Michael Richards

Michael Anthony Richards (born July 24, 1949) is an American actor, writer, television producer and retired comedian. He began his career as a stand-up comedian, first entering the national spotlight when he was featured on Billy Crystal's first cable TV special. He went on to become a series regular on ABC's Fridays. He made numerous guest appearances on a variety of television shows, such as Cheers. His film credits include So I Married an Axe Murderer, Airheads, Young Doctors in Love, Problem Child, Coneheads, UHF, and Trial and Error, one of his few starring roles.

This article is about the American actor. For other people named Michael Richards, see Michael Richards (disambiguation).

Michael Richards
Richards at the 45th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 19, 1993
Born	Michael Anthony Richards (1949-07-24) July 24, 1949 Culver City, California, U.S.[1]
Alma mater	The Evergreen State College
Occupation	Actor, writer, television producer, comedian
Years active	1979–present
Spouse(s)	Cathleen Lyons ( m. 1974⁠–⁠1993) [2][3] Beth Skipp ( m. 2010) [4][5]
Children	2

From 1989 to 1998, he played Cosmo Kramer on the television sitcom Seinfeld, receiving the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series three times. During the run of Seinfeld, he made a guest appearance in Mad About You. After Seinfeld, Richards starred in his own sitcom, The Michael Richards Show, which was cancelled after 2 months.

When Seinfeld ended in 1998, Richards returned to stand-up comedy. He incited media furor while performing at the Laugh Factory comedy club in late 2006 after a cell phone video was published of him launching into an expletive-laced racist tirade after earlier interruptions from a group of late-arriving audience members.[6] Subsequently, due to significant media coverage of the event, Richards announced his retirement from stand-up early in 2007. He appeared as himself in the seventh season of Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2009, acting alongside his fellow cast members for the first time since Seinfeld's finale, as well as lampooning his incident at the Laugh Factory. In 2013, Richards returned to television when he played the role of Frank in the sitcom Kirstie.[7]

Early life

Richards as a senior at Thousand Oaks High School, Thousand Oaks, California 1967

Richards was born in Culver City, California to a Catholic family.[8] He is the son of Phyllis (née Nardozzi), a medical records librarian of Italian descent and William Richards, an electrical engineer of Scottish and English descent.[9] His father died in a car crash when Michael was two and his mother never remarried.[2]

Richards graduated from Thousand Oaks High School. In 1968, he appeared as a contestant on The Dating Game, but was not chosen for the date. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1970. He trained as a medic and was stationed in West Germany.[10] After being honorably discharged, he used the benefits of the G.I. Bill to enroll in the California Institute of the Arts, and received a BA degree in drama from The Evergreen State College in 1975.[11] He also had a short-lived improv act with Ed Begley Jr. During this period, he enrolled at Los Angeles Valley College and continued to appear in student productions.

Career

Richards got his big TV break in 1979, appearing in Billy Crystal's first cable TV special. In 1980, he began as one of the cast members on ABC's Fridays television show, where Larry David was a writer. This included a famous instance in which guest Andy Kaufman refused to deliver his scripted lines, leading Richards to bring the cue cards on screen to Kaufman, causing him to throw his drink into Richards's face before a small riot ensued (Richards later claimed he was in on the joke).[12] The film Man on the Moon featured a re-enactment of the Andy Kaufman incident in which Richards was portrayed by actor Norm Macdonald (although he is never referred to by name so he could be seen as a composite character taking the place of Richards).[13][14]

In 1989, Richards had a supporting role in "Weird Al" Yankovic's comedy film UHF as janitor Stanley Spadowski. On television, Richards also appeared in Miami Vice (as an unscrupulous bookie), St. Elsewhere (as a television producer making a documentary about Dr. Mark Craig), Cheers (as a character trying to collect on an old bet with Sam Malone), and made several guest appearances with Jay Leno as an accident-prone fitness expert.

