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{{short description|American actor and comedian (born 1949)}}
{{Infobox actor
{{other people}}
| name = Michael Richards
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
| image = Michael Richards 1992.jpg
{{Infobox person
| imagesize =
| name = Michael Richards
| caption = '''Michael Richards''' at the 44th ]s, August, 1992
| image = Michael Richards (1993).jpg
| birthdate = {{birth date and age|1949|7|24}}
| caption = Richards at the ] on September 19, 1993
| location = ]
| birth_name = Michael Anthony Richards
| height = 6' 3" (1.91 m)<ref name="CelebHeights-2004">{{Cite web|url=http://www.celebheights.com/s/Michael-Richards-1324.html|title=Michael Richards Height|accessdate=2006-11-20|publisher=CelebHeights.com|year=2006|format=HTML}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|7|24|mf=y}}
| deathdate =
| birth_place = ], U.S.<ref name=quit>{{cite news|last=McDermid|first=Charles|title=Richards finds solace in Cambodia|date=July 13, 2007|newspaper=]|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jul-13-et-richards13-story.html|access-date=January 25, 2015}}</ref>
| birthname =
| occupation = Actor, comedian
| othername =
| years_active = 1979–2007 (stand up)<br> 1980–present (acting)
| homepage =
| alma_mater = ]<br>]<br>] ]
| notable role = Ensemble Player on '']'' (TV)<br>'''Bill Wolf''' in<br>'']'' (TV)<br>''']''' in<br>'']'' (TV)<br>'''Richard 'Ricky' Rietti''' in<BR>'']''<br>'''Wilkins Micawber''' in<BR>'']''<BR>''']''' in<br>'']''
| spouse = {{ubl|{{marriage|Cathleen Lyons|1974|1993|end=divorced}}<ref name="People"/><ref name=pp>{{cite magazine|last=Lipton|first=Michael A.|title=Man Overboard!|date=March 8, 1993|magazine=]|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20109913,00.html|access-date=July 14, 2015}}</ref>|{{marriage|Beth Skipp|2010}}<ref name=year>{{cite news|last=Lacher|first=Irene|title=Michael Richards goes for a drive|date=December 1, 2013|newspaper=]|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-mn-michael-richards-conversation-20131201-story.html|access-date=July 11, 2015}}</ref><ref name=child>{{cite web|last=Falls|first=Michelle|title=First Look at Michael Richards' Adorable Son Antonio—See the Precious Pics!|publisher=]|date=December 6, 2013|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/488381/first-look-at-michael-richards-adorable-son-antonio-see-the-precious-pics|access-date=January 2, 2015}}</ref>}}
| spouse = '''Cathleen Richards'''<br>(divorced)
| children = 2
| module = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = {{USA}}
| branch = {{flagicon image|Flag of the United States Army.svg}} ]
| serviceyears = 1970–1972
| rank =
| battles =
| awards = }}
}} }}
{{otherpeople|Michael Richards}}
'''Michael Anthony Richards''' (born ], ]) is an ] comedic ], best known for playing ] on the television show '']'', a role which earned him three ]s.


'''Michael Anthony Richards''' (born July 24, 1949) is an American actor and former stand-up comedian. He achieved global recognition for starring as ] on the NBC television sitcom '']'' from 1989 to 1998. He began his career as a stand-up comedian, first entering the national spotlight when he was featured on ]'s first cable TV special, and went on to become a series regular on ] '']''.
==Biography==
===Early life===
Michael Richards was born in ], to William Richards, an electrical engineer, and Phyllis Nardozzi, a medical records librarian. Richards was brought up with no specific religious tradition.<ref name="no specific religious tradition">{{cite news | last =Staff Reports| first =| coauthors=| title =Michael Richards: Still Not a Jew| pages=| publisher =The Los Angeles Jewish Journal| date =] | url =http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=16838| accessdate =2006-11-22 }}</ref> He attended the ] but received a ] degree in drama from ] in ]. He also had a short-lived Improv act with ] during this period. Enrolled at Los Angeles Valley College, he continued to dominate student productions. He later said: "I am grateful that the public schools introduced me to the performing arts." He was drafted during the ] and stationed in ] as one of the co-directors of the V Corps Training Road Show. He produced and directed shows dealing with race relations and ]; "This was a successful, educational operation, boosting the morale of our men and incorporating the arts into the service." He then spent two years in the Army developing educational skits and a couple more years "finding himself" at a ] in the Santa Clara Mountains; he drove a bus and developed a ] act in ].


From 1989 to 1998, he played Cosmo Kramer on ''Seinfeld'', three times receiving the ]. During the run of ''Seinfeld'', he made a guest appearance in '']'', reprising his role as Kramer. Richards also made numerous guest appearances on a variety of television shows, such as '']''. His film credits include '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']'', one of his few starring roles. In 2000, he starred in his own sitcom, '']'', which was canceled after only two months.
===Fame===
Richards got his big TV break nine months later appearing in ]'s first cable ]. In 1980, he began as one of the cast members on ]'s '']'' television show, including a famous instance in which guest ] refused to deliver his scripted lines, leading Richards to bring the cue cards on screen to Kaufman, before a small riot ensued (Richards later claimed he was in on the joke).<ref name=fac"> via ], Recorded Feb. 28, 2002, in Aspen, Colorado</ref> He was also famous for a sketch that he did on the show, during which he simply improvised with a large pile of dirt and some army toys. Richards had a guest starring role on ]'s '']'' as an unscrupulous ]. He also had a guest role on '']'' as a character trying to collect on an old bet with ]. He made several guest appearances with ] as an accident-prone fitness expert, and gained a screen credit portraying "]" in ]'s movie '']'' in ]. His famous ] skills can be witnessed in this movie. As is confirmed in the feature ] and in the deleted scenes special feature on the ''UHF'' ], the scene where Stanley Spadowski was playing with the toy man he found in the box of ] was completely improvised by Michael.


