Michael Richards facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Richards
Richards at the 45th Primetime Emmy Awards in 1993
Born	Michael Anthony Richards (1949-07-24) July 24, 1949 (age 76) Culver City, California, U.S.
Alma mater	The Evergreen State College (BA)
Occupation	Actor, comedian
Years active	1979–present
Spouse(s)	Cathleen Lyons ​ ​ (m. 1974; div. 1993)​ Beth Skipp ​ (m. 2010)​
Children	2
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	U.S. Army
Years of service	1970–1972

Michael Anthony Richards, born on July 24, 1949, is an American actor and comedian. He is most famous for playing the character Cosmo Kramer on the popular TV show Seinfeld. This show aired on NBC from 1989 to 1998.

Richards started his career as a stand-up comedian. He first gained attention on Billy Crystal's TV special. Later, he became a regular on the ABC show Fridays. From 1989 to 1998, he played Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld. He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series three times for this role.

During his time on Seinfeld, he also appeared on Mad About You as Kramer. Richards made guest appearances on other TV shows, like Cheers. His movies include So I Married an Axe Murderer, Airheads, and Problem Child. In 2000, he starred in his own sitcom, The Michael Richards Show, but it was canceled quickly.

In 2006, an incident during a comedy performance led to public criticism. Richards later apologized and stepped away from stand-up comedy. In 2009, he appeared as himself on Curb Your Enthusiasm with his Seinfeld co-stars. In 2013, he played Frank in the sitcom Kirstie. His most recent role was Daddy Hogwood in the 2019 movie Faith, Hope & Love.

Early Life and Education

Richards as a senior at Thousand Oaks High School in Thousand Oaks, California (1967)

Michael Richards was born in Culver City, California. His mother, Phyllis, worked as a medical records librarian. Richards was told his father died when he was two years old. He later learned more about his family history. He was also raised by his grandmother.

Richards finished high school at Thousand Oaks High School. In 1968, he was a contestant on a TV show called The Dating Game. In 1970, he joined the United States Army. He trained as a medic and was stationed in West Germany. There, he was part of a theater group. He became interested in acting after taking a drama class in seventh grade.

After leaving the Army, Richards used his military benefits for college. He studied at the California Institute of the Arts. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama from The Evergreen State College in 1975. He also performed in improv comedy with actor Ed Begley Jr..

Career Highlights

Early Career (1979–1989)

Richards in 1983

Richards got his first big TV role in 1979. He appeared in Billy Crystal's first cable TV special. In 1980, he joined the cast of ABC's Fridays. Larry David, who later co-created Seinfeld, was also on this show.

In 1986, Richards had a small role in the TV miniseries Fresno. He also tried out for the role of Al Bundy in Married... with Children but did not get the part. In 1989, Richards played Stanley Spadowski, a janitor, in the comedy film UHF. He also appeared on TV shows like Miami Vice and Cheers.

Seinfeld and Fame (1989–2005)

Richards with Jerry Seinfeld at the 44th Primetime Emmy Awards in 1992

In 1989, Richards was cast as Cosmo Kramer in the NBC show Seinfeld. The show was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld. Seinfeld became one of the most popular sitcoms ever. It ended in 1998 as the number one show. Kramer is the quirky neighbor of Jerry Seinfeld's character. His first name, Cosmo, was revealed later in the show.

Richards won more Emmy Awards than any other Seinfeld cast member. He won for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1993, 1994, and 1997. He also made guest appearances on other shows. He played himself in an episode of The Larry Sanders Show. He had a small role in the movie So I Married an Axe Murderer. In 1997, he co-starred with Jeff Daniels in the movie Trial and Error.

In 2000, Richards started a new series for NBC called The Michael Richards Show. He was also a co-writer and executive producer. The show was about a clumsy private investigator. It was canceled after only a few weeks because of low ratings.

Later Work (2006–Present)

After the 2006 incident, Richards's public image changed. He later appeared on Late Show with David Letterman to apologize. He also spoke with civil rights leaders Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.

In 2007, Richards voiced a character named Bud Ditchwater in the animated film Bee Movie. This movie starred and was produced by Jerry Seinfeld. In 2009, Richards and the other main Seinfeld cast members appeared in the seventh season of Curb Your Enthusiasm. In 2012, he was featured on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, hosted by Seinfeld. He talked about how the 2006 incident affected him.

In 2013, Richards played Frank in the sitcom Kirstie. The show also starred Kirstie Alley and Rhea Perlman. It aired on TV Land but was canceled after one season. In 2019, Richards played Daddy Hogwood in the romantic comedy Faith, Hope & Love. In June 2024, Richards released his memoir titled Entrances and Exits.

Personal Life

Richards was married to his first wife for 18 years. They have one daughter, born in 1975. They divorced in 1993. Through his daughter, Richards has two grandchildren.

In 2010, Richards married his girlfriend of eight years. They have one son, born in 2011. Richards is also a Freemason. In his 2024 memoir, Richards shared that he had prostate cancer in 2018 and recovered after surgery.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Michael Richards para niños