures Television. Those visits usually morphed into meddling and butting in, verging on smothering. There's actually precedent for this; Phil Burns played Morty Seinfeld before being replaced by Barney Martin, and John Randolph was Frank Costanza before Jerry Stiller. The next day Kramer notices Jerry's jacket hanging in the bathroom, badly damaged by the snow, and asks if he can have it. [2][pageneeded], It has been reported that other actresses were in line to play the character, including Rosie O'Donnell, Megan Mullally, Jessica Lundy, Patricia Heaton, Mariska Hargitay, and Amy Yasbeck.[3][4][5]. He also causes Jerry to ruin his suede jacket by not letting him turn it inside out for the snow. Why Seinfeld Killed Off Susan In Season 7. Seinfeld once jokingly stated that this was because the "Fatman" would run in the second half of the show. [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. It could be because Tierney left such an impression, it would be difficult to see anyone else in that 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. 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. In July 2019 (per USA Today), Levin's remains were found in a remote area of Oregon, where he had gotten lost and stranded. Elaine Benes - Wikipedia Seinfeld Actors You May Not Know Passed Away. Also in early drafts, in the final scene Kramer entered Jerry's house with a dove on his shoulder. True to form, Sid badmouths Jerry to his housekeeper. Tierney booked his most famous early-career role in 1945, portraying legendary gangster John Dillinger in the hit film "Dillinger." Kathryn Kates had a recurring role on "Seinfeld," portraying an unnamed but plot-pivotal character in two episodes that aired two years apart.