In 2006, Richards was filmed going on a racist tirade against hecklers while performing at the ] in ]. After the tape was obtained and released by ],<ref name="TMZ-2006">{{cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2006/11/20/kramers-racist-tirade-caught-on-tape|title="Kramer's" Racist Tirade – Caught on Tape|access-date=November 20, 2006|publisher=TMZ.com|year=2006|author=TMZ Staff|work=In The Zone}}</ref> significant backlash and media coverage led to Richards retiring from stand-up in early 2007. In 2009, he appeared as himself in the ] of '']'' alongside his fellow ''Seinfeld'' cast members for the first time since the show’s ]. In 2013, he portrayed Frank in the sitcom '']'', which was canceled after one season.<ref name=HollywoodReporter>{{cite web | last = Goldberg | first = Lesely | date = February 15, 2013 | url = http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-land-orders-kirstie-alley-421870|title=TV Land Orders Kirstie Alley-Michael Richards Comedy to Series| work = ]}}</ref> He most recently played Daddy Hogwood in the 2019 romantic comedy '']''.
In the same year, he was cast as ] (based on the real-life ]) in the ] ] '']'', which was created by fellow ''Fridays'' cast member ] and ] ]. Although it got off to a slow start, by the mid-], the show had become one of the most popular ]s in television history. The series ended its nine-year run in ] at #1 in the ]. He also played himself in Episode 6 of Season 1 "The Flirt Episode" (]) of the acclaimed ] series, '']''.


==Early life==
Richards also played a ] in '']'' where he was an "insensitive man," and had a supporting role as an escaped convict in the ] movie '']''. He also made guest appearances on the popular sitcom '']''.
] in ] (1967)]]


Richards was born in ], to a ] family.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/martin-lewis/michael-richards-is-not-j_b_34772.html |title = Michael Richards is not Jewish (Not that there's anything wrong with that)| website=] |date = November 23, 2006}}</ref> He is the son of Phyllis (née Nardozzi), a ]s librarian. As a child, Richards was told his father was William Richards, an ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/97/Michael-Richards.html |title=Michael Richards Biography (1949?-) |publisher=Filmreference.com |access-date=October 12, 2010}}</ref> who died in a car crash when Michael was two.<ref name="People">{{cite news |title = Michael Richards Tv's Top Jive-talking Hipster-doofus Fell for His Audience, and Vice Versa. Farewell, Cosmo, and Giddyup!|work=]|date=May 14, 1998|url = http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20063576,00.html |access-date = December 27, 2012}}</ref> He later learned his mother's pregnancy was the result of a sexual assault and that she considered abortion and adoption before deciding to raise him as a single mother. Richards was also raised by a grandmother who suffered from ].<ref>{{cite news | first=Jack | last=Hobbs | url=https://nypost.com/2023/11/09/entertainment/seinfelds-michael-richards-book-to-detail-2006-racist-outburst/ | title=Seinfeld's Michael Richards book to detail 2006 racist outburst | work=] |date=November 9, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Gillian|last=Telling|url=https://people.com/michael-richards-recalls-learning-he-was-the-result-of-a-sexual-assault-8653050|title=Michael Richards Recalls Learning He Was the Result of a Sexual Assault: 'I Had to Come to Terms with My Conception'|website=]|date=May 25, 2024}}</ref>
In 2000, after the end of ''Seinfeld'', Richards began work on a new series for NBC, his first major project since ''Seinfeld'''s high-profile finale. '']'', for which the actor received co-] and co-] credits, was originally conceived as a comedy/mystery starring Richards as a bumbling private eye. 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 canceled.


Richards graduated from ]. In 1968, he appeared as a contestant on '']'' but was not chosen for a date. He was ] into the ] in 1970. He trained as a medic and was stationed in ], where he was a member of a theatrical group called The Training Road Show.<ref>{{cite news|author=Barbara DeMarco Barrett|title=The Spaz at Home|publisher=Orange Coat Magazine|page=34|date=June 1997}}</ref> He became interested in performing after taking a theatrical class in seventh grade.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-28 |title=Michael Richards Net Worth (Updated 2023), Height, Income Source And Biography - NetWorthDekho |url=https://networthdekho.com/michael-richards-net-worth/ |access-date=2022-12-29 |language=en-US}}</ref>
The lead role in the series '']'' was originally written for Richards,<ref name="monk">Iqbal, Navid (August 8, 2006). '']''</ref> but there was concern that audiences, used to seeing him do comedy, might not accept him in the role. <ref name="battaglio">Battaglio, Stephen (August 16, 2002). 'Monk': ABC loss was cable's gain. '']''</ref> After being developed at ] and then picked up by ], the show was cast with ] and became a critically acclaimed hit.


After being honorably discharged, Richards used the benefits of the ] to enroll in the ] and earned a ] in drama from ] in 1975.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=TNTB&d_place=TNTB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F11B7CD33E36831&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | title=NewsLibrary.com – newspaper archive, clipping service – newspapers and other news sources | date=April 30, 1995}}</ref> He also had a short-lived ] act with ] During this period, he enrolled at ] and continued to appear in student productions.
Starting in ], he and his fellow ''Seinfeld'' cast members have provided interviews and audio commentaries for the ''Seinfeld'' DVDs.


===Personal life=== ==Career==
=== 1979–1989: Early career ===
Richards married former casting director Cathleen Richards and they had a daughter, Sophia. The two were ]d in 1990 and he resides northwest of the ], specifically the Conejo Valley, near ], California. Richards was a Master ] and also held 33° in the ]. He was very active in preservation of masonic research, and in his personal life is an avid reader. Richards held membership in the following ]: Riviera Lodge No. 780, Culver City–Foshay No. 467 lodge, Southern California Research Lodge. He was also a Life Member of the Los Angeles Scottish Rite Valley and a Life Member of the Scottish Rite Research Society.<ref> The Scottish Rite Journal, September 2000, accessed 10 February, 2006.</ref><ref></ref> As of November 2006, Richards is no longer involved in Masonry.<ref name="publicist2">{{cite news|last=|first=|coauthors=|title=Michael Richards: Chosen by Choice|pages=|publisher=Radar|date=]|url=http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2006/11/michael-richards-chosen-by-choice.php|accessdate =2006-11-27}}</ref>
]
Richards got his big TV break in 1979, appearing in ]'s first cable TV special. In 1980, he began as one of the cast members on ] '']'' television show, where ] was a fellow cast member and writer. It included ] in which ] refused to deliver his scripted lines, leading Richards to bring the ]s on screen to Kaufman, who responded by throwing his drink into Richards' face, causing a small riot (Richards later claimed he was in on the joke).<ref name="fac"> via ], Recorded February 28, 2002, in Aspen, Colorado {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331131924/http://archive.firstamendmentcenter.org/about.aspx?id=12083 |date=March 31, 2012 }}</ref> The film '']'' featured a re-enactment of the ] where Richards was portrayed by actor ].<ref>{{cite video|url=http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/544255131b|title=Andy Kaufman on Fridays from FridaysFan|publisher=Funnyordie.com|date=February 11, 2008|access-date=February 10, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/michael-richards-2|title=Michael Richards – First Amendment Center – news, commentary, analysis on free speech, press, religion, assembly, petition|access-date=August 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808113050/http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/michael-richards-2|archive-date=August 8, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>


