It’s no secret that Seinfeld was responsible for kick-starting the careers of several actors, but the iconic series also featured a few big names who starred as their celebrity selves throughout the show’s nine-season run.
In a testament to the show’s permeation of pop culture at the height of its success, Seinfeld managed to nab everyone from Bette Midler to Rudy Giuliani to partake as themselves in the “show about nothing”.
Check out some of our favourite celebrity guest appearances in Seinfeld below.
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Bette Midler
Award-winning actor and singer-songwriter Bette Midler played softball with George Costanza (Jason Alexander) and Jerry Seinfeld in ‘The Understudy’, where she ends up in hospital where she’s cared for by Midler megafan, Kramer.
According to Seinfeld writer and comedian Carol Leifer, Midler’s appearance on the comedy series came about as the show had been struggling to find a suitable guest star to appear in the season six finale.
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“But it’s hard to believe that in 1995, which is when we shot ‘The Understudy’, it was a little difficult to get a guest star to commit to being on Seinfeld,” Leifer told WBUR.
“And we really went after a lot of big actresses who passed on it.”
It turns out, a friend of Midler’s wrote for the show and she eventually agreed to do a guest spot.
“The writer that I wrote that episode with, Marjorie Gross, who’s sadly since passed on, she was an old friend of Bette Midler,” Leifer said.
“And when we reached out to Bette Midler, having been friends with Marge and going so far back with her, she was like, ‘Oh, absolutely I’ll do it. And I’m happy to do it.’”
“So it was that connection that made us land the amazing Bette Midler.”
Best quote: “Hey, get some talent, then you can mouth off.”
Rudy Giuliani
It’s strange to think that former New York City Mayor and Donald Trump confidante Rudy Giuliani appeared on what would eventually become one of the world’s most famous shows, but in season five episode, ‘The Non-Fat Yogurt’, Giuliani went above and beyond for his role.
According to IMDB, two versions of the final scene of the episode were filmed as the episode was to air days after the 1993 New York City mayoral election.
One scene was filmed in which it stated that David Dinkins had won and another stating Rudy Giuliani as the winner.
When Giuliani was officially announced the winner (in real life), he filmed the scene the next morning, which was then edited into the episode roughly one day before broadcast.
Best quote: “My only indulgence, I guess, would be that I eat a lot of frozen yogurt. But it’s non-fat.”
Jon Voight
Jon Voight (the actor, not the periodontist) appeared in one of the wackier plots in season six’s ‘The Mom and Pop Store’, in which George is certain he bought a car previously owned by the Midnight Cowboy star, and culminates in the actor biting Kramer.
Interestingly, the episode was actually inspired by true events, as the same thing happened to Seinfeld writer, Tom Gammill,
who was convinced that he was driving Jon Voight’s former vehicle. In fact, they used Gammill’s real car, the Voightmobile, throughout the episode.
When the show’s writers decided to see whether or not Voight actually owned Gammill’s LeBaron, the actor said he had never ever seen that car in his life.
Best quote: “Jon Voight bit me.”
Keith Hernandez
Baseball star Keith Hernandez starred in ‘The Boyfriend’, as Elaine Benes’ – you guessed it – boyfriend.
Hernandez’s appearance in the season three episode also famously featured a scene in which he, Newman and Kramer reflect on the path of the “Magic Loogie”, which was a take on the “Magic Bullet” scene from JFK (1991).
Apparently, Keith Hernandez had never even heard of Seinfeld before agreeing to appear in show, and was told he would have two scenes with little dialogue. However, the baseball star eventually starred in six scenes with several lines.
Best quote: “Who’s this chucker?”
Marisa Tomei
My Cousin Vinny star Marisa Tomei featured in 1996 episode ‘The Cadillac’, in which George – despite being engaged – begs Elaine to ask her friend, Katy, to set him up with the actress who apparently has a thing for quirky, funny, bald men.
After a great date with the star, George reveals he has a fiancee, and Marisa responds by punching George in the eye. George was also seen trying to call Tomei in ‘The Invitations’ after Susan’s death, but she promptly hangs up on him.
Best quote: “So tell me, how is it that a man like you, so bald, so quirky and funny, how is it you’re not taken?”
Raquel Welch
Raquel Welch took the term diva to a new level in her plotline for season six finale, ‘The Summer of George’, where she plays a far more temperamental version of herself.
In the episode, Kramer accepts a Tony Award for his (non-existent) part in creating a play called The Scarsdale Surprise, which also featured actress Raquel Welch.
After it’s discovered he had nothing to do with the play, the performance’s directors tell Kramer he can keep the award – if he fires Raquel for them. The reason? She doesn’t move her arms when she dances.
Welch is later seen engaging in a catfight with Elaine on the street after she believes she is being made fun of for not swinging her arms while she walks – much to the delight of the on-looking policemen. Reow!
Best quote: “No, no I told you I don’t want to do that! If you bring it up again I will feed your genitals to a wolf! [hangs up phone]. Kids!”
Regis and Kathie Lee
Nineties talk show hosts Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford appeared in ‘The Opposite’ as themselves when Kramer is invited on their show to talk about his coffee table book about coffee tables.
In a very Kramer move, the quirky character ends his appearance on the talk show by accidentally spitting cold coffee on the shocked hosts while live on air.
Best quote: “This guy could be a little bonkers. Really. Anyway, if you will, would you please welcome: Kramer!”
Fred Savage
Fred Savage of The Wonder Years starred as himself in ‘The Trip: Part 1’, in which Kramer briefly relocates to Hollywood.
After spotting Savage in a restaurant, a nervous Kramer awkwardly tries to give the actor his screenplay ‘The Keys’ – with very little success. In fact, Savage is so put-off by the bumbling Kramer that he flees the restaurant in fear.
Best quote: “I’m not crazy. I may look weird, but I’m just like you I’m just a regular guy.”
David Letterman
Fellow comedian David Letterman made a brief cameo appearance at the end of season eight episode ‘The Abstinence’.
As the credits roll, Letterman is seen calling Jerry Seinfeld to tell him he’s been cancelled as a guest on The Tonight Show, after Letterman heard he was bumped from career day and later tanked his replacement slot at his old Jr. High School.
Jerry Seinfeld and David Letterman would go on to star in various projects together, including Jerry’s Netflix series, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, in which Letterman also guest-starred.
Best quote: “You know, some people were telling me about that little flap out there at the junior high school assembly. And before that, you were bumped by a lizard?”
