Jerry Seinfeld facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jerry Seinfeld |
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Seinfeld in 2023
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| Birth name | Jerome Allen Seinfeld |
| Born | April 29, 1954 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
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| Alma mater | Queens College (BA) |
| Years active | 1976–present |
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| Spouse |
Jessica Sklar
(m. 1999) |
| Children | 3 |
| Signature |  |
Jerome Allen Seinfeld (born April 29, 1954) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He is famous for his observational comedy, which finds humor in everyday life.
Seinfeld became a huge star from the TV show Seinfeld (1989–1998). He co-created the show with Larry David and played a version of himself. Seinfeld is often called one of the best and most popular sitcoms ever made. For his role, he won a Golden Globe Award.
He also created the web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (2012–2019), where he interviews other comedians. Seinfeld co-wrote and starred in the animated movie Bee Movie (2007) and the comedy film Unfrosted (2024). He has also released several popular stand-up comedy specials.
Over his long career, Seinfeld has won many awards, including a Primetime Emmy Award and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. He has also written books, including SeinLanguage and the children's book Halloween.
Contents
Early Life and Schooling
Jerome Allen Seinfeld was born in Brooklyn, New York City, on April 29, 1954. His family was Jewish. His father, Kalmen Seinfeld, was from Hungary and loved to collect jokes. His mother, Betty Seinfeld, had parents who came from Aleppo, Syria. Jerry has an older sister named Carolyn.
Seinfeld grew up in Massapequa, a town on Long Island. When he was 16, he volunteered on a kibbutz (a type of community) in Israel. After high school, he went to Queens College and graduated in 1976 with a degree in communications and theater.
Career Journey
1976–1987: Starting in Comedy
Seinfeld became interested in stand-up comedy in college. After graduating, he started performing at comedy clubs in New York City. His talent was noticed, and he soon appeared on a Rodney Dangerfield TV special.
In 1981, he performed on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The host, Johnny Carson, was very impressed. This led to many more appearances on popular talk shows. In 1987, his first hour-long comedy special, Stand-Up Confidential, was shown on HBO.
1988–1998: The Seinfeld Years
In 1988, Seinfeld and his friend Larry David created a TV show for NBC called The Seinfeld Chronicles. The name was later shortened to Seinfeld. The show was about "nothing," finding humor in small, everyday situations.
Seinfeld became the most-watched sitcom in America. It also starred Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards, and Jason Alexander. Seinfeld is the only actor who appeared in every single episode. The show ended in 1998 after nine successful seasons.
1998–2010: Life After the Show
After Seinfeld ended, he returned to New York City and his first love: stand-up comedy. He toured and recorded a new special called I'm Telling You for the Last Time. A 2002 documentary called Comedian showed how he developed his new material.
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In 2007, he co-wrote, produced, and voiced the main character in the animated film Bee Movie. The movie is about a bee named Barry B. Benson who sues the human race for stealing honey.
During this time, Seinfeld made guest appearances on many TV shows. He appeared on 30 Rock and Curb Your Enthusiasm, where he reunited with the cast of Seinfeld for a special story arc.
2011–Present: New Shows and Films
In 2012, Seinfeld launched a popular web series called Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. In each episode, he picks up a fellow comedian in a classic car, and they chat over coffee. His guests have included famous stars like Steve Martin, Tina Fey, and even President Barack Obama.
In 2017, he signed a deal with Netflix. The deal included two new stand-up specials, Jerry Before Seinfeld (2017) and 23 Hours to Kill (2020). All episodes of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee also moved to Netflix.
In 2024, he directed, co-wrote, and starred in the Netflix movie Unfrosted. The film is a funny, fictional story about the creation of Pop-Tarts. It features a large cast of famous actors, including Melissa McCarthy and Hugh Grant.
Comedic Style and Influences
Seinfeld is known for observational comedy. He takes ordinary parts of life, like waiting in line or talking on the phone, and points out the funny details.
He has said that his biggest influences in comedy are Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Bill Cosby, and Don Rickles. He also enjoyed the silly humor of Mad Magazine and the British comedy group Monty Python. Many of today's comedians, like John Mulaney and Jim Gaffigan, have been influenced by Seinfeld's work.
Personal Life
Seinfeld is a big fan of the New York Mets baseball team and has a huge collection of cars, especially Porsches. He is also a fan of Superman comics.
In 1998, Seinfeld met Jessica Sklar. They married in 1999. Together, they have three children: a daughter and two sons. His wife, Jessica Seinfeld, is an author and the founder of the charity Good+Foundation, which helps families in need.
Seinfeld has supported Israel and visited the country several times. When he gave a speech at Duke University in 2024, some students walked out to protest his views.
He also practices Transcendental Meditation, a technique for relaxation and stress relief. He has said it has been a very helpful tool throughout his life.
Books
- SeinLanguage (1993): This book is a collection of his stand-up comedy routines.
- Halloween (2002): A fun children's book about the holiday.
- Is This Anything? (2020): This book contains his best jokes from his entire 45-year career.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Comedian | Himself | Documentary; also executive producer |
| 2007 | Bee Movie | Barry B. Benson | Voice; also co-writer and producer |
| 2024 | Unfrosted | Bob Cabana | Also director, co-writer and producer |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Stand-Up Confidential | Himself | Stand-up special |
| 1989–1998 | Seinfeld | Jerry Seinfeld | 180 episodes; also co-creator and executive producer |
| 1998 | I'm Telling You for the Last Time | Himself | Comedy special |
| 2004–2024 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Himself | 7 episodes |
| 2007 | 30 Rock | Himself | Episode: "SeinfeldVision" |
| 2012–2019 | Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee | Himself (host) | 72 episodes; also creator and executive producer |
| 2017 | Jerry Before Seinfeld | Himself | Comedy special/documentary |
| 2020 | 23 Hours to Kill | Himself | Netflix comedy special |
See also
In Spanish: Jerry Seinfeld para niños
