Remember Jerry Seinfeld’s hilariously unpredictable neighbor, Cosmo Kramer? Played by the one and only Michael Richards, Kramer wasn’t just a character—he was a whirlwind of chaos and creativity. “I always worried about making Kramer too cartoonish,” Michael reveals in a candid interview with Closer. He shares how he crafted Kramer’s unique personality, giving him a backstory to keep him grounded. “When we first meet Kramer, he’s running some business through a phone in his pocket. I decided early on that there’s no real business—it’s all in his head. That’s what makes him a little crazy, and it really amused me.”
Michael dives deep into his life and career in his new memoir, Entrances and Exits. The book is packed with personal stories, including his time on Seinfeld, his battle with prostate cancer, his struggles with anger, and his current life as a dad.
So, When Did Acting Become Your Thing?
It all started when Michael was just 13 years old. “I wasn’t exactly the star student back in school—nothing really grabbed my attention until I stumbled into drama class. It was like a lightbulb went off in my head. Suddenly, I had something I could sink my teeth into.”
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Were You the Class Clown Growing Up?
“Not exactly. I wasn’t the guy disrupting class to get attention, but I had a wild imagination, and I definitely made my friends laugh. I guess you could say I was naturally funny, but I kept it reserved for my circle of friends.”
What About Family Roots in Show Business?
“Not a chance. My family wasn’t tied to the entertainment world, but Los Angeles was my playground. By the time I was 7, I was sneaking onto the back lots of MGM, which were practically in my backyard. I was mesmerized by the magic of filmmaking, even if I didn’t fully understand it at the time.”
Did You Have Any Comedy Icons?
“I wasn’t exactly worshiping anyone, but Laurel and Hardy left a big impression on me. They were on TV all the time, and their work was filmed right there at MGM. I’d ride my bike around town, imagining I’d bump into them. Of course, it was all in my head, but it felt real to me.”
How Did You Get Into Stand-Up?
“I was 19, and I’d entertain my friends with stories. One day, my buddy Ed Begley Jr. and I decided to put on some old, tattered tuxedos and hit up the Troubadour. We told the club, ‘Hey, we’re funny, let us on stage!’ We’d perform a few nights a week, going completely wild between the bands. And guess what? They paid us $25 a night. Not bad for a couple of amateurs.”
Were You Ready for the Fame That Came With Seinfeld?
“You know, I felt pretty prepared. By the time Seinfeld came around, it was my third TV show. I’d already spent three seasons on the sketch comedy series Fridays. I’d been around the block, so to speak. But let’s be honest, no one is ever fully ready for the kind of fame that comes with something like Seinfeld.”
“The entire cast was seasoned pros. Julia Louis-Dreyfus came straight from Saturday Night Live, Jason Alexander had just won a Tony after performing on Broadway, and Jerry was already a huge name in stand-up comedy. We all had years of experience in comedy, and our chemistry brought it all together.”
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Kramer Was One of TV's Most Unique Characters. What Made Him Tick?
“Kramer lived entirely in his own imagination. That’s what made him so unpredictable. He could be anything he wanted to be the next week—a psychiatrist, a movie star, you name it. He fully committed to this imaginary life, and that’s what made him so real to me.”
What Kind of Dad Are You?
“I can be strict when I need to be. If my son has to practice piano, I’ll make sure he gets it done. But I also bring my sense of humor into the mix. My son has a great sense of humor, and we have fun together. I’m not afraid to be funny around the house.”
