The Inspiration for Elaine on 'Seinfeld' Lives in Grand Blanc In March 1999,Wallace passed away from respiratory failure and emphysema at the age of 73. He remains best known for his role as Jerry's dad on Seinfeld, despite an otherwise storied acting career. "The Jacket" was written by Seinfeld co-creators Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld and directed by Tom Cherones. Recasting isn't new for sitcoms when it comes to side characters. George is his incredibly insensitive self, despite what seems like a tragedy. Rance Howard, Ron Howard's dad. 1. That list, of course, includes the likes of Bryan Cranston, Mariska Hargitay, James Spader, and Bob Odenkirk, among numerous others. They eventually go to Tuscany together. 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. Herd even made a final appearance in the series finale, along with Mr. Steinbrenner. Answer (1 of 3): Morty Seinfeld was originally played by Phil Bruns, who appeared in only the second episode. Has Seinfeld Aged Badly - Does It Need To Be "Fixed"? Later, when Jerry chides her for fighting with an old man, she says, "Hey, he wrote the check. 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. Incidentally, his other son Clint Howard played the smog strangler when Jerry and George went to LA in search of Kramer. Chris Agar is a senior movie/TV news editor for Screen Rant and one of Screen Rant's Rotten Tomatoes approved critics. In addition to his one-off role in "Seinfeld," character actor Lou Cutell appeared in more than 100 films and TV shows. Morty and Helen's first appearance onSeinfeld was in the season 1 episode "The Stake Out," where they try to give Jerry some relationship advice. It was all because of a comically fraught relationship with his overbearing, overprotective, judgmental, and often shrieking mother, Estelle Constanza, or "MA!" Elaine accompanies Jerry as he visits his parents . 'Seinfeld': Elaine's Most Iconic Moments, Ranked - Showbiz Cheat Sheet Frank first shows up in the Season 4 episode, "The Handicap Spot." Jacopo Peterman (normally referred to as J. Peterman or simply Peterman) is a secondary character on the television show Seinfeld. That is what made him the perfect choice for Alton, who spends "The Jacket" terrifying Jerry and George. en.wikipedia.org. However, Morty is played by Phil Bruns, rather than Barney Martin. Elaine meets J. Peterman on the street ("The Understudy") and becomes an editor at his J. Peterman Catalog, where she remains employed for the rest of the series. 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. When I leave the house in this, it's with a whole different confidence. Poppie's enmity with the group extends to Elaine; their conflicting views on abortion land Poppie in the hospital due to stress. She then spots him cleaning a man's windshield and then at a gathering not wearing a shirt. The actor was 88 years old. Eventually, Kramer steps in and forbids Elaine to have any more contact with Noreen. Veteran actor Philip Baker Hall appeared onscreen nearly 200 times in a 50 year career that stretched from the early 1970s to the 2020s. 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. It's hard to picture Morty's rivalry with Jack Klompus being as effective with Bruns in the role. It started with Seinfeld, where she played Molly Dalrymple, daughter of NBC president Russell. Here's whySeinfeld recast Jerry's dad after season 1, and George's dad afterseason 4. But there's a good reason for it. After appearing inThe Jacket,Tierneys character was set to become a recurring character in the show. Alton is also a successful author, and wrote the book titled Fair Game. Played by another comedy and Broadway legend,Sandy Baron, for six episodes, Jack Klompus' general suspicion of the entire Seinfeld family goes to some pretty dark depths, culminating in Klompus accusing Morty of stealing. Season 4, Episode 7 - The Bubble Boy | IMDb rating: 8.9 - Air date: Oct. 7, 1992. 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. Izzy is a resident of Del Boca Vista, and all three men work at their family's restaurant, The Magic Pan. Seinfeld featured Elaine Benes' father Alton in just one episode, and there's a good reason why the character was never brought back. While that impressive crew all delivered standout work in their brief time on the show, few "Seinfeld" supporting players left quite as memorable a mark on the show as the actor who played the father of Elaine Benes (series star Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Hilarity ensued in the season two episode, The Jacket, in which Jerry and George meet . When she was 5 months pregnant, he suggested that they adjust the script to indicate that Elaine "got fat.". With Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards, Jason Alexander. George Costanza: I wonder how Susan's father's going to react to this. Shows don't often recast recurring roles, due to flack from many. Both clips appear in "The Clip Show, Pt. Hellllloooooooo! Here's why Morty Seinfeld and Frank Costanza were both played by different actors in the series. When "Twin Peaks" was revived in 2017, he returned as Jean-Michel Renault, a relative of Jacques. Barney Martin (March 3, 1923 - March 21, 2005) was an American actor, best known for playing Morty Seinfeld, father of Jerry, on the sitcom Seinfeld (1991-1998). He was introduced in the season 2 episode "The Jacket," and was played by Lawrence Tierney. Seinfeld confronted Tierney about the theft, leading Tierney to try to play it off as a joke and mockingly reenact the classicPsycho stabbing scene with Seinfeld. 