Jerry Stiller as Frank Costanza is one of the most beloved performances in sitcom history, but it almost never happened. When the veteran comedian was first approached about playing George’s father on Seinfeld, his reaction was simply: “Who’s Seinfeld?” He turned the part down, and it took about six months before he finally said yes.
Why Jerry Stiller Said No at First
At the time, Stiller was busy with a Broadway show and wasn’t familiar with the NBC sitcom, which was still building its audience. So he passed. The role went to actor John Randolph, who played Frank in the season 4 episode “The Handicap Spot.” But the producers felt that version of the character wasn’t quite working.
Once Stiller’s stage run was over, Larry David came back to him. This time he agreed, and Stiller made his debut as Frank in the season 5 episode “The Puffy Shirt” in 1993. His scenes in “The Handicap Spot” were later reshot with Stiller for syndication, so most fans have only ever seen him in the role.
How Jerry Stiller Made Frank Costanza Loud
Frank was originally written as a quiet, meek man who would let Estelle Harris’s Estelle do the shouting. That changed during the final dress rehearsal. Instead of backing down, Stiller yelled right back at Harris. Everyone started laughing, and Larry David told him, “Jerry, keep it that way.” Stiller later said that moment was the birth of Frank Costanza.
Festivus, Serenity Now and an Emmy Nomination
That explosive version of Frank gave Seinfeld some of its most quoted moments. He invented Festivus, “a Festivus for the rest of us,” complete with an aluminium pole and the Airing of Grievances, in the season 9 episode “The Strike.” He also shouted “Serenity now!” to keep his blood pressure down, and the phrase has been part of pop culture ever since. Stiller earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for the role in 1997.
Stiller went on to play another unforgettable TV dad, Arthur Spooner, on The King of Queens. He died in May 2020 at the age of 92, but thanks to a second chance from Larry David, Frank Costanza remains one of the greatest sitcom fathers ever.
Learn more about Jerry Stiller’s life and career at NPR.
Jerry Stiller: Related Reading
- Jerry Seinfeld Turned Down $5 Million an Episode, About $110 Million in All, for a Tenth Season
- Michael Richards Handpicked Kramer’s Clothes and Shoes Himself to Help Him Connect With the Character
- Jason Alexander Is Writing a Book Entirely in the Voice of George Costanza, Possibly Out by Festivus
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