According to an interview with executive producer David Hoberman, ABC first conceived the series Monk as a procedural police comedy with an Inspector Clouseau-like character suffering from obsessive–compulsive disorder. Hoberman said ABC wanted Richards to play Adrian Monk, but he turned it down.[15]

Seinfeld

Richards with Jerry Seinfeld at the 44th Primetime Emmy Awards in 1992

In 1989, he was cast as Cosmo Kramer in the NBC television series Seinfeld, which was created by fellow Fridays cast member Larry David and comedian Jerry Seinfeld. Although it got off to a slow start, by the mid-1990s, the show had become one of the most popular sitcoms in television history. The series ended its nine-year run in 1998 at #1 in the Nielsen ratings. In the setting of Seinfeld, Kramer is usually referred to by his last name only and is the neighbor of the show's eponymous character. Kramer's first name, Cosmo, was revealed in the sixth-season episode "The Switch".

Richards won more Emmys than any other cast member on Seinfeld. He took home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1993, 1994 and 1997.

Starting in 2004, he and his fellow Seinfeld cast members provided interviews and audio commentaries for the Seinfeld DVDs, but Richards stopped providing audio commentary after Season 5, though he continued to provide interviews.

The Michael Richards Show

In 2000, after the end of Seinfeld, Richards began work on a new series for NBC, his first major project since Seinfeld's finale. The Michael Richards Show, for which the actor received co-writer and co-executive producer credits, was originally conceived as a comedy/mystery starring Richards as a bumbling private investigator. However, after the first pilot failed with test audiences, NBC ordered that the show be retooled into a more conventional, office-based sitcom before its premiere. After a few weeks of poor ratings and negative reviews, it was cancelled.

2006 Laugh Factory incident

During a performance on November 17, 2006, at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood, California, Richards launched into a racist rant in response to reported heckling and interruptions from a small group of black audience members. Richards was recorded shouting "He's a nigger!" several times and making references to lynching and the Jim Crow era.[6][16][17][18][19] Kyle Doss, a member of the group Richards addressed, said the group had arrived in the middle of the performance, explaining:

[H]ere's what happened. As we walked in, we sat down and started ordering drinks. And, as we ordered drinks, I guess we're being a little loud, because there was 20 of us ordering drinks. And he said, "Look at the stupid Mexicans and blacks being loud up there." That's the first thing he said. And then he kept on with his bit. And, then, after a while, I told him, "My friend doesn't think you're funny." And then when I told him that, that's when he flipped me off and said, "F-you N-word." And that's how it all started.

— Kyle Doss, Interview on The Situation Room[20]

Three days after the incident, Richards made a public apology when he spoke via satellite on the Late Show with David Letterman, saying, "For me to be at a comedy club and to flip out and say this crap, I'm deeply, deeply sorry. I'm not a racist, that's what's so insane about this."[21] Many studio audience members laughed as Richards began his unscripted explanation and apology, leading then show guest Jerry Seinfeld to address them, saying, "Stop laughing. It's not funny." Richards said he had been trying to defuse heckling by being even more outrageous, but it had backfired. He later called civil rights leaders Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to apologize.[20][22] He also appeared as a guest on Jackson's syndicated radio show.[23] Doss stated that he did not accept Richards' apology, saying, "If he wanted to apologize, he could have contacted...one of us out of the group. But, he didn't. He apologized on camera just because the tape got out."[22][24]

The incident was later parodied on several TV shows, including MadTV, Family Guy, South Park, and Extras. In an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Richards appeared as himself and poked fun at the incident. In a 2012 episode of Seinfeld's web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, Richards admitted that the outburst still haunted him, and was a major reason for his withdrawal from stand-up.[25]