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. Why Elaine Benes' Father Was Only On One Seinfeld Episode - ScreenRant It's hard to imagineSeinfeld without them. George Costanza: This is huge! 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. 4. 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 only began seriously acting in her late forties, with frequent theatrical and TV commercial roles, according to CNN. In "The Boyfriend", Elaine reveals her disgust for smokers, which leads to a breakup with Keith Hernandez. Seinfeld portrayed a semi-fictionalized version of his life as a stand-up comedian on the sitcom. During Seasons 2 to 5, Elaine works at Pendant Publishing under her boss Mr. Lippman, where she served as a copy editor. Next: The First Seinfeld Episode Elaine Wasn't In (& Why). Whether the two uncles are the same person is not revealed. Kathryn Kates had a recurring role on "Seinfeld," portraying an unnamed but plot-pivotal character in two episodes that aired two years apart. In "The Postponement" and "The Fatigues", Elaine states that she is not Jewish. The material was later included on the Seinfeld Volume 1 DVD set. You got it." Harris has a distinct high-pitched voice that has gotten her far in her acting career. When confronted, he pretended to stab seinfeld with the knife and was not asked to return. In 2009, Gideon's breast cancer was declared in remission, only for the disease to aggressively return in February 2014. He was the titular gangster John Dillinger in the 1945 Dillinger, and also made an appearance in Quentin Tarantinos classic film Reservoir Dogs. r/seinfeld Elaine's 90's workout wear was a vibe!!! Oy vey. George's fiance on Seinfeld, Susan, was played by actress Heidi Swedberg. WhenSeinfeld recast Newman (originally voiced by David) and George's dad, David chose to re-record or reshoot scenes for syndication to keep continuity intact. 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. The interesting aspect of Seinfeld's recasting, is that both Morty Seinfeld and Frank Costanza became bigger players in the series after the fact. In "The Stakeout", Jerry tells his parents that the reason for the break-up had to do with fighting too much and "physical chemistry". Elaine begins dating David in the latter half of Season 6, and later for the majority of Season 9. Unlike her three close friends, Elaine is absent from the pilot episode. [2] Cast and crew members were very impressed with his performance. One of the more prominent names to guest star on both shows. Apart from her villainous turn in "Seinfeld," Louan Gideon is probably best known for her long stint in the daytime soap opera "Search for Tomorrow," and as evil chemical company CEO Danielle Atron on Nickelodeon's "The Secret World of Alex Mack. 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." Over several episodes in Season 4, she dates Joe Davola, who is--unbeknownst to Elaine--simultaneously stalking Jerry. Elaine's Dad Only Appeared Once Because The Actor Was Scary Miramax. 15 Seinfeld Fan Theories We Can't Keep Ignoring - TheThings He also doesn't seem to respect Elaine's work, as he forgets that she is working at Pendant Publishing despite her telling him multiple times. It faced strong competition from the CBS crime drama Jake and the Fatman; viewers would frequently tune out of Seinfeld to watch the second half of Jake and the Fatman's. Alton Benes | WikiSein | Fandom Answer (1 of 3): The character of Elaine Benes did not appear in the pilot episode of Seinfeld. While visiting a small town in Massachusetts, Jerry, George, Kramer, and Elaine witness Howie getting carjacked. Izzythe second and third, played by Lloyd Bridges and Gene Dynarski, respectively, are two of the most competitive people to grace Seinfeld's soundstage. She views saying "God bless you" as a "silly superstition" in "The Good Samaritan". Dr. Howard Cooperman made a single but memorable appearance in the Season 6 episode, "The Fusilli Jerry." George looks in admiration at the jacket]. His wife, Jerry's mother, is Helen Seinfeld. It could be because Tierney left such an impression, it would be difficult to see anyone else in that role. " The Jacket " is the third episode of the second season of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld and the show's eighth episode overall. He also has an unusual quirk of believing everyone is gay. 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. 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. As they enter Alton Benes' hotel, Elaine has not arrived yet, forcing them to wait with her father for 30 minutes. In 2008,Cohen died of a heart attack at 78. The sitcom follows Seinfeld and his friends as hilariously make their way through life in New York. In "The Junk Mail", Elaine dates Jack, the TV pitchman for The Wiz. Tierney was known as a tough guy, both on-screen and off, which made it surprising that he would be cast in the comedic role. "Seinfeld" finished up its extremely popular nine-season run with a two-part, massively viewed, polarizing series finale in which Jerry, Elaine, George, and Cosmo come to be collectively known as "The New York Four" when they're prosecuted in Massachusetts under a "Good Samaritan" law for not helping out (and actively teasing) a carjacking victim. By the time she made it to "Seinfeld" as Kramer's mother, episodic television was familiar territory for actor Sheree North. It is not revealed if Mema is her maternal or paternal grandmother. While visiting Izzy's sickbed, Jerry runs into Izzy Jr., who throws his back out trying to goad Jerry into lifting a hospital television that's bolted to a table. