Jerry Seinfeld

Jerry Seinfeld

Date of birth: 29-04-1954

A born and bred New Yorker, Jerry Seinfeld’s interest in comedy began when as student in the city’s Queens College, where he communications and theatre. His first open-mic night in the Catch A Rising Star club came in 1976, right after he graduated.

Three years later, he landed a small recurring role on the Benson sitcom as a mail delivery boy who had comedy routines that no one wanted to hear. In May 1981, Seinfeld made his first appearance on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show, leading to several appearances on the late-night talk show circuit.

In 1989, he created Seinfeld (originally titled the Seinfeld Chronicles) with Larry David the show that would go on to become the most successful sitcom in American TV history over its nine-year run. It has made him incredibly wealthy through syndication, and he earns up to $85 million a year, which helps him indulge his passion for cars, owning reported 46 Porsches.

After his sitcom ended, Seinfeld returned to stand-up; recording the show I'm Telling You for the Last Time during his 1998 tour, which briefly visited Britain. He then had to create a new set, a process captured in the 2002 documentary Comedian.

In 2008, he helped create the animated Bee Movie, and provided the voice for the main character. The following year, he again worked with his Seinfeld co-stars for a storyline in David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm revolving around a long-anticipated reunion. In 2010, he was executive producer on the American reality show The Marriage Ref.

He has also written a number of books, including 1993’s Seinlanguage, based on his stand-up routines, and 2002 kids’ book Halloween.

He has been married to Jessica since 1999, and they have daughter and two sons.

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© Mark Seliger

Jerry Seinfeld vs pro-Palestine heckler

Protester thrown out of comic's show in Sydney

Jerry Seinfeld has been confronted with a pro-Palestinian heckler at his show in Sydney.

The comic's set was interrupted by the man shouting 'free Palestine' during his set at the Qudos Bank arena.

He replied sarcastically: 'We have a genius, ladies and gentlemen, he solved the Middle East. It’s the Jewish comedians, that’s who we have to get. They’re the ones doing everything.'

As the heckler was booed, Seinfeld added: 'They’re going to start punching you in about three seconds, so I would try to get all of your genius out so we can all learn from you'.

The man shouted 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' as he was led out of the venue by security staff.

Seinfeld continued: 'You’re really influencing everyone here we’re all on your side now, because you’ve made your point so well, and in the right venue, you’ve come to the right place for a political conversation

'Tomorrow we will read in the paper: Middle East 100 per cent solved thanks to man at the Qudos Arena stopping Jew comedian.'
And Seinfeld suggested the heckler shouting at him would be as effective as him protesting a Jim Jefferies gig in the US about Australian aboriginal rights.

Footage of the clash was captured on video by Robert Gregory, chief executive of the  Australian Jewish Association:

Seinfeld has been a vocal supporter of Israel, and visited the country after Hamas's October 7 terror attacks.

His stance has attracted hecklers before, with reports last month of a gig being interrupted by cries of 'Free Gaza' in Norfolk, Virginia. 

In a subsequent interview, he said: ''I love that these young people, they’re trying to get engaged with politics. We have to just correct their aim a little bit. They don't seem to understand that, as comedians, we really don't control anything.'

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Published: 18 Jun 2024

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