In 1981, he appeared in the '']'' episode "Desperate Hours".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWCgW7IhXDo&list=ELy7GJXS4poVrMUPbh4x0pUg | title=Desperate Hours | website=] | date=April 20, 2023 }}</ref> In 1986, Richards had a minor role in the cult satirical TV miniseries '']'', playing one of a pair of inept criminal henchmen. That same year he auditioned to play ] in the TV series '']'', but he was passed over for ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Michael Richards |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/michael-richards/bio/3030192136/ |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}}</ref> In 1989, Richards had a supporting role in ]'s comedy film '']'' as janitor Stanley Spadowski. On television, he appeared in '']'' as an unscrupulous ]; in '']'' as a television producer making a documentary about Dr. Mark Craig; in '']'' as a character trying to collect on an old bet with ]; and made several guest appearances with ] as an accident-prone fitness expert.
==Laugh Factory Incident==
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According to an interview with executive producer David Hoberman, ABC first conceived the series '']'' as a procedural police comedy with an ]-like character suffering from ]. Hoberman said ABC wanted Richards to play ], but he turned it down.<ref>from "Mr Monk and His Origins," a special feature packaged with the Season One DVDs.</ref>
====Event====
During a ], ] performance at the ] in ], Richards responded in a "]" (self described) to a black ] by launching into a ] tirade. The incident was caught, in part, on a cell phone video camera by an audience member. According to an interview on ]'s '']'', Kyle Doss (one of the targets of the tirade) said the incident began when his group of about twenty people entered into the Laugh Factory after Richards' performance had started and proceeded to order beverages. He stated, " 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.'"<ref name="CNN-transcripts">{{Cite web|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0611/22/sitroom.03.html|title=''The Situation Room'' transcript|accessdate=2006-12-04|publisher=]|year=2006|work=]|format=HTML}}</ref> Later, after direct heckling by Doss and party, Richards loudly retorted, "Shut up! Fifty years ago we'd have you upside-down with a fucking fork up your ass!" in a reference to ].<ref name="USA Today"/><ref name="Canadian Broadcasting Corporation">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/arts/tv/story/2006/11/20/kramer-racial-slurs.html|title=Seinfeld's Richards utters racial taunts during routine|accessdate=2006-11-20|publisher=]|year=2006|work=CBC arts|format=HTML}}</ref> He then repeatedly yelled, "He's a ]!" The heckler responded by calling Richards a "fucking ]-ass motherfucker" and "fucking white boy," and saying, "It's not funny. That's why you're a reject, never had no shows, never had no movies. ''Seinfeld'', that's it."<ref></ref> The incident ended with Richards walking off the stage, leaving a Laugh Factory employee apologizing shortly afterward.<ref name="TMZ-2006">{{Cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2006/11/20/kramers-racist-tirade-caught-on-tape|title="Kramer's" Racist Tirade -- Caught on Tape|accessdate=2006-11-20|publisher=TMZ.com|year=2006|author=TMZ Staff|work=In The Zone|format=HTML}}</ref><ref name="Reuters-2006">{{Cite web|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=peopleNews&storyID=2006-11-20T225357Z_01_N20413400_RTRIDST_0_PEOPLE-RICHARDS-DC.XML&WTmodLoc=EntNewsPeople_C1_%5BFeed%5D-2|title="Seinfeld" star Richards under fire for racial outburst|accessdate=2006-11-20|publisher=Reuters|year=2006|work=News wire|format=HTML}}</ref>


===1989–2005: ''Seinfeld'' and rise to prominence===
====Aftermath====
] at the ] in 1992]]
During a ], ] satellite appearance on the '']'' (with ] as the pre-booked guest), Richards apologized, saying, "For me to be at a comedy club and flip out and say this crap, I'm deeply, deeply sorry."<ref name="MSN-2006">{{Cite web|url=http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=242631&GT1=7703|title=Richards Apologizes for Racial Slurs|accessdate=2006-11-24|publisher=MSN|year=2006|author=Associated Press|work=TV News|format=HTML}}</ref> He described his outburst as one of "pure rage." Richards told Letterman that he was trying to undermine the hecklers by being more outrageous, but his approach backfired. Richards also stated that he returned to the stage to apologize, but by that time, most of the audience had already left. Richards also met with ] and ] in order to discuss the personal issues that fueled his tirade.


In 1989, Richards was cast as ] in the ] television series '']'', created by fellow ''Fridays'' cast member ] and comedian ]. Although it got off to a slow start, by the mid-1990s it had become one of the most popular ] in television history. It ended its nine-year run in 1998 at No. 1 in the ]. In ''Seinfeld'', Kramer is the neighbor across the hall of the show's ], and is usually referred to only by his last name. His first name, Cosmo, was revealed in the sixth-season episode "]".
Kyle Doss and Frank McBride, the targets of the outburst, have engaged the services of attorney ] and are seeking "monetary compensation" from Richards, though Richards' publicist Howard Rubenstein says there are no plans to pay the men.<ref name="nydn112706">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/front/breaking_news/story/474580p-399219c.html|title=Scared men want apology - and maybe some money from Kramer|accessdate=2006-11-27|publisher=nydailynews.com}}</ref> During their appearance on '']'', McBride and Doss rejected Richards' apology. <ref name="MSNBC-2006">{{Cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15855423/|title=Michael Richards hecklers tell their story|accessdate=2006-11-24|publisher=MSNBC|year=2006|author=Access Hollywood|format=HTML}}</ref> Doss, appearing with McBride on ''The Today Show'', expressed that, "No, I think that apology was totally fake; it was forced. I feel like that was a career move. It wasn’t sincere."<ref name="MSNBC-2006">{{Cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15855423/|title=Michael Richards hecklers tell their story|accessdate=2006-11-24|publisher=MSNBC|year=2006|author=Access Hollywood|format=HTML}}</ref>


