# I didn't know \[x\] played that role...on Seinfeld **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 16, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594 "2005-06-16T19:00:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594/1 "2005-06-16T19:00:54Z")
While watching some Seinfeld re-runs the other night, it occurred to me that virtually everyone who ever played a guest starring role on even a single episode of “Seinfeld” went on to become a well-known star of another series. Sure, every series that’s a more than a few years old will have a number of ‘future’ famous folks doing bit parts on episodes, but “Seinfeld” has an inordinate number of future stars. In virtually every episode I see, there seems to be some pre-famous actor appearing in a guest role. From the last couple episodes I’ve seen: Courtney Cox (Monica on “Friends”) appeared as the girlfriend who claimed to be Jerry’s wife in order to share his discount on drycleaning. Jane Leeves (Daphne on “Frasier”) was the virgin who was disgusted by ‘the contest’ and eventually scored (off-screen) with JFK Jr. Bryan Cranston (Hal on “Malcolm in the Middle”) played Dr. Whately, the dentist who converted to judaism just so he could tell jewish jokes. And Debra Messing (Grace on “Will & Grace”) played Jerry’s bigoted girlfriend from the same episode as Cranston. Who else can you think got the big career boost from the show about nothing? ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594/2 "2005-06-16T19:17:03Z")
I wouldn’t say he gota big career boost as a _direct_ result of his Seinfeld appearance, but I was pretty damn surprised to discover that the dorky guy from Long Island that took up Jerry on his backhanded offer to come visit NYC, then got wasted with Kramer, hired a call girl, then stiffed her (heh) forcing Jerry to pay for it, was…Michael Chiklis! Makes his turn as Vic Mackey on The Shield all the more impressive. How about Teri Hatcher? “They’re real, and they’re spectacular.” There was one episode where they park in a handicapped spot, and there’s an angry mob waiting for the owner to get back to the car. The ringleader of the mob was Mimi from The Drew Carey Show. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594/3 "2005-06-16T19:22:31Z")
> [@Dooku](#): > > I wouldn’t say he gota big career boost as a _direct_ result of his Seinfeld appearance, but I was pretty damn surprised to discover that the dorky guy from Long Island that took up Jerry on his backhanded offer to come visit NYC, then got wasted with Kramer, hired a call girl, then stiffed her (heh) forcing Jerry to pay for it, was…Michael Chiklis! Makes his turn as Vic Mackey on The Shield all the more impressive. > > How about Teri Hatcher? “They’re real, and they’re spectacular.” > > There was one episode where they park in a handicapped spot, and there’s an angry mob waiting for the owner to get back to the car. The ringleader of the mob was Mimi from The Drew Carey Show. The inside joke was Jerry having Lois Lane as his girlfriend because he liked Superman so much. ---
**Author:** ![saramamalana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@saramamalana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saramamalana)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594/4 "2005-06-16T19:22:41Z")
Remember the episode where George went to a funeral for a girlfriend’s relative and had the “you double dipped the chip!” incident? His girlfriend was played by Megan Mullaly, now known for being Karen on _Will & Grace._ ---
**Author:** ![saramamalana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@saramamalana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saramamalana)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594/5 "2005-06-16T19:24:56Z")
I might have the episode wrong, but she did play George’s girlfriend at some point. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594/6 "2005-06-16T20:23:42Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > The inside joke was Jerry having Lois Lane as his girlfriend because he liked Superman so much. Except that her appearance on _Seinfeld_ preceded the premiere of _Lois & Clark_. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594/7 "2005-06-16T20:34:14Z")
Dana Patrick had an on-screen, non-speaking role in the “Man-Hands” ep. She is best known as the Beauty to Meat Loaf’s Beast in the video “I Would Do Anything for Love.” ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594/8 "2005-06-16T20:40:15Z")
> [@Art Vandelay](#): > > And Debra Messing (Grace on “Will & Grace”) played Jerry’s bigoted girlfriend from the same episode as Cranston. Woah! I just blew my own mind! Wayne Knight was in Third Rock and Jurassic Park shortly after being on Seinfeld. I’ve seen Babu on a few things. The mother on That 70s Show was Jerry’s agent. Sort of opposite to the OP, there were quite a few well-established stars on that show as well. Wilfred Brimley Judge Reinhold Jeanine Garofalo Lloyd Bridges Marissa Tomei Who else? ---
