Cast of 'Seinfeld' Then and Now: See What the Hilarious Crew Has Been Up To

Seinfeld was one of the most revered sitcoms to come out of the 90s with a wildly talented cast, created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld. The iconic series, running from 1989 to 1998, chronicled the life of Jerry Seinfeld, a fairly successful comedian living in New York City, and his crew of eccentric friends: George Costanza played by Jason Alexander, Elaine Benes played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Cosmo Kramer played by Michael Richards.

The series took us through the day to day of Jerry and his hilarious crew, even making the mundane aspects of their lives laugh-out-loud funny. "I knew that Seinfeld was going to be a hit," Jerry Seinfeld told USA Today. "I didn't know how, in what way, but I knew people were ready for a show where people talked differently."

The cast of 'Seinfeld', 1993
The cast of Seinfeld, 1993
David Turnley/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images

From troubles with dating, jobs, living situations and overbearing parents, Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer kept us in stitches for 180 episodes. On top of the regular cast, the series also featured a number of famous guest stars (many of them as Jerry's fleeting love interests), from Jennifer Coolidge, Courtney Cox, and Marcia Cross to Melinda Clarke, Teri Hatcher and Anna Gunn.

The cast of 'Seinfeld', 1993
The cast of Seinfeld, 1993
David Turnley/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images

The hit series won 10 Emmys over the course of its run, while being nominated for a total of 68. As far as the comedic cast, the stars we loved went on to have extremely successful careers after the show came to an end. Here, take a look at what the cast of Seinfeld has been up to since 1998.

Cast of Seinfeld, then and now

Jerry Seinfeld as Jerry Seinfeld

Jerry Seinfeld in 1997 and 2023
1997 / 2023
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Jerry Seinfeld led the series as, none other than, Jerry Seinfeld, a slightly altered version of his real self.

His approach for this series wasn't traditional when it came to research, which he says he did very little of: "I look up where they grew up and if they have any kids, just big basic stuff like that, just an interesting person to talk to. I never want to talk about the regular things anyway — they don’t interest me. I want to know what toothpaste you use and what you think of these Waterpiks and if they really do anything," he told The Hollywood Reporter.

After the show concluded, Seinfeld continued to have an extremely successful career. In 2007, he produced, co-wrote and voiced the main character of Bee Movie. In 2012, he began his next major venture, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, a talk show he hosted in which he and his fellow funny guest stars drive around in fancy cars, drink coffee and engage in funny conversation with one another.

In 2022, The Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee Book was released, which features things like production stills, pieces of interviews not seen in the show and a behind the scenes look into the series, which came to its end in 2019. While we haven't seen him on the screen in a bit, today, Seinfeld continues doing standup.

Jason Alexander as George Costanza

Jason Alexander in 1999 and 2023
1999 / 2023
Diane Freed/Getty Images ; John Wolfsohn/Getty Images

George Costanza, played by Jason Alexander, was Jerry's self-deprecating best friend, known for his stinginess, lack of confidence, and despite all of this, numerous romantic relationships (which he often managed to ruin).

After Seinfeld, he's continued to have an illustrious career, acting in films and series all over the map. From roles in movies like Shallow Hal (2001) and Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009), to countless television appearances in shows such as Monk, Everybody Hates Chris, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Two and a Half Men, Community and many, many more, Jason Alexander has not slowed down. More recent appearances include shows such as The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Young Sheldon. Alexander has also had a successful career on the stage.

Related: Tony Shalhoub Talks His 5 Fave ‘Monk’ Episodes, ‘Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie’, the Maisel’s and More!

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Elaine Benes in the cast of Seinfeld

Julia Louis-Dreyfus in 1994 and 2023
1994 / 2023
Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images ; Noam Galai/Getty Images for WSJ. Magazine Innovators Awards

Julia Louis-Dreyfus played one of the most beloved television characters out there: Elaine Benes. Elaine, who briefly dated Jerry, went on to become an integral member of the friend group as the lone woman. Fans loved watching her endure the ups and downs of her dating and professional life, as well as her hilarious interactions with the rest of the crew.