Cameo roles, guest appearances, and film roles

Richards played himself in Episode 2 of Season 1 "The Flirt Episode" (1992) of the HBO series The Larry Sanders Show. He also had a cameo role in the comedy thriller film So I Married an Axe Murderer, credited as "insensitive man". Richards played radio station employee Doug Beech in Airheads and co-starred with Jeff Daniels as an actor pretending to be a lawyer in 1997's Trial and Error. He also made guest appearances on Miami Vice, Night Court and Cheers. In 2007, Richards voiced character Bud Ditchwater in the animated film Bee Movie, which starred, and was produced by, Jerry Seinfeld. In 2009, Richards and the other main Seinfeld cast members appeared in the seventh season of Curb Your Enthusiasm.[26] In 2012, Richards appeared in comedy web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, hosted by Jerry Seinfeld.[27] In 2014, Richards appeared as the president of Crackle in a trailer for Season 5. Seinfeld said the storyline of the trailer would be expanded on in one of the episodes.

Richards played the role of Frank in the sitcom Kirstie, costarring Kirstie Alley and Rhea Perlman, premiering on TV Land on December 4, 2013.[7] The show was canceled after one season.[28]

Personal life

Richards was married to Cathleen Lyons, a family therapist, for 18 years. They have one daughter, Sophia (b. 1975).

Richards and Lyons separated in 1992 and divorced a year later.[2][3]

In 2010, Richards married his girlfriend Beth Skipp. They have been together since 2002 and have one son.[4]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1982	Young Doctors in Love	Malamud Callahan
1984	The House of God	Dr. Pinkus
1985	Transylvania 6-5000	Fejos
1986	Whoops Apocalypse	Lacrobat
1987	Choice Chance and Control	Victor Loudon	Driver's Ed video
1989	UHF	Stanley Spadowski
1990	Problem Child	Martin Beck
1993	Coneheads	Motel clerk
1993	So I Married an Axe Murderer	Insensitive Man
1994	Airheads	Doug Beech
1995	Unstrung Heroes	Danny Lidz	Nominated—American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
1997	Redux Riding Hood	The Wolf	Voice Short film
1997	Trial and Error	Richard "Ricky" Rietti
2007	Bee Movie	Bud Ditchwater	Voice
2013	Walk the Light	Lester	Short film
2019	Faith, Hope & Love	Daddy Hogwood

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1980–1982	Fridays	Various roles	54 episodes; also writer
1982	Faerie Tale Theatre	King Geoffeey	Episode: "The Tale of the Frog Prince"
1983	Herndon	Dr. Herndon P. Stool	Television film
1984	Faerie Tale Theatre	Vince	Episode: "Pinocchio"
1984	At Your Service	Rick the gardener	Television film
1984	Night Court	Eugene Sleighbough	Episode: "Take My Wife, Please"
1984	The Ratings Game	Sal	Television film
1985	Tall Tales & Legends	Sneaky Pete	Episode: "My Darlin' Clementine"
1984–1985	St. Elsewhere	Bill Wolf	5 episodes
1985	Cheers	Eddie Gordon	Episode: "Bar Bet"
1985	Scarecrow and Mrs. King	Petronus	Episode: "Car Wars"
1985	Slickers	Mike Blade	Television film
1985	It's a Living	Hager	Episode: "Desperate Hours"
1985	Hill Street Blues	Special Agent Durpe	Episode: "An Oy for an Oy"
1986	Miami Vice	Pagone	Episode: "The Fix"
1986	A Year in the Life	Ronnie	3 episodes
1986	Fresno	2nd henchman	5 episodes
1987	Jonathan Winters: On the Ledge	Various roles	Television special
1987–1988	Marblehead Manor	Rick	11 episodes
1989	Camp MTV	Stanley Spadowski	Television film
1989–1998	Seinfeld	Cosmo Kramer	178 episodes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (1993–94, 1997) Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (1995, 1997–98) Nominated—American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Male in a Television Series Nominated—American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Male in a Television Series (shared with Jason Alexander) Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (1995–96) Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series (1996–98)
1992	Dinosaurs	Director	Voice Episode: "Wesayso Knows Best"
1992	Mad About You	Cosmo Kramer	Episode: "The Apartment"
1992	The Larry Sanders Show	Himself	Episode: "The Flirt Episode"
1996	London Suite	Mark Ferris	Television film
2000	David Copperfield	Mr. Wilkins Micawber	Television film
2000	The Michael Richards Show	Vic Nardozza	7 episodes; also co-creator and executive producer
2009	Curb Your Enthusiasm	Michael Richards	3 episodes
2014	Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee	Michael Richards, Fictional Crackle president Dick Corcoran	3 episodes
2013–2014	Kirstie	Frank	12 episodes

