Fun Facts About 75-Year-Old Michael Richards, Best Known for Playing Kramer on ‘Seinfeld’
Michael Richards is now 75 years old (his birthday is July 24, 1949) and recently came back to Hollywood after a long break. He got his big break and is still beloved as the goofy Cosmo Kramer on the ’90s show Seinfeld. After the show ended, he was “canceled” in 2006 for making racist remarks during a comedy show, which led to him retiring from stand-up. He recently released a memoir about his experiences called Entrances and Exits. In honor of his birthday, let’s go over some interesting facts about his life and career.
1. He appeared on Billy Crystal‘s first cable TV special.
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Richards was discovered by Crystal and appeared on his first cable TV special in 1979. However, this wasn’t his first time being on TV. In 1968, he appeared as a contestant on The Dating Game but was not chosen for a date.
2. He always wanted to play a detective on TV.
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Richards got the chance when he got his own show called The Michael Richards Show in which he played private detective Vic Nardozza. Unfortunately, the show didn’t take off and got canceled after just eight episodes in 2000. Reportedly, he also was considered to play Adrian Monk in Monk, but Tony Shalhoub got the role instead.
3. He is an Army veteran.
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Richards was drafted in 1970 and served in Germany during the end of the Vietnam War. He trained as a medic and became a member of the theatrical group called the Training Road Show, which sparked his love of acting. He was honorably discharged in 1972 and enrolled in the California Institute of Arts, later earning a Bachelor of Arts in drama from the Evergreen State College.
4. He auditioned for a very different but iconic role.
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Richards auditioned for the role of Al Bundy in Married… With Children, but of course, the role went to Ed O’Neill instead. This worked out because not long after he was cast as Kramer in Seinfeld.
5. He went to school with another famous star.
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He went to Thousand Oaks High School in Thousand Oaks, California, with Kurt Russell, and once shared that Russell was voted as “best looking” in his class.
6. He paid tribute to Kramer on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” in a strange way.
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Larry David, creator of Seinfeld, also created and starred in the show Curb Your Enthusiasm and had many Seinfeld stars on the show. When Richards appeared, he wore the same shoes that he wore as Kramer in Seinfeld.
7. He was in a comedy duo with Ed Begley Jr.
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He had a short-lived improv act with Ed Begley Jr. They performed at some iconic venues including the Comedy Store, the Troubadour and the Icehouse. Unfortunately, Richards soon got drafted and their duo ended. When he came home, they gave it another try but eventually split to do solo projects including a little show called Seinfeld. They got to work together again in 1985’s Transylvania 6-5000.
Remind 
February 2021
1990s Rom-Coms
Pop some popcorn and cozy up to feel-good movies and TV shows from a generation ago.
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