You think I forgot about Michael Richards aka COSMO Kramer

[UAK]

Michael Richards

Height
    6' 3" (1.91 m)

Mini biography

    Immortalized as Cosmo Kramer on the classic American sitcom "Seinfeld" (1990), L.A. comedy star Michael Richards, born in Culver City, California, developed an early interest in acting in high school. He attended the California Institute of the Arts and graduated at Evergreen State College in Washington with his BFA in drama. Around this time, he founded an improv company with 'Ed Begley, Jr.' but it did not survive for long. Michael interrupted his fledgling career with a two-year stint in the Army and lived a rather wanderlust life until finally grounding himself again, first performing with the San Diego Repertory Company, and then returning to L.A. where he developed a stand-up comedy act.

    Inspired by the physical comedy of such legends as Charles Chaplin and Jacques Tati, he toiled for a time on the various comedy stages until comedian Billy Crystal noticed him and gave him a break on his comedy special. He earned a regular spot on the sketch comedy series "Fridays" (1980), where he created the character of Battle Boy who liked to blow up army soldiers. He also appeared in minor slapstick films, such as Young Doctors in Love (1982) and Transylvania 6-5000 (1985).

    Everything finally came together for the elastic-faced comedian in 1989, after being cast as Cosmo Kramer, Jerry Seinfeld's convulsive, frizzy-mopped next-door-neighbor pal on "Seinfeld" (1990). His hilariously outrageous, completely insane character went on to win three Emmy awards and earn cult status. What can be a blessing, however, can also be a curse. He is so strongly identified with the Cosmo Kramer character that Michael has had trouble continuing solo since the series' demise in 1998.

    Despite effective comedy work in the films Unstrung Heroes (1995) and Trial and Error (1997), he has yet to nab a successful film career. A subsequent sitcom vehicle, "The Michael Richards Show" (2000), in which he served as creator, co-writer, and co-executive producer, went down the tubes quickly after his character was criticized as too one-note and "Kramer-esque." Like others before him, such as Carroll O'Connor, Michael is smartly riding out the Kramer storm for the right time to resurface where he can be accepted outside this overwhelming and influential character.

He married a former casting director (married 19 years, divorced in 1990), has a 17-year-old daughter, Sophia, and now lives in the San Fernando Valley.

Trivia
    Attended Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington, USA.

    Attended the California Institute of the Arts.

    Was originally cast in 1986 as Al Bundy in "Married... with Children" (1987). Good thing he didn't get it for him and Ed O'Neill (Al Bundy).

    Most renowned for his role as Cosmo Kramer on "Seinfeld" (1990).

    His character in "Seinfeld" (1990) was named Kessler in the original pilot.

    Cosmo Kramer, his character in "Seinfeld" (1990), always wore clothes one size too big to make him appear to be laid back and loose.

    Is a 33-degree Scottish Rite Freemason 

    Is a Vietnam-era Army Veteran. He was drafted and served for two years in West Germany.

    Auditioned for the role of Al Bundy on "Married... With Children".

    His big dream when he started acting was to play a detective. This led him to create The Michael Richards Show, a sitcom about a private detective agency. The show flopped and was quickly canceled. Later he was considered for a role in another detective show, Monk, which ultimately went to Tony Shaloub.

    Was the actor Andy Kaufman threw water on during a "live" skit (this particular series of events was actually predetermined) on "Fridays" (1980). In the Kaufman biopic Man on the Moon (1999), Richards' character was played by 'Norm MacDonald'.

[Bigg $amo]

Kramer is the funniest ever