References

1. McDermid, Charles (July 13, 2007). "Richards finds solace in Cambodia". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
2. "Michael Richards Tv's Top Jive-talking Hipster-doofus Fell for His Audience, and Vice Versa. Farewell, Cosmo, and Giddyup!". People. May 14, 1998. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
3. Lipton, Michael A. (March 8, 1993). "Man Overboard!". People. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
4. Lacher, Irene (December 1, 2013). "Michael Richards goes for a drive". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
5. Falls, Michelle (December 6, 2013). "First Look at Michael Richards' Adorable Son Antonio—See the Precious Pics!". E!. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
6. TMZ Staff (2006). ""Kramer's" Racist Tirade – Caught on Tape". In The Zone. TMZ.com. Retrieved November 20, 2006.
7. Goldberg, Lesely (February 15, 2013). "TV Land Orders Kirstie Alley-Michael Richards Comedy to Series". The Hollywood Reporter.
8. "Michael Richards is not Jewish (Not that there's anything wrong with that)". November 23, 2006.
9. "Michael Richards Biography (1949?-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved October 12, 2010.
10. Barbara DeMarco Barrett (June 1997). "The Spaz at Home". Orange Coat Magazine. p. 34.
11. "NewsLibrary.com – newspaper archive, clipping service – newspapers and other news sources". April 30, 1995.
12. Michael Richards 'Speaking Freely' transcript via First Amendment Center, Recorded February 28, 2002, in Aspen, Colorado Archived March 31, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
13. Andy Kaufman on Fridays from FridaysFan. Funnyordie.com. February 11, 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
14. "Michael Richards – First Amendment Center – news, commentary, analysis on free speech, press, religion, assembly, petition". Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
15. from "Mr Monk and His Origins," a special feature packaged with the Season One DVDs.
16. Mariel Concepción (2006). "Comedian Michael "Kramer" Richards Goes into Racial Tirade, Banned From Laugh Factory". News wire. VIBE.com. Archived from the original on December 31, 2006. Retrieved November 21, 2006.
17. ""Seinfeld" Comic Richards Apologizes for Racial Rant". Washingtonpost.com. November 21, 2006. Retrieved October 12, 2010.
18. "Richards 'deeply, deeply sorry' for racial slurs". CBC arts. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. November 20, 2006. Retrieved November 20, 2006.
19. ""Seinfeld" Star Richards Under Fire For Racial Outburst". News wire. Reuters. November 20, 2006. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
20. "The Situation Room transcript". The Situation Room. CNN. 2006. Retrieved December 4, 2006.
21. "CNN Newsroom". CNN.com. 2006. Retrieved February 16, 2007.
22. "Sharpton: Comedian's apology not enough". CNN. November 23, 2006. Retrieved April 22, 2007.
23. "Jesse Jackson Talks To Michael Richards: Jackson Says Apology For Actor's Racist Rant Is Only A Beginning Before Healing". News wire. CBS. November 25, 2006. Retrieved April 23, 2007.
24. Kyle Doss wants reparations for Kramer calling him a nigger at YouTube
25. "Michael Richards It's Bubbly Time, Jerry – Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee by Jerry Seinfeld". Comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
26. "'Curb Your Enthusiasm' hosts a 'Seinfeld' reunion". Zap2It.com. March 6, 2009. Archived from the original on July 14, 2009. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
27. "Richards appears on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee". Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
28. "TV Land cancels 'Kirstie'". Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. Retrieved July 30, 2014.

External links

• Michael Richards on IMDb