Jerry Seinfeld sings the praises of the late Jerry Stiller who 'completed the George story' on hit show: 'I never adjusted his performance once'

By Dan Heching For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

Jerry Seinfeld hailed Jerry Stiller as the 'perfect' addition to the Seinfeld cast as he reflected on working with the late comedian in a new interview. 

Stiller, the actor responsible for irascible Frank Costanza on the hit Nineties sitcom, died this week at the age of 92. 

Seinfeld, 66, shared details on Stiller's casting for the show, as well as how the directors and show writers never 'once' had to give the comedy legend a note on his performance in an interview on What a Joke with Papa & Fortune on SiriusXM’s Netflix is a Joke Radio.

Laudatory: Jerry Seinfeld had more to say about the late comedian Jerry Stiller, who died earlier this week at 92, in a recent interview

Laudatory: Jerry Seinfeld had more to say about the late comedian Jerry Stiller, who died earlier this week at 92, in a recent interview

'I remember Stiller and Meara [a comedy duo made up of Stiller and his late wife Anne Meara] from the Sixties, but I hadn't seen Jerry in a while and I just didn't– and I thought, well, but he's not bald,' Seinfeld remembered. 

'But Larry [David, Jerry's co-creator on Seinfeld] just kept mentioning him and finally we brought him in and he was so perfect.'

Stiller was one of the gifted comedic actors Seinfeld cast on the iconic TV show, who extended beyond the core quartet of actors on the show: Seinfeld himself, Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Elaine, Michael Richards as Kramer, and Jason Alexander as the younger Costanza, George.

Not forgotten: Stiller was the actor responsible for irascible Frank Costanza on the hit Nineties sitcom Seinfeld, father to the pathetically endearing George Costanza

Not forgotten: Stiller was the actor responsible for irascible Frank Costanza on the hit Nineties sitcom Seinfeld, father to the pathetically endearing George Costanza

'What I loved about [Stiller's character] is he so completes the George story. When you meet the father, you go, "Oh, now I understand why he's like that,"' Jerry said on the podcast.   

'The perfect finishing of the painting of George Costanza was Frank Costanza.'

And Seinfeld was so laudatory of the older actor's comedic chops, he claims never to have given Stiller even the slightest of notes while producing the show over its nine-season run. 

'What I loved about him is he so completes the George story': Seinfeld reminisced on what it was like working with Stiller, seen here on Seinfeld with Jason Alexander (center) as George, and Estelle Harris as Mrs. Costanza (left)

'What I loved about him is he so completes the George story': Seinfeld reminisced on what it was like working with Stiller, seen here on Seinfeld with Jason Alexander (center) as George, and Estelle Harris as Mrs. Costanza (left)

'He had the most amazing comedic stuff that he – we didn't know if he was planning it or it just came out that way, or he couldn't remember the line, or we didn't know what it was, but we did not want to disturb it in any way,' Seinfeld reminisced.

'We never gave Jerry Stiller a note. I never adjusted his performance once. Whatever he did, that's it. We're putting that out there.'

'I don't know why he did it like that. I don't know why he screamed on that line. It doesn't matter. It's funny. So funny,' the Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee star added. 'I am such a dedicated believer in: "If it's funny, don't touch it."' 

Legend: Of the actor, Seinfeld said 'We never gave Jerry Stiller a note. I never adjusted his performance once'

Legend: Of the actor, Seinfeld said 'We never gave Jerry Stiller a note. I never adjusted his performance once'

The world learned of Stiller's passing on Monday, when his son, Zoolander actor Ben Stiller, broke the news on Twitter. 

Seinfeld was one of the first of many to post a tribute to the fallen actor, sharing a picture of himself somberly holding up a vinyl copy of the 1967 comedy album by Stiller and his wife Anne Meara, who died in 2015. 

'Jerry Stiller's comedy will live forever,' read the caption.

Sad to say: The world learned of Stiller's passing on Monday, when his son, Zoolander actor Ben Stiller, broke the news on Twitter

Sad to say: The world learned of Stiller's passing on Monday, when his son, Zoolander actor Ben Stiller, broke the news on Twitter

In memoriam: Seinfeld was one of the first of many to post a tribute to the fallen actor

In memoriam: Seinfeld was one of the first of many to post a tribute to the fallen actor

Most watched News videos

Comments 83

Share what you think

  View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

  View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.