Richards won more Emmys than any other ''Seinfeld'' cast member, taking home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1993, 1994, and 1997 for his role as Kramer. When referring to speculation that he would launch a ] to ''Seinfeld'' about Kramer, Richards said he was not interested in doing so.<ref name="background">Davis, Ivor (May 30, 1997). . ''Ventura County Star''.</ref> During the run of ''Seinfeld'', Richards made cameo appearances in several TV shows; he played himself in Episode{{nbsp}}2 of Season{{nbsp}}1 "The Flirt Episode" (1992) of the ] series '']''. He also had a ] in the comedy thriller film '']'', credited as "insensitive man". In 1996, Richards made a cameo in Epcot's ], where he portrayed a caveman discovering fire. He played radio station employee Doug Beech in '']'', and co-starred with ] as an actor pretending to be a lawyer in 1997's '']''. He also made guest appearances on '']'', '']'' and '']''.
The Laugh Factory has since stated that Richards is no longer welcome to perform at the venue.<ref name="Vibe">{{Cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2006/11/comedian_michael_kramer_richards_goes_into_racial_tirade|title=Comedian Michael "Kramer" Richards Goes Into Racial Tirade, Banned From Laugh Factory|accessdate=2006-11-21|publisher=]|year=2006|author=Mariel Concepción|work=News wire|format=HTML}}</ref> The management has since banned the use of the word "]". Black comedian ] was banned from the club for three months and fined for repeatedly using the word during his ], ] stand up act.<ref></ref>

In 2000, two years after the end of ''Seinfeld'', Richards began work on a new series for NBC, his first major project since ''Seinfeld''{{'}}s finale. '']'', for which Richards received co-writer and co-] credits, was conceived as a comedy/mystery starring Richards as a bumbling private investigator. When 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 canceled. Critics said the show was too "Kramer-esque" and Richards invoked the so-called "]" as to why the show failed.<ref name="background"/>

Starting in 2004, he and his fellow ''Seinfeld'' cast members provided interviews and audio commentaries for the ''Seinfeld'' DVDs. Richards stepped down from providing audio commentary after Season{{nbsp}}5, though he continued to provide interviews.

=== 2006–2012: Laugh Factory incident and aftermath===
During a performance on November 17, 2006, at the ] in Hollywood, California, Richards launched into a racist rant in response to repeated heckling and interruptions from a small group of Black and Hispanic audience members. Richards was recorded shouting "He's a ]!" several times and making references to ] and the ].<ref name="TMZ-2006"/><ref name="Vibe">{{cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2006/11/comedian_michael_kramer_richards_goes_into_racial_tirade/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061231201005/http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2006/11/comedian_michael_kramer_richards_goes_into_racial_tirade/|archive-date=December 31, 2006|title=Comedian Michael "Kramer" Richards Goes into Racial Tirade, Banned From Laugh Factory|access-date=November 21, 2006|publisher=].com|year=2006|author=Mariel Concepción|work=News wire}}</ref><ref name="washingtonpost.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/21/AR2006112100242.html |title="Seinfeld" Comic Richards Apologizes for Racial Rant |work=] |date= November 21, 2006|access-date=October 12, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Canadian Broadcasting Corporation">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/richards-deeply-deeply-sorry-for-racial-slurs-1.618610|title=Richards 'deeply, deeply sorry' for racial slurs|access-date=November 20, 2006|publisher=]|work=CBC arts | date=November 20, 2006}}</ref><ref name="Reuters-2006">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-richards-idUSN2041340020061120|title="Seinfeld" Star Richards Under Fire For Racial Outburst|access-date=June 28, 2013|publisher=Reuters|work=News wire|date=November 20, 2006}}</ref> <!-- NOTE TO EDITORS: SEE REMARKS ABOVE THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH ABOUT CONSENSUS ON THE LAUGH FACTORY INCIDENT, AS IN TALK ARCHIVE 2. CONSENSUS SECTION CONTINUES BELOW -->Kyle Doss, a member of the group that Richards addressed, said the group had arrived in the middle of the performance and were "being a little loud." According to Doss:

{{Blockquote|text= 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.|sign=Kyle Doss|source=Interview on '']''<ref name="CNN-transcripts"/>|title=}}<!-- END OF CONSENSUS SECTION, WHICH COVERS THE LAUGH FACTORY INCIDENT. SEE TALK ARCHIVE 2. NEW DEVELOPMENTS SINCE FEBRUARY 2007 MAY BE ADDED AFTER HERE -->

The incident remained unknown to the larger public for three days until a ] video filmed by a member of the audience was obtained and released by ]. On November 20, after the video made rounds around the news, ] invited Richards via satellite during a broadcast of the '']'', where Richards was recorded saying: "I'm not doing too good. I lost my temper on stage; I was at a comedy club trying to do my act and I got heckled and I took it badly and went into a rage. And, uh, said some pretty, uh, nasty things to some Afro-Americans."<ref name="CNN-transcripts2">{{cite news|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0611/21/cnr.01.html|title=CNN Newsroom|access-date=February 16, 2007|publisher=].com|year=2006}}</ref> Many studio audience members laughed as Richards began his unscripted explanation and apology, thinking it was a ], leading Seinfeld to reprimand them, saying: "Stop laughing. It's not funny." Richards said he had been trying to defuse the heckling by being even more outrageous, but it had backfired. He later called civil rights leaders ] and ] to apologize.<ref name="CNN-transcripts">{{cite news|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0611/22/sitroom.03.html|title=''The Situation Room'' transcript|access-date=December 4, 2006|publisher=CNN|year=2006|work=]}}</ref><ref name="CNN-article">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/11/22/sharpton.richard/index.html|title= Sharpton: Comedian's apology not enough|access-date=April 22, 2007|work=] |date=November 23, 2006 }}</ref> He also appeared as a guest on Jackson's syndicated radio show.<ref name="CBS-2007">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jesse-jackson-talks-to-michael-richards/|title=Jesse Jackson Talks To Michael Richards: Jackson Says Apology For Actor's Racist Rant Is Only A Beginning Before Healing|access-date=April 23, 2007|publisher=CBS|work=News wire | date=November 25, 2006}}</ref> Doss stated that he did not accept Richards's apology, saying: "If he wanted to apologize, he could have contacted&nbsp;... one of us out of the group. But, he didn't. He apologized on-camera just because the tape got out."<ref name="CNN-article"/><ref> at YouTube</ref>

Richards popularity among the general public declined after the tape was released. A ] poll conducted in late November found that only 41 percent of Americans still held a favorable view of Richards; by contrast, other ''Seinfeld'' cast members' favorability ratings were in the 70s and 80s.<ref name="poll">Newport, Frank (December 1, 2006). . '']''.</ref> The same poll also found that 45 percent of non-whites expressed a negative view of Richards due to the incident.<ref name="poll"/> The incident was parodied on several TV shows, including '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''. In the ninth episode of the seventh season of '']'', Richards appeared as himself and poked fun at the incident. In 2008, rapper ] referenced the incident and used recordings of the incident, as well as Richard's apology, in the song "The Kramer" on '']'' album.

