American actor Michael Richards gained fame for his portrayal of Cosmo Kramer on the hit show Seinfeld. He later made a guest appearance as himself on the seventh season of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Michael Richards Bio Summary
Full name: Michael Anthony Richards
Date of birth: 24 July 1949
Age: 75 years old (as of 2024)
Place of birth: Los Angeles, California, USA
Height: 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Marital status: Married
Wife’s name: Beth Skipp
Children: 2
Profession: Actor, comedian, TV producer, voice actor, screenwriter
Early Life
Michael Anthony Richards, famously Michael Richards, was born on July 24, 1949, in Culver City, California. His mother, Phyllis, worked as a librarian, and his father, William Richards, was an engineer. Tragically, Michael lost his father in a car accident when he was only two years old.
After completing his education at Thousand Oaks High School and the California Institute of the Arts, Richards earned a BA in drama from The Evergreen State College in 1975. While in college, he briefly performed in an improv act with Ed Begley Jr.
However, in 1970, Richards was drafted to serve in the Army during the Vietnam War, and he remained in the military for two years before receiving an honorable discharge.
Career
In 1979, Michael’s career took off when he made his debut on Billy Crystal’s inaugural cable TV special. The following year, he joined the cast of ABC’s “Fridays,” which was written by Larry David. During the 1980s, Richards appeared in various minor television roles, including “Miami Vice” and “Cheers,” and frequently appeared as a guest on Jay Leno’s show.
In 1989, Michael Richards had a role in the comedic movie “UHF” by Weird Al Yankovic. Additionally, he was selected to play Cosmo Kramer on the NBC show “Seinfeld,” which was produced by his former colleague from “Fridays,” Larry David, and emerging comedian Jerry Seinfeld.
He portrayed Jerry’s eccentric neighbor on the show and often found himself in humorous situations with the pesky mailman Newman (played by Wayne Knight). Although the show had a sluggish beginning, it gained immense popularity in the mid-1990s and eventually became one of the most successful sitcoms in television history.
In 1993, 1994, and 1997, Michael Richards received the most Emmys out of all the cast members, specifically for his role as an Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
The show “Seinfeld” concluded its nine-year reign at the top of the Nielsen ratings in 1998. In 2004, Michael and his co-stars participated in interviews and audio commentaries for the DVD release of “Seinfeld.”
Additionally, Michael Richards was the initial choice to play the main character on the television series “Monk.” He gained recognition for his guest roles on “The Larry Sanders Show” and his performances in movies such as “Air Heads,” “Coneheads,” and “So I Married an Axe Murderer.” In 2000, Richards began his work on the NBC show “The Michael Richards Show.”
Richards was credited as both a co-writer and co-executive producer. The initial test of the pilot was unsuccessful with viewers, leading NBC to revise the idea.
Unfortunately, the show was pulled from the air after only a few weeks due to low ratings and negative feedback. He had a few guest appearances on the show “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and his most recent film was “Faith, Hope & Love” in 2019.
After a 2006 incident at The Laugh Factory in Hollywood where he made racist remarks towards a small group of Black audience members, Michael has distanced himself from stand-up comedy and has not been seen much in Hollywood.
Although he publicly apologized on the “Late Show with David Letterman,” his apology was not well-received. He also addressed the incident in an episode of “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” with Jerry Seinfeld.
Personal Life
For 18 years, Michael Richards was married to Cathleen Lyons, a former casting director. They had a daughter named Sophia in 1975 before divorcing in 1992.
In 2007, Richards proposed to actress Beth Skipp, who he had been in a relationship with since 2002. They tied the knot in 2010 and now have a son together. Richards currently lives in Glendale, California.
Net Worth
With a net worth of $30 million, Michael Richards is an acclaimed American actor, renowned for his portrayal of Cosmo Kramer on the popular 1990s sitcom “Seinfeld.”
He brought the character to life through his physical comedy, impeccable timing, and unique style, earning him three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series throughout the show’s duration.
