Since the end of one of TV's most legendary sitcoms in 1998, the cast of "Seinfeld" has lost many popular characters. From the badass Izzy Mandelbaum to the sweet old bag with the marble rye, check out some of your favorite "Seinfeld" characters who have passed on to a better place. We imagine that place has "Seinfeld" streaming free everywhere you go, with no commercial interruptions.
Uncle Leo (Len Lesser) 1922-2011
![Seinfeld, Dead Characters On Seinfeld]()
"Jerry, hello!" The arm-grabbing, Jeffrey-loving, heavy-on-the-greetings Uncle Leo was one of the staple elder cast members from the get-go. Lesser held more than 500 credits across six decades of performing, including 1962's "Birdman of Alcatraz" and TV roles on "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Mad About You," "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Boy Meets World." He died in 2011 from pneumonia related to cancer at the age of 88. He appeared in 15 episodes and kept his catchphrase written on his hands: That's "Jerry" on his right, "Hello" on his left.
Morty Seinfeld (Barney Martin) 1923-2005
![Seinfeld, Deceased Seinfeld Chracters]()
His jacket reads back to 1955 as Jackie Gleason's stand-in for "The Honeymooners," but Barney Martin was best known to you kids as the stereotypical father of Jerry Seinfeld and business partner of the beltless trench coat with Cosmo Kramer. Martin didn't have the role originally like Jerry's mother (Liz Sheridan), but he did appear in Mel Brooks' 1967 classic, "The Producers," as well as the amazing role of Ranger Roy on "Full House." Barney Martin died in 2005 of lung cancer at age 82.
Jack Klompus (Sandy Baron) 1936-2001
![Seinfeld, Deceased Characters On Seinfeld]()
Morty Seinfeld's arch-nemesis at the fabulous Del Boca Vista was none other than Jack Klompus. He was the nosey, astronaut pen-toting, envious neighbor. Sandy Baron, a stage, TV and film comedian, played the role of Jack Klompus only days after coming out of a coma, one of his last appearances - "The Money" - on the show in 1997. He made his Broadway debut in "Tchin-Tchin" in 1962 and worked all the way up to 1998 before his death in 2001. Baron suffered from emphysema and died at 64. Amazingly, he was only just over 60 when he last appeared on "Seinfeld."
Mrs. Choate (Frances Bay) 1919-2011
![Seinfeld, Deceased Characters On Seinfeld]()
The lovable mother from "Happy Gilmore" was - to Jerry, at least - the "old bag" with the last marble rye. She appeared in the 1996 episode, taking George's much-needed marble rye from Jerry at the local bakery, the last marble rye, in fact. She returned for vengeance in the 1998 finale to tell her tragic story as though she were Rose, the surviving member of The Titanic. Sweet, little Frances Bay passed away in 2011 from complications with pneumonia at age 92.
Sid Fields (Bill Erwin) 1914-2010
![Seinfeld, Deceased Characters On Seinfeld]()
William Erwin was a film, TV and stage actor, as well as self-taught cartoonist, with more than 250 credits, but we'll always remember him as Sid Fields, better known as the racist old man with poor eye sight, but an impressive record collection on the "Seinfeld" episode "The Old Man." He received an Emmy nomination for his small, but memorable, outstanding guest role. Erwin also held spots in classic John Hughes comedies - "Dennis the Menace," "Trains, Planes and Automobiles" - as well as "I Love Lucy" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation." He died in late 2010 of natural causes at the age of 96.
Izzy Mandelbaum (Lloyd Bridges) 1913-1998
![Seinfeld, Deceased Characters On Seinfeld]()
The tough-talking, weight-lifting Mandelbaum ended up meeting his end in real life, but luckily it didn't involve a TV set or barbells. Father of Beau and Jeff Bridges, Lloyd played a hilarious role in "Seinfeld," along with a Broadway debut in 1939's "Orthello" and a classic role opposite Charlie Sheen in the satire comedy "Hot Shots! Part Deux." He died of natural causes in 1998, just two months before "Seinfeld" ended, at the age of 85. "You think you're better than me? It's go time. Mandelbaum! Mandelbaum! Mandelbaum!"
Mr. Kruger (Daniel von Bargen) 1950-2015
![Seinfeld, Deceased Characters On Seinfeld]()
The late arrival to "Seinfeld" was the devil-may-care, Festivus-loving boss of George Costanza, Mr. Kruger. Between his impressive full rotations in an office chair and giving George the nickname, Coco the Monkey, Kruger was one of our easy favorites. He attempted suicide by shooting himself in the temple in 2012 after a struggle with diabetes and eventual leg amputation. He passed away in March of 2015. K-UGER!