One year following the incident, Richards voiced character Bud Ditchwater in the animated film '']'', which starred and was produced by ]. In 2009, Richards and the other main ''Seinfeld'' cast members appeared in the seventh season of '']''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-seinfeld-cast-curb-your-enthusiasm,0,1065194.story |title='Curb Your Enthusiasm' hosts a 'Seinfeld' reunion |date=March 6, 2009 |publisher=Zap2It.com |access-date=July 23, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714021730/http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-seinfeld-cast-curb-your-enthusiasm%2C0%2C1065194.story |archive-date=July 14, 2009 }}</ref> In 2012, he appeared in the comedy web series '']'', hosted by Seinfeld, in which he remarked on the 2006 incident.<ref>{{cite web |title=Richards appears on ''Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee'' |url=http://comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com/michael-richards-its-bubbly-time-jerry/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002001805/http://www.comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com/michael-richards-its-bubbly-time-jerry/ |archive-date=October 2, 2012 |access-date=October 7, 2012}}</ref> In the episode, Richards explained that the outburst still haunted him, and was a major reason for his retirement from stand-up.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com/michael-richards-its-bubbly-time-jerry |title=Michael Richards It's Bubbly Time, Jerry – Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee by Jerry Seinfeld |publisher=Comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com |access-date=May 13, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140511134913/http://comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com/michael-richards-its-bubbly-time-jerry/ |archive-date=May 11, 2014}}</ref>

===2013–present: Recent years===
In 2013, Richards was cast to play Frank in the sitcom '']'', costarring ] and ]. It premiered on ] on December 4, 2013<ref name=HollywoodReporter/> and was canceled after one season.<ref>{{cite web|title=TV Land cancels 'Kirstie'|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/07/29/kirstie-canceled-tv-land/|publisher= Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc.|access-date=July 30, 2014}}</ref> In 2014, Richards appeared as the president of Crackle in a trailer for Season{{nbsp}}5 of ''Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee''. Seinfeld said the trailer's storyline would be expanded on in one of the episodes.

In 2019, Richards played Daddy Hogwood in the romantic comedy '']'' starring ] and Robert Krantz.<ref>{{cite web |title=Seinfeld's Kramer (Michael Richards) meets @DancingABC's @PetaMurgatroyd ! It's all laughs behind the scenes of Faith, Hope, & Love. Follow us to stay updated! #fhlmovie |url=https://twitter.com/fhl_movie/status/941456554380922880?lang=en |website=twitter.com}}</ref>

In June 2024<ref>{{cite web |title=Seinfeld's Michael Richards to Release New Memoir in 2024 (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/seinfeld-michael-richards-new-memoir-exclusive-8387338 |website=people.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Seinfeld star Michael Richards to release memoir |url=https://www.gjsentinel.com/lifestyle/entertainment/seinfeld-star-michael-richards-to-release-memoir/article_470a5b46-4068-5352-9d13-b4a6f339c814.html |website=www.gjsentinel.com}}</ref> Richards released a memoir entitled ''Entrances and Exits''.<ref>{{cite web |title='Seinfeld' star Michael Richards addresses outburst that led to 'lifelong spiritual quest' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/seinfeld-star-michael-richards-addresses-outburst-led-lifelong-spiritual-quest |website=www.foxnews.com|date=November 7, 2023}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Richards and his first wife, a family ], were married for 18 years. They have one daughter, born 1975. They separated in 1992 and divorced the following year.<ref name="People" /><ref name="pp" /> Through their daughter, Richards has two grandchildren.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Richards reveals his son’s favorite ‘Seinfeld’ character ... and it’s not Kramer |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/michael-richards-reveals-son-favorite-014536786.html |website=www.yahoo.com}}</ref>

In 2010, Richards married his girlfriend of eight years. They have one son, born 2011.<ref name="year" />

Richards is a ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.masonrytoday.com/index.php?new_month=7&new_day=24&new_year=2017|title = Today in Masonic History - Michael Anthony Richards is Born}}</ref>

Richards revealed in his 2024 memoir ''Entrances and Exits'' that he survived stage 1 prostate cancer in 2018 via a surgical removal of his entire prostate.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Tenreyro|first=Tatiana|title= Michael Richards Opens Up About Prostate Cancer Battle: “I Probably Would Have Been Dead in About Eight Months”|date=May 23, 2024|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/michael-richards-prostate-cancer-1235907196/|accessdate=July 10, 2024}}</ref>