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . [2] Tierney's appearance in the episode is one of his only comedic roles. Kramer makes a contact for Cuban cigars. For four seasons in the '70s and '80s, he played radio station manager Arthur Carlson in "WKRP in Cincinnati," Maggie Seaver's father in "Growing Pains," and Mr. Horton, the predatory bike shop owner in a serious two-part "Diff'rent Strokes." He mentions this to the mayor, who eventually loses re-election as a result. In the episode, Jerry is thrilled when he gets the #1 speed-dial slot on the phone of his new girlfriend, Valerie. In November 2005, CBS News reported that North died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He also originated the role of Amos Hart (Mr. Cellophane) in the 1976 Broadway production of Chicago. Read Every Article Esquire Has Ever Published. There's little he won't do to get what he wants, no matter how petty it is. 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. While the original Frank, John Randolph, was only present for one episode, Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld decided they wanted to make FrankConstanzaa betterfit for theSeinfelduniverse. [2] The episode also contains the first mention to Elaine's job as a manuscript reader for Pendant Publishing; in early drafts of the script, her job was an optician. In the episode, Elaine's father Alton is a war veteran and writer. While Seinfeld was always a dark comedy, it had moments where it flirted with being downright disturbing, like the Ross family arc. Often described as \"a show about nothing,\" Seinfeld mines the humor in life's mundane situations like waiting in line, searching for a lost item, or the trials and tribulations of dating. Estelle was often a hindrance to George's goals, or a burden to be dealt with. A Guide to Elaine Benes's 29 Boyfriends on Seinfeld - The Cut Jerry wears an expensive jacket when he meets Elaine's father, but an argument ensues when Jerry is reluctant to wear it outside during a snowfall. In the episode she describes herself as a "walking candy apple" after a bird runs into her "giant, freak head.". In "The Doodle" it is stated by George that Elaine takes a drawing class at The New School with his girlfriend Paula. In the reunion episode featured in Season 7 of Curb Your Enthusiasm, it is revealed in the years since the finale Jerry has donated sperm to Elaine that results in her having a daughter, who has taken to calling Jerry "Uncle Jerry", but by the episode's end, it is said she now refers to him as "daddy" to Jerry and Elaine's clear discomfort. As for the guy they've hired, he's not the best mohel. 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. Herd had been a familiar face in both movies and television until his death in May of 2020 from cancer complications at the age of 87. Unfortunately, Scrubs actor Sam Lloyd was only 55when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and lung cancer. He was 91 years old and made his final appearance in Twin Peaks'third season. In "The Sponge", Elaine is desperate to buy a cache of discontinued contraceptive sponges before existing stock is exhausted. TIL that Elaine's father on Seinfeld, played by Lawrence Tierney, was supposed to be a recurring character, but he horrified the cast and made threatening gestures toward Seinfeld with a knife. Among the most memorable were Jerry and George's parents - Morty & Helen Seinfeld, and Frank & Estelle Costanza. Meals about nothing: 25 memorable foods featured in "Seinfeld" Jerry offends Elaine's assistant. We even see him buying a gun, presumably in case George and his friends are acquitted for their myriad crimes and social wrongs. Chris credits Toy Story and Star Wars with launching a lifelong fascination with movies that led him on the path to his career. A 1948 Miss America semifinalist, Lois Nettleton moved into theatrical acting, earning raves and awards attention for "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "They Knew What They Wanted," and "A Streetcar Named Desire." Elaine has a sister, Gail, and a nephew; they are first mentioned in "The Pick". Thisbrilliant comedic reversal makes Elaine one of the more fully rounded of these all-around awful characters. 100 best Seinfeld episodes of all time - Hartford Courant Dreyfus was so deeply offended that Screen Rant . 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. 