Morty Seinfeld

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Mortimer "Morty" Seinfeld
First appearance The Stakeout
Last appearance The Finale, Part II
Cause/reason End of show
Created by Jerry Seinfeld
Portrayed by Phil Bruns
Barney Martin
Information
Gender Male
Age 60s
Occupation retired salesman
Title former condo president of Phase Two
Family Nana (mother-in-law)
Uncle Leo (brother-in-law)
Spouse(s) Helen Seinfeld
Children Jerry Seinfeld
A Daughter
Relatives Jeffrey (nephew)

Mortimer "Morty" Seinfeld, portrayed in all but one episode 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 greatest accomplishment to be the invention of 'the beltless trenchcoat' (also called 'the Executive'). 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 and refused to use it on any of the raincoats he sold.

He and Helen are retired and have lived in a series of condos in Florida, the most memorable of which was Del Boca Vista. He was the president of the tenant's board at Phase Two of the Pines of Mar Gables for many years, until Jerry bought him a Cadillac Fleetwood, 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] Appearances

[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."
  • "My wallet's gone! My wallet's gone!"
  • "Tell him to eat a plum!"
  • "He didn't have a coke! Ho ho ho."

[edit] External links

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