**Author:** ![parthenokinesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/cc9497/32.png) [@parthenokinesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parthenokinesis)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594/9 "2005-06-16T20:47:54Z")
Brad Garett (Robert Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond) was in a two part episode, playing a mechanic who steals Jerry’s car. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594/10 "2005-06-16T20:49:53Z")
Wasn’t Kristin Davis (“Sex and the City”) on the show once, as Jerry’s girlfriend? I forget the exact plot of the episode she appeared in, though… ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594/11 "2005-06-16T20:50:25Z")
As a minor tangent note, the voice of George Steinbrenner, always seen from behind, was supplied by series co-creator and future _Curb Your Enthusiasm_ actor Larry David. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594/12 "2005-06-16T20:52:21Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > As a minor tangent note, the voice of George Steinbrenner, always seen from behind, was supplied by series co-creator and future _Curb Your Enthusiasm_ actor Larry David. Who was on SNL 1980s wannabe _Fridays_ with Michael Richards, no? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594/13 "2005-06-16T20:53:43Z")
Oh, and the guy that played Puddy later went on to star in the short-lived _The Tick_. ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594/14 "2005-06-16T20:58:32Z")
> [@gytalf2000](#): > > Wasn’t Kristin Davis (“Sex and the City”) on the show once, as Jerry’s girlfriend? I forget the exact plot of the episode she appeared in, though… Jerry dropped her toothbrush in the toilet by accident. [Peter Krause](http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0470244/) who later starred in \*\*Sports Night \*\* and \*\*Six Feet Under \*\* played the clean cut neo-nazi in _The Limo_. George (on the phone): Astroturf? You know who’s responsible for that, don’t you? The Jews. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594/15 "2005-06-16T21:00:02Z")
Jerry Stiler played George’s dad. Later to star on King of Queens as Carrie’s dad. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594/16 "2005-06-16T21:04:09Z")
“Shmoopie” now does a daytime talk show. Amanda Peet was the girl who had a “dude” as a live-in boyfriend Sex in the Citie’s Kristen Davis was a girlfriend Marcia Cross and Brenda Strong from Desparate Housewives was a dermatologist Jerry was dating and Ellaines nemesis Sue Ellen Mishke. Dan Cortez was Costanzas Cool friend The Kruger Industrial Smoothing CEO (Mr Kruger) is in a ton of shit too, including Malcome in the Middle as the Comandant. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594/17 "2005-06-16T21:04:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Sort of opposite to the OP, there were quite a few well-established stars on that show as well. Philip Baker Hall, aka. Mr. Bookman. “Hard feelings? What do you know about hard feelings? You know what my problem is? Punks like you, thats my problem.” Playing themselves: Keith Hernandez, Don Mattingly, John Voight, Bette Midler Lawrence Tierney. “We had a funny guy with us in Korea - tailgunner. They blew his brains out all over the Pacific. There’s nothing funny about that.” > [@tdn](#): > > Oh, and the guy that played Puddy later went on to star in the short-lived _The Tick_. Patrick Warburton has had a pretty good career actually. He was in **The Dish** , a pretty funny movie. He had a hilarious recurring guest role on **NewsRadio**. He’s also the voice of Joe (wheelchair guy) on **Family Guy**. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594/18 "2005-06-16T21:04:20Z")
Danny Woodburn went on to play Carl the Gnome on _Special Unit 2_. ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594/19 "2005-06-16T21:10:44Z")
She is not famous, but when we were looking to adopt a dog, one of the people at the rescue organization that brought a dog to our house for us to meet was the woman who, in one of my favorite episodes, had all the neat old toys that she wouldn’t let Jerry play with, so he would do stuff to make her fall asleep so he could play with them. We didn’t end up getting a dog from her, by the way. Oh, and Peter Sarsgaard (recently in Garden State) was in the “Pony” episode. ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594/20 "2005-06-16T21:13:22Z")
Jon Favreau played Eric the Clown. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-x-played-that-role-on-seinfeld/308594.md?page=2)