Where are the Seinfeld cast now — from cancer hell to racism row that ‘ended’ career

For 35 years Seinfeld has been a telly staple, often hailed as one of the greatest sitcoms to ever hit the small screen.

Kicking off on this day in 1989 (July 5), the NBC brainchild of comedy giants Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, it didn’t just make waves it set the sitcom standard for years to come. The show, which centred around four pals in New York, saw Jerry Seinfeld, then an up-and-coming stand-up comic, play a version of himself.

It’s even been rumoured that Seinfeld was the muse behind the cult classic Friends, which continues to be a binge-watching obsession on Netflix. Seinfeld first burst onto our screens on July 5, 1989, and after nine belly-laugh-inducing seasons and a whopping 180 episodes, it finally bowed out on May 14, 1998.

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During its run, the Manhattan laugh-fest scooped up an eye-popping 68 Emmy nominations, taking home 10 trophies.

The quirky concept for Seinfeld sprouted during a mundane grocery shop when David and Seinfeld found themselves nattering about the items they were chucking in their trolley.

Curb Your Enthusiasm’s David said: “We both realised that this is the kind of dialogue we never really heard on television, or even movies, for that matter.”

He added: “So that was sort of the basis – that was just the way we communicated and the things that we talked about.”

So, as it’s been 35 years since the groundbreaking show first aired, the Daily Star had a look to see what the original cast members have been up to since then.

Jerry Seinfeld

Jerry Seinfeld was already a rising comedian when he co-created Seinfeld. After the show ended, he returned to his roots in the stand-up comedy scene in New York.

The following year, he released an HBO special and has since appeared in numerous series, including The Marriage Ref which he created in 2010, and guest spots on 30 Rock and Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm.

A true comedy legend, Seinfeld has won 20 Primetime Emmy awards and received four Grammy nominations for his comedy albums.

In 2020, he released his own Netflix special, Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill.

And in 2024 he starred in, directed, co-wrote, and produced the Netflix comedy film Unfrosted.

The 70-year-old also created and stars in Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, drawing the biggest names in the comedy industry to the show.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who played Elaine Benes (Seinfeld’s ex-girlfriend) on the show, has also enjoyed a successful acting career post-Seinfeld.

In 2006, she starred as the title character in the CBS series The New Adventures of Old Christine, earning her an Emmy award.

She also portrayed Selina Meyer in HBO’s Veep starting in 2011. The series ran for seven seasons and earned Louis-Dreyfus six Emmy awards for her work on the political satire show.

However, in 2017 Louis-Dreyfus received the shocking news of a breast cancer diagnosis. Courageously, she carried on with her work commitments all through her treatments.

Fortunately, as of October 2018, she happily announced that she defeated cancer and is now in remission.

Louis-Dreyfus continues to work on a number of projects including a multi-year deal with Apple TV+, where she develops new projects for the platform as both an executive producer and star

Jason Alexander

Jason Alexander, also famous for his role in 1990s hit ‘Pretty Woman’, played George “Lord of the idiots” Costanza in Seinfeld. He’s also been seen in numerous Broadway shows.

In terms of awards, he isn’t trailing behind his Seinfeld peers; he possesses a Tony Award for his remarkable acting in Jerome Robbins’ Broadway back in 1989. Further, he even grabbed a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre album.

He has made appearances on popular shows such as Two and a Half Men and Community, while also providing his voice for American Dad. He doesn’t just have an impressive acting CV, but is a competent director too, having directed several episodes of Mike and Molly, Franklin and Bash, and Criminal Minds.

Michael Richards

Michael Richards, most loved for his role as Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld, returned to stand-up comedy after Seinfeld and even started The Michael Richards Show. Unfortunately, it only managed to stay on air for one season.

In 2006, Richards found himself in hot water when he allegedly made racist remarks during a stand-up routine at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood. This led him to apologise publicly and take a considerable hiatus from public life.

However, in 2013, he resurfaced in Kirstie, a fresh sitcom, which failed to go past its inaugural season.

Richards also lent his voice to the Golden Globe-winning animated film Bee Movie in 2007, a project that Jerry Seinfeld himself produced, co-wrote and starred in.

In June 2024, Richards released his memoir, Entrances and Exits, in which the 74-year-old revealed what led to his extreme reaction at the Laugh Factory.

Wayne Knight

Initially joining the Seinfeld cast as Newman in a guest role, Wayne Knight quickly became a fan favourite and was promoted to a permanent character on the popular sitcom from season 3 until its conclusion.

Knight’s acting career extends beyond Seinfeld, with roles in a number of major films. He appeared in Spielberg’s iconic dinosaur movie Jurassic Park and provided voice work for Toy Story 2, Kung Fu Panda, and even Seinfeld’s Bee Movie.

More recently, Knight showcased his acting skills in the Netflix original series Narcos, and joined the cast of American soap The Young and the Restless.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk