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'''Michael Anthony Richards''' (born ], ]) is an ] ] and film and television ] best known for his role as the eccentric ] on the television show '']'', a role which earned him three ]s. '''Michael Anthony Richards''' (born ], ]) is an ] ] and film and television ] best known for his role as the eccentric ] on the television show '']'', a role which earned him three ]s.


'''He's a nigger! He's a real nigger! Lynch dat nigger! 40 years ago we would of had your ass hangin from a tree nigger!
Richards began his career as a stand up comedian, first stepping into a national spotlight when he was featured on ]'s first cable ]. He went on to become a series regular on ]'s '']''. Prior to '']'', he made numerous guest appearances on a variety of television shows including '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''. His film credits include '']'', '']'', and '']''. After Seinfield, Richards starred in his own sitcom, '']'', which lasted less than one season. After his series was canceled, he returned to his roots in stand up comedy.
'''

In ], controversy arose concerning ]s Richards shouted at black hecklers during a live comedy show.<ref name="TMZ-2006"/> He apologized for his statements a few days after the show.<ref></ref>
<!-- NOTE TO EDITORS: PER http://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:Lead_section PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE OR MODIFY MENTION OF THE LAUGH FACTORY INCIDENT BEFORE DISCUSSING IT ON THE TALK PAGE!-->

Richards is also a producer, writer, Master ], ] veteran, and father of one.

== Personal life ==
Michael Richards was born in ] to William Richards, an ]; and Phyllis Nardozzi, a ]s 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 ] with ] during this period. Enrolled at ], he continued to dominate student productions. He later said: "I am grateful that the public schools introduced me to the ]." He was drafted during the ], was in the U.S. Army for two years,<ref></ref> and stationed in ] as one of the co-directors of the ] Training ]. He produced and directed shows dealing with ] 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. In ], he drove a bus and developed a ] act.

Richards married former ] Cathleen Richards and had a daughter, Sophia. The two were ]d in 1990. He resides northwest of the ], specifically the ], near ], California. Richards is a Master ] and also holds ] in the ]. He was very active in preservation of Masonic research, and in his personal life is an avid reader. Richards holds memberships in the following ]: Riviera Lodge No. 780, Culver City–Foshay Lodge No. 467, as well as the ] Research Lodge. Additionally, he is also a Life Member of the Los Angeles Scottish Rite Valley and a Life Member of the ].<ref> The Scottish Rite Journal, ], accessed 10 February, 2006.</ref><ref></ref>

In 2007, Richards was engaged to actress ].

== Television and film career ==
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 ] '']'' television show, including a famous instance in which guest ] refused to deliver his scripted lines, leading Richards to bring the ]s 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> The film '']'' featured a re-enactment of the ] in which Richards was portrayed by actor ] (although he is never referred to by name so he could be seen as a composite character taking the place of Richards).

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 ] portraying "]" in ]'s movie '']'' in ]. His famous ] skills can be witnessed in this movie. As is confirmed in the feature ] and in the ]s 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 Richards.

===''Seinfeld''===
In the same year, he was cast as ] (based on the real-life ]) in the ] ] '']'', which was created by fellow ''Fridays'' ] ] and ] ]. Although it got off to a slow start, by the mid-], the show had become one of the most popular ] in television history. The series ended its nine-year run in ] at #1 in the ].

Starting in ], he and his fellow ''Seinfeld'' cast members have provided interviews and audio commentaries for the ''Seinfeld'' DVDs, though for some reason, Richards stopped providing commentary after Season 5.

===''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 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. The show featured ], ], Amy Farrington and ] in supporting roles. 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.

===''Monk''===
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.

===Cameo roles and guest appearances===
Richards played himself in Episode 6 of Season 1 "The Flirt Episode" (]) of the acclaimed ] series, '']''.
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 '']''.

== Laugh Factory incident ==
<!-- NOTE TO EDITORS: THE FOLLOWING SECTION ABOUT THE LAUGH FACTORY INCIDENT IS AGREED BY A CONSENSUS OF EDITORS AFTER A VERY LONG AND DETAILED DEBATE ON THE TALK PAGE. SEE TALK ARCHIVE 2. IT SHOULD NOT BE ALTERED, UNLESS A CONSENSUS TO DO SO IS LIKEWISE ACHIEVED. -->

On ], ], during a performance at the ] in ], a ] video captured Richards<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="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> shouting "Shut up" at an audience member, followed by "He's a ]!" to the rest of the audience<ref></ref> (using the word at least 7 times altogether), and also making a reference to ].<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 was addressing a group of black ]s.<ref name="Reuters-2006">{{Cite web|url=http://www.tiscali.co.uk/news/newswire.php/news/reuters/2006/11/21/entertainment/34seinfeld34-star-richards-under-fire-for-racial-outburst.html&template=/news/templates/newswire/news_story_reuters.html|title="Seinfeld" Star Richards Under Fire For Racial Outburst|accessdate=2006-02-23|publisher=Reuters|year=2006|work=News wire|format=HTML}}</ref> There were retorts, "That was uncalled for" and then "fucking ]-ass ]." Richards made a public apology for his remarks, during a satellite appearance on the '']''.<ref name="CNN-transcripts2">{{cite web|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0611/21/cnr.01.html|title=CNN Newsroom|accessdate=2007-02-16|publisher=]|year=2006|format=HTML}}</ref> He described going into a rage and said, "For me to be at a ] and to flip out and say this crap, I'm deeply, deeply sorry." He said he was trying to defuse heckling by being even more outrageous, but that it had backfired. Richards later called civil rights leaders ]<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> and ]<ref name="CNN-article">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/11/22/sharpton.richard/index.html|title=CNN.com "Sharpton: Comedian's apology not enough"|accessdate=2007-04-22|publisher=]|year=2007|]]|format=HTML}}</ref> in order to apologize. He also appeared as a guest on Jackson's syndicated radio show.<ref name="CBS-2007">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/25/entertainment/main2208718.shtml?source=RSSattr=U.S._2208718|title="Jesse Jackson Talks To Michael Richards: Jackson Says Apology For Actor's Racist Rant Is Only A Beginning Before Healing"|accessdate=2007-04-23|publisher=CBS|year=2006|work=News wire|format=HTML}}</ref> A ] featured on ''The Late Show'' in February 2007, titled "Top Ten Ways to Make the ] More Exciting" and read by guest ], mentioned Richards giving out the "]".<ref>{{cite episode |title= |series= The Late Show with David Letterman |serieslink=The Late Show with David Letterman |credits= ], ] |network= ]|airdate= 2007-02-08||transcripturl= http://www.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/wahoo/index/php/20070208.phtml}} Those who cannot view the video on their computer or do not have ] installed can read the list .</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, one of the members of the group that Richards had addressed, gave his explanation to ] of the events prior to the cell phone video. He said that they had arrived in the middle of the performance and that, "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 ] being loud up there.'"<ref name="CNN-transcripts"/> Richards then continued with his routine. Doss added, "And, then, after a while, I told him, my friend doesn't think you're funny", which triggered Richards' outburst.<!-- 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 became a subject of satire. A ] of Richards was featured prominently in the '']'' episode "]," where he addresses Congress to ban the word "nigger-guy", an epithet by which another character, ] is frequently referred to after saying "nigger" on live national television. ].]] In the '']'' episode "]," ] has a ] about the comedy club he attended with his black friend ]. Before the performance, ] mentions to Cleveland that the comedian must be great because he played ], to which Cleveland replies "Oh, this is gonna be fun." The ], ] episode of '']'' featured a parody of the ] song "]" called "The Black Tirade" that talks about the Laugh Factory incident, Richards' apology on '']'', and his meetings with ] and ].<ref>http://www.tv.com/madtv/episode-1210/episode/937619/summary.html</ref>

After the incident ] created a spoof of a ] episode named "Seinfeld Lost Episode" combining clips from the original show and Michael's racist rant as well as his apology on David Letterman.

==Retirement from stand-up comedy==
In July 2007, Richards announced that he has retired from stand-up comedy for "spiritual healing" purposes, traveling with Skipp to ], visiting remote temples before visiting ] on a tour sponsored by the Los Angeles-based Nithyananda Foundation.<ref>{{cite news
| last = McDermid
| first = Charles
| coauthors =
| title = Michael Richards finds inner solace in Cambodia
| work =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = ]
| date = 2007-07-13
| url = http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/celebrity/la-et-richards13jul13,0,3445059.story
| accessdate = 2007-08-12 }}</ref>

== Filmography ==
] and Michael Richards at the 47th ]s Governor's Ball, ], ].]]
* ] '']'' TV Series
* ] '']'' (TV) .... King Geoffrey, Vince
* ] '']'' .... Malamud Callahan
* ] '']'' TV Series .... Dr. Herndon P. Stool
* ] '']'' .... Dr. Pinkus
* ] '']'' .... Fejos
* ] '']'' .... Lacrobat
* ] '']'' (mini) TV Series .... 2nd Henchman
* ] '']''
* ] '']'' .... ]
* ] '']'' (TV) .... Cosmo Kramer
* ] '']'' .... Martin Beck
* 1993 '']'' .... Motel Clerk
* ] '']'' .... Newspaper reporter
* ] '']'' .... Doug Beech
* ] ''Unstrung Heroes'' .... Danny Lidz
* 1996 ''Ellen's Energy Adventure'' (uncredited) .... Caveman discovering fire
* ] ''London Suite'' (TV) .... Mark Ferris
* 1997 ''Redux Riding Hood'' (voice) .... The Wolf
* ] '']'' .... Richard 'Ricky' Rietti
* 2000 '']'' TV Series .... Vic Nardozza
* ] '']'' (TV) .... Mr. ]
* ] '']'' .... Ace (voice only)

== Notes and references ==
<div class="references-small"><references/></div>

== External links ==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons}}
* {{imdb name|0724245|Michael Richards}}
* {{ymovies name|1800121539}}
* {{youtube|I3l-gRHjUNk|Official excerpt of the Michael Richards apology}}

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|PLACE OF DEATH=
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Richards, Michael}}
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Revision as of 20:47, 23 August 2007

Michael Richards
Michael Richards at the 45th Emmy Awards, August, 1993
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
SpouseCathleen Richards (1974 - 1992; divorced) 1 child
For other people named Michael Richards, see Michael Richards (disambiguation).

Michael Anthony Richards (born July 24, 1949) is an American comedian and film and television actor best known for his role as the eccentric Cosmo Kramer on the television show Seinfeld, a role which earned him three Emmy Awards.

He's a nigger! He's a real nigger! Lynch dat nigger! 40 years ago we would of had your ass hangin from a tree nigger!

  1. "Michael Richards Height" (HTML). CelebHeights.com. 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-20.