Kenny Kramer

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Kenny Kramer

Kenny Kramer was the basis for the character of Cosmo Kramer in the sitcom Seinfeld.

1 Pre-Seinfeld
2 Seinfeld
3 Post-Seinfeld
4 External links

[edit] Pre-Seinfeld

Prior to serving as the model for Kramer, he enjoyed a long career as a stand-up comedian, and worked as the manager for a British reggae band.

Just as the character of Jerry Seinfeld lived across the hall from Cosmo Kramer in the television show, Seinfeld co-creator Larry David lived across the hall from Kenny for six years. The two occupied the Manhattan Plaza, a federally assisted apartment complex for performing artists in Hell's Kitchen, New York City.

[edit] Seinfeld

Contrary to popular speculation, as Kenny Kramer has confirmed in a behind-the-scenes interview for the Seinfeld DVD in the documentary: "Kramer vs Kramer: Kenny to Cosmo", Michael Richards did not meet with Kenny to study the character and actually wanted nothing to do with him at all. The character of Kramer was originally going to be named Kessler, due to Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David's justified fear that using the name might spur the real Kramer to exploit his association with the character. However, they eventually came to the conclusion that the name was too good not to use. Kenny Kramer then proceeded to contact Castle Rock Entertainment with a list of several demands, many of which were financial, for the use of his name.

All of these were met even though Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David remained worried that Kenny Kramer would exploit the Kramer name as much as possible, which he did in fact go on to do. Kenny has been the host of Kramer's Reality Tour and Kramer's Reality Road Show for the past ten years. He tells behind-the-scene Seinfeld stories to his audience and gives a bus tour of sites made famous by Seinfeld. A DVD version of his reality tour has been produced.

The "Reality Tours" were later spoofed on Seinfeld in the episode "The Muffin Tops", when the Cosmo Kramer character receives money from catalog sales company owner J. Peterman for the use of his various stories in Peterman's biography; he develops a reality bus tour and touts himself as "The Real J. Peterman." The aforementioned refusal of Richards not to meet with Kenny before playing a character based on him in Seinfeld also is parodied in the 4th season episode "The Pilot," where Kramer tries to teach the on-screen Kramer how to play him, where the actor flat out refuses and claims he'll play it as him. Later on, George also picks up on lines being misread and the actor again makes his statement to play it his way.

[edit] Post-Seinfeld

In addition, Kramer has worked as a correspondent for Hard Copy; created and hosted "Kramer's New York" segments for the New York City Fox channel's Good-Day New York; and appeared in the original New York company of Tony n' Tina's Wedding, playing himself. He has made numerous appearances on the bonus features of the Seinfeld DVD series.

In 2001, Kramer ran to become the mayor of New York City, as a Libertarian candidate, and lost. While his first failed attempt at running for mayor was a joke, Kramer insisted that this time he was for real. His campaign slogan was: "Kramer for mayor...This time I'm not kidding!"

In 2006, after Michael Richards was facing negative publicity for racist comments made on stage during a comedic performance, Kenny Kramer released a statement distancing himself from Richards, saying that he personally is not a racist.