==Filmography== ==Filmography==
===Film===
] and Michael Richards at the 47th ]s Governor's Ball, ], ].]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
*] '']'' TV Series
|-
*] '']'' (TV) .... King Geoffrey, Vince
! Year
*] '']'' .... Malamud Callahan
! Title
*] '']'' TV Series .... Dr. Herndon P. Stool
! Role
*] '']'' .... Dr. Pinkus
! class="unsortable"| Notes
*] '']'' .... Fejos
|-
*] '']'' .... Lacrobat
| 1982 || '']'' || Malamud Callahan ||
*] '']'' (mini) TV Series .... 2nd Henchman
|-
*] '']''
*] '']'' .... ] |rowspan=2| 1984 || '']'' || Dr. Pinkus ||
|-
*] '']'' (TV) .... Cosmo Kramer
*] '']'' .... Martin Beck | '']'' || Sal ||
|-
*1993 '']'' .... Motel Clerk
| 1985 || '']'' || Fejos ||
*] '']'' .... Newspaper reporter
|-
*] '']'' .... Doug Beech
| 1986 || '']'' || Lacrobat ||
*] ''Unstrung Heroes'' .... Danny Lidz
|-
*1996 ''Ellen's Energy Adventure'' (uncredited) .... Caveman discovering fire
| 1987 || ''Choice Chance and Control'' || Victor Loudon || Driver's Ed video
*] ''London Suite'' (TV) .... Mark Ferris
|-
*1997 ''Redux Riding Hood'' (voice) .... The Wolf
*] '']'' .... Richard 'Ricky' Rietti | 1989 || '']'' || Stanley Spadowski ||
|-
*2000 '']'' TV Series .... Vic Nardozza
*] '']'' (TV) .... Mr. Wilkins Micawber | 1990 || '']'' || Martin Beck ||
|-
*] '']'' (pre-production) (voice) .... Ace
|rowspan=2| 1993 || '']'' || Motel Clerk ||
|-
| '']'' || Insensitive Man ||
|-
| 1994 || '']'' || Doug Beech ||
|-
| 1995 || '']'' || Danny Lidz ||
|-
|rowspan=2| 1997 || '']'' || ] || Voice; Short film
|-
| '']'' || Richard "Ricky" Rietti ||
|-
| 2007 || '']'' || Bud Ditchwater || Voice<ref>{{cite web |title=Jerry Seinfeld Might Have Been The Only Person Who Stood By Michael Richards After His Outburst |url=https://www.thethings.com/what-jerry-seinfeld-said-about-michael-richards-outburst/ |website=www.thethings.com|date=September 16, 2023 }}</ref>
|-
| 2013 || ''Walk the Light'' || Lester || Short film
|-
| 2019 || '']'' || Daddy Hogwood ||
|}


==Footnotes== ===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
<div class="references-small"><references/></div>
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable"| Notes
|-
| 1980–1982 || '']'' || Various roles || 54 episodes; also writer
|-
| 1982 || '']'' || King Geoffeey || Episode: "The Tale of the Frog Prince"
|-
| 1983 || ''Herndon'' || Dr. Herndon P. Stool || Television film
|-
|rowspan=4| 1984 || '']'' || Vince || Episode: "Pinocchio"
|-
| ''At Your Service'' || Rick the gardener || Television film
|-
| '']'' || Eugene Sleighbough || Episode: "Take My Wife, Please"
|-
| '']'' || Sal || Television film
|-
| 1984–1985 || '']'' || Bill Wolf || 5 episodes
|-
|rowspan=6| 1985 || '']'' || Sneaky Pete || Episode: "My Darlin' Clementine"
|-
| '']'' || Eddie Gordon || Episode: "Bar Bet"
|-
| '']'' || Petronus || Episode: "Car Wars"
|-
| ''Slickers'' || Mike Blade || Television film
|-
| '']'' || Hager || Episode: "Desperate Hours"
|-
| '']'' || Special Agent Durpe || Episode: "An Oy for an Oy"
|-
|rowspan=3| 1986 || '']'' || Pagone || Episode: "The Fix"
|-
| '']'' || Ronnie || 3 episodes
|-
| '']'' || 2nd henchman || 5 episodes
|-
| 1987 || ''Jonathan Winters: On the Ledge'' || Various roles || Television special
|-
| 1987–1988 || '']'' || Rick || 11 episodes
|-
| 1989 || '']'' || Stanley Spadowski || Television film
|-
| 1989–1998 || '']'' || ] || Main role; 178 episodes|178 episodes
|-
|rowspan=3| 1992 || '']'' || Director || Voice<br/>Episode: "Wesayso Knows Best"
|-
| '']'' || Cosmo Kramer || Episode: "The Apartment"
|-
| '']'' || Himself || Episode: "The Flirt Episode"
|-
| 1996 || '']'' || Mark Ferris || Television film
|-
|rowspan=2| 2000 || '']'' || ]|| Television film
|-
| '']'' || Vic Nardozza || 7 episodes; also co-creator, writer, and executive producer
|-
| 2009 || '']'' || Michael Richards || 3 episodes<ref>{{cite web |title='Curb Your Enthusiasm' EP Says He Hasn't Heard Anything About a 'Seinfeld' Revival, Says 'We Did It in Season 7 of 'Curb" |url=https://www.thewrap.com/seinfeld-revival-reunion-curb-your-enthusiasm-jeff-schaffer/ |website=www.thewrap.com|date=February 12, 2024 }}</ref>
|-
| 2012–2014 || '']'' || Himself / Dick Corcoran || 4 episodes
|-
| 2013–2014 || '']'' || Frank || 12 episodes
|}


== See also == == Awards and nominations ==
{| class="wikitable"
{{wikiquote}}
|-
{{commons}}
! Year
! Association
! Category
! Performance
! Result
! class=unsortable|{{Abbreviation|Ref.|References}}
|-
|1995 || rowspan=3|] || ] || '']'' || {{nom}} || <ref name="awards">{{cite web |title= Michael Richards - Awards|url= https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0724245/awards/?ref_=nm_awd|access-date= June 8, 2024|publisher= ]}}</ref>
|-
|1995 || ] || rowspan=2|''Seinfeld'' || {{nom}} || <ref name="awards" />

|-
|1996 || Funniest Supporting Male in a Television Series || {{nom}} || <ref name="awards" />
|-
|] || rowspan=5|] || ] || '']'' <small> (episode: "]" + "]") </small> || {{won}} || <ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1993|title= Nominees / Winners 1993 Emmy Awards|website= Television Academy|accessdate= June 8, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|] || Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series || '']'' <small> (episode: "]" + "]") </small> || {{won}} || <ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1994|title= Nominees / Winners 1994 Emmy Awards|website= Television Academy|accessdate= June 8, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|] || Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series || '']'' <small> (episode: "]" + "]") </small> || {{nom}} || <ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1995|title= Nominees / Winners 1995 Emmy Awards|website= Television Academy|accessdate= June 8, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|] || Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series || '']'' <small> (episode: "]" + "]") </small> || {{nom}} || <ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1996|title= Nominees / Winners 1996 Emmy Awards|website= Television Academy|accessdate= June 8, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|] || Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series || '']'' <small> (episode: "]") </small> || {{won}} || <ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1997|title= Nominees / Winners 1997 Emmy Awards|website= Television Academy|accessdate= June 8, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|1997 || ] || ] || '']'' || {{nom}} || <ref name="awards" />
|-
| ] || rowspan=7|] || ] || '']'' <small> (]) </small> || {{won}} || <ref>{{cite web|url= https://sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/inaugural-screen-actors-guild-awards|title= 1st Screen Actors Guild Awards|website= ]|accessdate= June 8, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=2| ] || Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series || rowspan=2|'']'' <small> (]) </small> || {{nom}} || rowspan=2| <ref>{{cite web|url= https://sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/2nd-screen-actors-guild-awards|title= 2nd Screen Actors Guild Awards|website= ]|accessdate= June 8, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| ] || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2| ] || Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series || rowspan=2|'']'' <small> (]) </small> || {{nom}} || rowspan=2|<ref>{{cite web|url= https://sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/3rd-screen-actors-guild-awards|title= 3rd Screen Actors Guild Awards|website= ]|accessdate= June 8, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2| ] || Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series || rowspan=2|'']'' <small> (]) </small> || {{won}} || rowspan=2|<ref>{{cite web|url= https://sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/4th-screen-actors-guild-awards|title= 4th Screen Actors Guild Awards|website= ]|accessdate= June 8, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series || {{nom}}
|-
|}