"I’m not going to lie, in the beginning, I didn’t always have a lot to do in certain episodes," Louis-Dreyfus told The Daily Beast. "And I would go to Larry and Jerry multiple times and say, 'Hey, you guys, write me more, I need to be in this show more.' That’s what I just kept doing. And they did."

After Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus also went on to experience continued success on television, perhaps most notably for her starring role in the hit series Veep. Additionally, she acted in shows such as Curb Your Enthusiasm, The New Adventures of Old Christine, 30 Rock, Arrested Development, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and more. Her most recent role was in the 2023 film, Tuesday.

Related: Julia Louis-Dreyfus: A Guide to the Hilarious Star’s Best Roles + Info on Her Podcast Celebrating the Wisdom of Older Women

Michael Richards as Cosmo Kramer in the cast of Seinfeld

Michael Richards in 1993 and 2016
1993 / 2016
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc/Getty Images ; Rich Polk/Getty Images for GOOD+ Foundation

Definitely one of the more eccentric members of the crew, Michael Richards brought Cosmo Kramer to life by pairing his hilarious delivery with physical comedy. Playing the role of Jerry's neighbor, Kramer was often wearing a patterned shirt and his signature hairdo. After Seinfeld, Richards had roles in The Michael Richards Show, Bee Movie (2007), Curb Your Enthusiasm and Kirstie. His most recent role was in 2019's Faith, Hope & Love.

Wayne Knight as Newman in the cast of Seinfeld

Wayne Knight in 1996 and 2023
1996 / 2023
Evan Agostini/Liaison/Getty Images ; Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage/Getty Images

You can probably still hear Jerry's disapproving tone of voice when you think "Newman." Living down the hall from him and often partaking in Kramer's occasional schemes, although a minor character, Wayne Knight remains iconic and an unforgettable member of the cast of Seinfeld.

After the series, he also went on to build an extensive resume, doing a large amount of voice work and making appearances in a number of popular television shows such as The Young and the Restless, Narcos, The Exes, Hot in Cleveland, Woke Up Dead, Bones and more. His most recent credit was in the series Bookie.

Related: ‘Bones’ Cast Then and Now: See Where The Stars of This Crime Series Are Today

Jerry Stiller as Frank Costanza in the cast of Seinfeld

Jerry Stiller in 1993 and 2015
1993 / 2015
Walter McBride/Corbis via Getty Images ; Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images

Jerry Stiller hilariously played the role of George's father, Frank. When Seinfeld came to an end, Stiller was cast as another iconic television father figure in The King of Queens as Arthur Spooner. You could see Stiller in his roles in Hairspray (2007), as well as in series like Mercy and The Good Wife. One of his final roles was in Zoolander 2 (2016), before he sadly passed away in 2020.

Estelle Harris as Estelle Costanza in the cast of Seinfeld

Estelle Harris in 2000 and 2014
2000 / 2014
Laura Walters/Liaison Agency/Getty Images ; Tibrina Hobson/FilmMagic

Estelle Harris played Jerry Stiller's companion as Estelle. Her signature tone of voice lent well to her role as George's hilarious mother. Harris did a lot of voice work after her time in the cast of Seinfeld, perhaps most notably in the Toy Story movies as the voice of Mrs. Potato Head. Her final credited role was in Toy Story 4 before she sadly passed away in 2022.

Barney Martin as Morty Seinfeld

Barney Martin in 2002 and 2003
2002 / 2003
Evan Agostini/Getty Images ; Malcolm Ali/WireImage/Getty Images

Barney Martin played Jerry's father, Morty Seinfeld. After the series came to an end, you could see him in I Married a Monster (1998), as well as in episodes of Noah Knows Best and Center of the Universe. Sadly, Barney Martin passed away in 2005.

Liz Sheridan as Helen Seinfeld

Liz Sheridan in 2002 and 2003
2002 / 2003
Dennys/Getty Images ; Albert L. Ortega/WireImage/Getty Images

Liz Sheridan played Jerry's mother, Helen Seinfeld, but she's also know for her work in series like ALF. After her role as Jerry's mom, she made appearances in shows like Noah Knows Best, Complete Savages and Numb3rs. Her last credited role was in Trim in 2010. Sheridan sadly passed away in 2022.


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