Morty Seinfeld
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Mortimer "Morty" Seinfeld, played by Barney Martin, is a fictional character on the US television sitcom Seinfeld (1989-1998). He is Jerry Seinfeld's father. His wife—Jerry's mother—is Helen Seinfeld.
Morty made a living selling raincoats under a man named Harry Fleming for 38 years, and considers his invention of 'the beltless trenchcoat' (also called 'the Executive') his greatest accomplishment. Morty refuses to let Jerry pay for a meal any time they go out to eat, even if he has no money to pay the bill. He always sticks up for Jerry when he feels like his son is being slighted, even when Jerry himself isn't bothered at all. (The most notable instance of this was in "The Pen") He hates velcro because he can't stand the tearing sound it makes when separated.
He and Helen are retired and have lived in a series of condos in Florida, the most long-lasting of which has been Del Boca Vista. He was the president of the tenant's board for many years, until Jerry bought him a Cadillac, arousing suspicion among his neighbors that he was stealing from the board coffers. He was impeached and resigned when the tie-breaking voter turned against him upon remembering that Jerry had stolen a loaf of Marble Rye bread from her (in a previous episode). His impeachment scene included a parody of Richard Nixon's famous wave.
Morty was originally played by Phil Bruns, who appeared in only the second episode. After that episode, Larry David decided that the character as played by Bruns was too laid back, and felt Jerry should have a more crotchety dad. By the time Morty made his second appearance (in "The Pony Remark"), the role had been recast with Martin. When the show went into syndication, Larry David wanted to reshoot Bruns's scenes with Martin (as he had done with the two actors playing Frank Costanza), but decided against the idea because the Bruns episode was too far in the past, and the differences in the other actors' ages would be noticeable.
Larry David's father, Mortimer David of Sunrise, Florida, recently claimed that the character Morty was based on his life.
[edit] Quotes
- " Look, I got a few good years left. If I want a Chip Ahoy, I'm having it."
- " I sold raincoats in the garment center for thirty-eight years."
- " Cheap fabric, and dim lighting. That's how you move merchandise."
[edit] External link
| Seinfeld |
|---|
| Characters |
| Main Characters: Jerry Seinfeld | George Costanza | Elaine Benes | Cosmo Kramer |
| Related to Jerry: Helen Seinfeld | Morty Seinfeld | Uncle Leo | Kenny Bania | Sally Weaver | Dr. Tim Whatley |
| Related to George: Estelle Costanza | Frank Costanza | Susan Ross | Mr. Wilhelm | Mr. Kruger | Lloyd Braun | George Steinbrenner |
| Related to Elaine: J. Peterman | David Puddy | Mr. Lippman | Justin Pitt | Sue Ellen Mischke |
| Related to Kramer: Newman | Mickey Abbott | Jackie Chiles | Bob Sacamento | Babs Kramer | Lomez |
| Other: Soup Nazi | "Crazy" Joe Davola | Minor characters in Seinfeld |
| Culture of the Seinfeld Universe |
| Festivus | Master of Your Domain | Regifting List of fictional films in Seinfeld | Coffee Table Book About Coffee Tables |
| Episodes |
| List of Seinfeld episodes | The Seinfeld Chronicles |
| Other |
| List of Seinfeld references to actual people | Running gags in Seinfeld |
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