== Bibliography ==
* Richards, Michael (June 4, 2024). ''Entrances and Exits''. Permuted Press. {{ISBN|978-1637589137}}.

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
*{{imdb name|id=0724245|name=Michael Richards}}
{{commons category}}
*{{ymovies name|1800121539}}
*{{IMDb name|724245}}
*{{youtube|I3l-gRHjUNk|Official excerpt of the Michael Richards apology}}
*{{Charlie Rose guest|3}}


{{EmmyAward ComedySupportingActor 1976-2000}}
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Latest revision as of 23:38, 28 December 2024

American actor and comedian (born 1949) For other people named Michael Richards, see Michael Richards (disambiguation).

Michael Richards
Richards at the 45th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 19, 1993
BornMichael Anthony Richards
(1949-07-24) July 24, 1949 (age 75)
Culver City, California, U.S.
Alma materLos Angeles Valley College
California Institute of the Arts
Evergreen State College (BA)
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian
Years active1979–2007 (stand up)
1980–present (acting)
Spouses
  • Cathleen Lyons ​ ​(m. 1974; div. 1993)​
  • Beth Skipp ​(m. 2010)​
Children2
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service / branch U.S. Army
Years of service1970–1972

Michael Anthony Richards (born July 24, 1949) is an American actor and former stand-up comedian. He achieved global recognition for starring as Cosmo Kramer on the NBC television sitcom Seinfeld from 1989 to 1998. 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, and went on to become a series regular on ABC's Fridays.

From 1989 to 1998, he played Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld, three times receiving the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. During the run of Seinfeld, he made a guest appearance in Mad About You, reprising his role as Kramer. Richards also 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. In 2000, he starred in his own sitcom, The Michael Richards Show, which was canceled after only two months.

In 2006, Richards was filmed going on a racist tirade against hecklers while performing at the Laugh Factory in California. After the tape was obtained and released by TMZ, significant backlash and media coverage led to Richards retiring from stand-up in early 2007. In 2009, he appeared as himself in the seventh season of Curb Your Enthusiasm alongside his fellow Seinfeld cast members for the first time since the show’s finale. In 2013, he portrayed Frank in the sitcom Kirstie, which was canceled after one season. He most recently played Daddy Hogwood in the 2019 romantic comedy Faith, Hope & Love.

Early life

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

Richards was born in Culver City, California, to a Catholic family. He is the son of Phyllis (née Nardozzi), a medical records librarian. As a child, Richards was told his father was William Richards, an electrical engineer, who died in a car crash when Michael was two. He later learned his mother's pregnancy was the result of a sexual assault and that she considered abortion and adoption before deciding to raise him as a single mother. Richards was also raised by a grandmother who suffered from schizophrenia.

Richards graduated from Thousand Oaks High School. In 1968, he appeared as a contestant on The Dating Game but was not chosen for a date. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1970. He trained as a medic and was stationed in West Germany, where he was a member of a theatrical group called The Training Road Show. He became interested in performing after taking a theatrical class in seventh grade.

After being honorably discharged, Richards used the benefits of the G.I. Bill to enroll in the California Institute of the Arts and earned a Bachelor of Arts in drama from the Evergreen State College in 1975. 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

1979–1989: Early career

Richards in 1983

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 fellow cast member and writer. It included a famous instance in which Andy Kaufman refused to deliver his scripted lines, leading Richards to bring the cue cards on screen to Kaufman, who responded by throwing his drink into Richards' face, causing a small riot (Richards later claimed he was in on the joke). The film Man on the Moon featured a re-enactment of the Andy Kaufman incident where Richards was portrayed by actor Norm Macdonald.

In 1981, he appeared in the It's a Living episode "Desperate Hours". In 1986, Richards had a minor role in the cult satirical TV miniseries Fresno, playing one of a pair of inept criminal henchmen. That same year he auditioned to play Al Bundy in the TV series Married... with Children, but he was passed over for Ed O'Neill. In 1989, Richards had a supporting role in "Weird Al" Yankovic's comedy film UHF as janitor Stanley Spadowski. On television, he appeared in Miami Vice as an unscrupulous bookie; in St. Elsewhere as a television producer making a documentary about Dr. Mark Craig; in 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.

1989–2005: Seinfeld and rise to prominence

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

In 1989, Richards was cast as Cosmo Kramer in the NBC television series Seinfeld, created by fellow Fridays cast member Larry David and comedian Jerry Seinfeld. Although it got off to a slow start, by the mid-1990s it had become one of the most popular sitcoms in television history. It ended its nine-year run in 1998 at No. 1 in the Nielsen ratings. In Seinfeld, Kramer is the neighbor across the hall of the show's eponymous character, and is usually referred to only by his last name. His first name, Cosmo, was revealed in the sixth-season episode "The Switch".

Richards won more Emmys than any other Seinfeld cast member, taking home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1993, 1994, and 1997 for his role as Kramer. When referring to speculation that he would launch a spin-off to Seinfeld about Kramer, Richards said he was not interested in doing so. During the run of Seinfeld, Richards made cameo appearances in several TV shows; he 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". In 1996, Richards made a cameo in Epcot's Ellen's Energy Adventure, where he portrayed a caveman discovering fire. He 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 2000, two years 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 Richards received co-writer and co-executive producer credits, was conceived as a comedy/mystery starring Richards as a bumbling private investigator. When 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 canceled. Critics said the show was too "Kramer-esque" and Richards invoked the so-called "Seinfeld curse" as to why the show failed.

