Everything about Kenny Kramer totally explained
Kenny Kramer (born
May 1943) is an American
stand-up comedian, whose name was given to the character
Cosmo Kramer in the television
sitcom Seinfeld.
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. With the true spirit of an entrepreneur, Kenny sought to manage Bill Beason, a New York point karate fighter/champion, with the hopes that the karate tournament scene would develop along the same lines as wrestling had, since corporate sponsors such as Budweiser and Paul Mitchell were emerging. It didn't pan out.
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 lived in
Manhattan Plaza, a federally assisted apartment complex for performing artists in
Hell's Kitchen,
New York City.
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 didn't meet with Kenny to study the character and actually wanted nothing to do with him at all, a situation ironically parodied in the show itself. 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 thirteen 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 to meet with Kenny before playing a character with the same name 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.
Post-Seinfeld
In addition, Kramer has worked as a correspondent for
Hard Copy; created and hosted "Kramer's New York" segments for the
Fox New York City affiliate
WNYW'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!"
Further Information
Get more info on 'Kenny Kramer'.
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