20 Surprising Things That Happened On The Set Of Seinfeld - TheTalko His intensity freaks Elaine out. They're impressed with Alton, an accomplished author, while he doesn't think much of Elaine's social group. [4] David stated in an interview that Richard Yates was "every bit as intimidating as Alton Benes". In "The Dog", she tells George she moved to New York in 1986, which, by coincidence, is the year Jerry moved into his apartment across the hall from Kramer. She was 93. The Lost Roles of Seinfeld - Vulture I Let My Boyfriend Dress Me For an Entire Year. 3. In real life, Shapiro's father is renowned author Richard Yates known for his novel "Revolutionary Road". In multiple episodes, including "The Strong Box" and "The Wizard", she can be seen wearing a crucifix. Cookies help us deliver our Services. His most memorable appearance arguably comes when George tries to convince him that his fictional charity, The Human Fund, is real. It is revealed that over the course of their friendship, Elaine has convinced Noreen to join the Army, then go AWOL, dump her "high-talker" boyfriend and then her "long-talker" boyfriend. The next day Kramer notices Jerry's jacket hanging in the bathroom, badly damaged by the snow, and asks if he can have it. Most of Jerry's many failed dates and relationships had nothing to do with the woman in question. Over the course of nine seasons and 180 episodes, Seinfeldbecame one of the shows that defined the 1990s. In one of the most notorious "Seinfeld" moments, she sees George fish an eclair out of a garbage can and eat it. Colin Jacobson of DVD Movie Guide stated, "An otherwise mediocre episode, Lawrence Tierney's gruff turn as Elaine's father helps redeem 'The Jacket. 3. 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. Dr. Cooperman is indeed the rightful owner of the plate, and he gets it after a pasta sculpture of Jerry winds up in a very uncomfortable place for Frank Costanza, who requires the doctor's specialized services. Sadly, since Seinfeld has been off the air for decades now, we've lost a number of Jerry and company's old friends and nemeses in real life. The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Hall died at home in Glendale, California in June 2022. Harris died in April 2022 at the age of 93. 41 Fascinating Facts About Seinfeld - Mental Floss That said, Julia is a successful, wealthy actress in her own right. Elaine's father, a gruff novelist named Alton Benes (Lawrence Tierney), was featured in "The Jacket". See production, box office & company info, CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA. More than two decades after the series ended, the famed "show about nothing" continues to resonate on a profound level with viewers, who've made it a bonafide hit in both syndication and the streaming realm. George suggests Jerry turn the jacket inside out, but because of the candy-stripe lining, Alton insists he turn it back. [2], The episode gained positive responses from critics. 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 . Played by Elmarie Wendel, Helena is a send-up of Hollywood queen Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, stealing the show as she descends the stairs with her sometimes inappropriate commentary. Seinfeld S02E03 Elaine's Dad | Jerry and George However, they were taken aback by his eccentric behavior. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Even though everyone involved with "The Jacket" recognized how great Alton was, those feelings about Tierney influenced the decision to never have him return. The character known only as Vivian appeared in just a single episode of "Seinfeld" Season 9's "The Blood." In "The Package", it is revealed that Elaine's medical charts characterize her as a "difficult" patient to such a degree that she cannot receive treatment for a rash because one doctor after another refuses to treat her. 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. Though the film remains a career highlight for both, it's probably best not to ask Tarantino what it was like to work with the irascible screen tough. Chris' favorite directors include Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese, and Quentin Tarantino (among several others). Story highlights. . This show is a comedy, right? Before Stiller portrayed Frank, John Randolph did. 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". Seinfeld could have recast Alton. Her performance at a J. Peterman company party, the central plot theme of "The Little Kicks", causes George to describe it as "a full-bodied dry heave set to music." Who Played Elaine's Dad On Seinfeld? She is able to recover her job by agreeing to live temporarily in a remote cave in the desert of Tunisia. 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. In "The Cigar Store Indian", Elaine angers Frank Costanza by taking his TV Guide without asking and then spilling her gyro on it. Characters such as the Soup Nazi (Larry Thomas), Newman (Wayne Knight), and Jerrys parents Morty (Barney Martin) and Helen (Liz Sheridan) all helped to round out the beloved sitcoms cast of zany characters. Everything that can go wrong does Jerry and Elaine are annoyed, George's car gets damaged, and Kramer attempts to kidnap the baby. Expensive jacket, almost 10 gay jokes in 20 minutes, Kramer is rude to Jerry, Elaine's story why she is late. They both felt they were in the right and wouldn't back down from each other. She was 73. Here's why Elaine Benes' father only appeared on oneSeinfeld episode. 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. See production, box office & company info, CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA. In 2002, she starred in the sitcom Watching Ellie and went on to play the lead role in The New . He is portrayed by John O'Hurley. Susan Ross (Heidi Swedberg) was George Costanza's longtime girlfriend and, briefly, fiance before she died from licking toxic wedding envelopes George chose to save money.