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Michael Richards

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

Michael Richards
Michael Richards (1993).jpg
Richards at the 45th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 19, 1993
Born
Michael Anthony Richards

(1949-07-24) July 24, 1949 (age 70)
Culver City, California, U.S.[1]
Alma materThe Evergreen State College
OccupationActor, writer, television producer, comedian
Years active1979–present
Spouse(s)
Cathleen Lyons (m. 1974⁠–⁠1993)
[2][3]
Beth Skipp (m. 2010)
[4][5]
Children2

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.

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 lasted less than one full season.

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[edit]

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[edit]

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), 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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Film[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

  1. ^ McDermid, Charles (July 13, 2007). "Richards finds solace in Cambodia". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b Lipton, Michael A. (March 8, 1993). "Man Overboard!". People. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  4. ^ a b 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. ^ a b TMZ Staff (2006). ""Kramer's" Racist Tirade – Caught on Tape". In The Zone. TMZ.com. Retrieved November 20, 2006.
  7. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "The Situation Room transcript". The Situation Room. CNN. 2006. Retrieved December 4, 2006.
  21. ^ "CNN Newsroom". CNN.com. 2006. Retrieved February 16, 2007.
  22. ^ a b "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[edit]

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