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

2006–2012: Laugh Factory incident and aftermath

During a performance on November 17, 2006, at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood, California, Richards launched into a racist rant in response to repeated heckling and interruptions from a small group of Black and Hispanic audience members. Richards was recorded shouting "He's a nigger!" several times and making references to lynching and the Jim Crow laws. Kyle Doss, a member of the group that Richards addressed, said the group had arrived in the middle of the performance and were "being a little loud." According to Doss:

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

The incident remained unknown to the larger public for three days until a cellphone video filmed by a member of the audience was obtained and released by TMZ. On November 20, after the video made rounds around the news, Jerry Seinfeld invited Richards via satellite during a broadcast of the Late Show with David Letterman, where Richards was recorded saying: "I'm not doing too good. I lost my temper on stage; I was at a comedy club trying to do my act and I got heckled and I took it badly and went into a rage. And, uh, said some pretty, uh, nasty things to some Afro-Americans." Many studio audience members laughed as Richards began his unscripted explanation and apology, thinking it was a bit, leading Seinfeld to reprimand them, saying: "Stop laughing. It's not funny." Richards said he had been trying to defuse the heckling by being even more outrageous, but it had backfired. He later called civil rights leaders Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to apologize. He also appeared as a guest on Jackson's syndicated radio show. Doss stated that he did not accept Richards's 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."

Richards popularity among the general public declined after the tape was released. A Gallup poll conducted in late November found that only 41 percent of Americans still held a favorable view of Richards; by contrast, other Seinfeld cast members' favorability ratings were in the 70s and 80s. The same poll also found that 45 percent of non-whites expressed a negative view of Richards due to the incident. The incident was parodied on several TV shows, including Mad TV, Family Guy, South Park, Extras, and Monday Night Raw. In the ninth episode of the seventh season of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Richards appeared as himself and poked fun at the incident. In 2008, rapper Wale referenced the incident and used recordings of the incident, as well as Richard's apology, in the song "The Kramer" on The Mixtape About Nothing album.

One year following the incident, 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. In 2012, he appeared in the comedy web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, hosted by Seinfeld, in which he remarked on the 2006 incident. In the episode, Richards explained that the outburst still haunted him, and was a major reason for his retirement from stand-up.

2013–present: Recent years

In 2013, Richards was cast to play Frank in the sitcom Kirstie, costarring Kirstie Alley and Rhea Perlman. It premiered on TV Land on December 4, 2013 and was canceled after one season. In 2014, Richards appeared as the president of Crackle in a trailer for Season 5 of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Seinfeld said the trailer's storyline would be expanded on in one of the episodes.

In 2019, Richards played Daddy Hogwood in the romantic comedy Faith, Hope & Love starring Peta Murgatroyd and Robert Krantz.

In June 2024 Richards released a memoir entitled Entrances and Exits.

Personal life

Richards and his first wife, a family therapist, were married for 18 years. They have one daughter, born 1975. They separated in 1992 and divorced the following year. Through their daughter, Richards has two grandchildren.

In 2010, Richards married his girlfriend of eight years. They have one son, born 2011.

Richards is a Freemason.

Richards revealed in his 2024 memoir Entrances and Exits that he survived stage 1 prostate cancer in 2018 via a surgical removal of his entire prostate.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1982 Young Doctors in Love Malamud Callahan
1984 The House of God Dr. Pinkus
The Ratings Game Sal
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
So I Married an Axe Murderer Insensitive Man
1994 Airheads Doug Beech
1995 Unstrung Heroes Danny Lidz
1997 Redux Riding Hood The Wolf Voice; Short film
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"
At Your Service Rick the gardener Television film
Night Court Eugene Sleighbough Episode: "Take My Wife, Please"
The Ratings Game Sal Television film
1984–1985 St. Elsewhere Bill Wolf 5 episodes
1985 Tall Tales & Legends Sneaky Pete Episode: "My Darlin' Clementine"
Cheers Eddie Gordon Episode: "Bar Bet"
Scarecrow and Mrs. King Petronus Episode: "Car Wars"
Slickers Mike Blade Television film
It's a Living Hager Episode: "Desperate Hours"
Hill Street Blues Special Agent Durpe Episode: "An Oy for an Oy"
1986 Miami Vice Pagone Episode: "The Fix"
A Year in the Life Ronnie 3 episodes
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
1992 Dinosaurs Director Voice
Episode: "Wesayso Knows Best"
Mad About You Cosmo Kramer Episode: "The Apartment"
The Larry Sanders Show Himself Episode: "The Flirt Episode"
1996 London Suite Mark Ferris Television film
2000 David Copperfield Mr. Wilkins Micawber Television film
The Michael Richards Show Vic Nardozza 7 episodes; also co-creator, writer, and executive producer
2009 Curb Your Enthusiasm Michael Richards 3 episodes
2012–2014 Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Himself / Dick Corcoran 4 episodes
2013–2014 Kirstie Frank 12 episodes

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Performance Result Ref.
1995 American Comedy Awards Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Unstrung Heroes Nominated
1995 Funniest Supporting Male in a Television Series Seinfeld Nominated
1996 Funniest Supporting Male in a Television Series Nominated
1993 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Seinfeld (episode: "The Junior Mint" + "The Watch") Won
1994 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Seinfeld (episode: "The Sniffing Accountant" + "The Opposite") Won
1995 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Seinfeld (episode: "The Jimmy" + "The Fusilli Jerry") Nominated
1996 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Seinfeld (episode: "The Pool Guy" + "The Wait Out") Nominated
1997 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Seinfeld (episode: "The Chicken Roaster") Won
1997 Satellite Award Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy Seinfeld Nominated
1994 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series Seinfeld (season 6) Won
1995 Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series Seinfeld (season 7) Nominated
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
1996 Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series Seinfeld (season 8) Nominated
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
1997 Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series Seinfeld (season 9) Won
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated

Bibliography

  • Richards, Michael (June 4, 2024). Entrances and Exits. Permuted Press. ISBN 978-1637589137.

References

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  54. "4th Screen Actors Guild Awards". sagawards.org. Retrieved June 8, 2024.

External links

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
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