Cosmo Kramer | |
---|---|
Seinfeld character | |
First appearance | "The Seinfeld Chronicles" (as "Kessler") |
Last appearance | "The Finale, Part II" |
Created by |
Jerry Seinfeld Larry David |
Portrayed by | Michael Richards |
Information | |
Aliases | The Assman H. E. Pennypacker Dr. Martin van Nostrand Professor Peter Van Nostrand Kessler The K Man Andre |
Gender | Male |
Occupation |
Bagel Shop Worker (aka "Bagel Technician") Raincoat Salesman Entrepreneur (Kramerica Industries) Non-fiction Author Mall Santa Tennis Ball Boy Actor/Stand-in Tony Awards Seat-filler Personal Beauty Consultant Underwear model |
Family | Babs Kramer (mother) |
Cosmo Kramer, usually referred to as simply "Kramer", is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld (1989–1998), played by Michael Richards.
The character is loosely based on comedian Kenny Kramer, Larry David's ex-neighbor across the hall. Kramer is the friend and neighbor of main character Jerry, residing in Apartment 5B, and is friends with George and Elaine. Of the series' four central characters, only Kramer has no visible means of support; what few jobs he holds seem to be nothing more than larks.
His trademarks include his upright hairstyle and vintage wardrobe, whose combination led Elaine to characterize him as a "hipster "; his taste in fresh fruit; love of occasional smoking, Cuban cigars in particular; bursts through Jerry's apartment door; frequent pratfalls and penchant for nonsensical, percussive outbursts of noise to indicate skepticism, agreement, irritation and a variety of other feelings. He's been described as "an extraordinary cross between Eraserhead and Herman Munster". Kramer appeared in all but two episodes: "The Chinese Restaurant" and "The Pen", in the second and third seasons, respectively.
In "The Trip", Kramer admits that a man in a park exposed himself to him when he was a young boy. In "The Big Salad" Kramer reveals to Jerry that he grew up in a strict household where he had to be in bed every night by 9:00PM. In "The Letter", Kramer tells two art patrons that he ran away from home at age seventeen and stowed away aboard a steamer bound for Sweden.