Mr. Pitt (Ian Abercrombie) 1934-2012
![Seinfeld, Deceased Characters On Seinfeld]()
Elaine's boss in season six was the Snickers-cutting, sock specific English hypochondriac, Mr. Pitt, a child wrapped in an old man's body. Abercrombie played the role, as well as the role of the butler in "Birds of Prey" and "The Lost World: Jurassic Park," to perfection. He died in Los Angeles at the age of 77 from kidney failure and lymphoma in 2012.
Hairdresser (Taylor Negron) 1957-2015
![Seinfeld, Deceased Characters On Seinfeld]()
A recently deceased "Seinfeld" character is Elaine's overly enthusiastic hairdresser from "The Smelly Car," played by the talented Taylor Negron. He was a comedian, actor, playwright and painter. He starred in films such as "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and "Angels in the Outfield." He displayed his paintings in solo exhibitions at the Los Angeles Laemmle Royal Theater. In 2008, he wrote "The Unbearable Lightness of Being Taylor Negron - A Fusion of Story and Song." Negron was a bit of a Renaissance man who died at 57 after a lengthy battle with cancer in January of 2015.
Cushman (Paul Gleason) 1939-2006
![Seinfeld, Deceased Characters On Seinfeld]()
Gleason had a small but memorable role in "The Opposite," the episode where George goes against his very being to land a job with the New York Yankees. Gleason played the manager that hired him. Some of his memorable roles include the original "Die Hard," "Trading Places" and "The Breakfast Club." He was a man of '80s classics and continued strong until he died at age 67 from a form of lung cancer in 2006. He was also in "Ewoks: The Battle for Endor," a staple TV movie of my childhood.
The Original Frank Costanza (John Randolph) 1915-2004
![Seinfeld, Deceased Characters On Seinfeld]()
George's dad in the first seasons before they cast Jerry Stiller as Frank Constanza was none other than John Randolph. He was part of the original production of "The Sound of Music," which dates back to 1959. You'll also remember him as Clark Griswold's father in the holiday classic, "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." He died of natural causes at the age of 88.
Alton Benes (Lawrence Tierney) 1919-2002
![Seinfeld, Deceased Characters On Seinfeld]()
Elaine's novelist father, Alton Benes, appeared in an early episode, "The Jacket," in 1991, which was his first and only episode. Supposedly he was as scary off set as he was on, then allegedly stole a butcher knife from set, which nobody approached him about, you know, because he's so freaking scary. Being typecast as a mobster and overall tough guy - he played Jesse James, also John Dillinger in the 1945 "Dillinger" - Tierney played the role remarkably the same on "Seinfeld" as a hard ass Hemingway-esque, whiskey-loving writer who despises men with flamboyant linings in their coats. Tierney died in 2002 of pneumonia at age 82.
Mr. Hoyt (James Rebhorn) 1948-2014
![Seinfeld, Deceased Characters On Seinfeld]()
Someone had to put those sons of bitches behind bars, and who better than James Reborn as the lawyer in part two of the series finale of "Seinfeld." His 16 years worth of experience on "Law & Order" made him more than qualified. Rebhorn died last year from melanoma at the age of 65. His last credit was as Frank Mathison, Carrie's (Claire Danes) father, in the first three seasons of "Homeland."
Howie (John Pinette) 1964-2014
![Seinfeld, Deceased Characters On Seinfeld]()
In addition to being the fat guy the gang made fun of in the finale while he was getting mugged - you recall the Good Samaritan law - Pinette was also a Broadway performer and stand-up comedian. He passed away last year in his hotel room in Pittsburgh from natural causes at the age of 50. He was said to have struggled with liver and heart disease.
Uncle Leo (Len Lesser) 1922-2011
"Jerry, hello!" The arm-grabbing, Jeffrey-loving, heavy-on-the-greetings Uncle Leo was one of the staple elder cast members from the get-go. Lesser held more than 500 credits across six decades of performing, including 1962's "Birdman of Alcatraz" and TV roles on "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Mad About You," "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Boy Meets World." He died in 2011 from pneumonia related to cancer at the age of 88. He appeared in 15 episodes and kept his catchphrase written on his hands: That's "Jerry" on his right, "Hello" on his left.
Morty Seinfeld (Barney Martin) 1923-2005
His jacket reads back to 1955 as Jackie Gleason's stand-in for "The Honeymooners," but Barney Martin was best known to you kids as the stereotypical father of Jerry Seinfeld and business partner of the beltless trench coat with Cosmo Kramer. Martin didn't have the role originally like Jerry's mother (Liz Sheridan), but he did appear in Mel Brooks' 1967 classic, "The Producers," as well as the amazing role of Ranger Roy on "Full House." Barney Martin died in 2005 of lung cancer at age 82.
Jack Klompus (Sandy Baron) 1936-2001
Morty Seinfeld's arch-nemesis at the fabulous Del Boca Vista was none other than Jack Klompus. He was the nosey, astronaut pen-toting, envious neighbor. Sandy Baron, a stage, TV and film comedian, played the role of Jack Klompus only days after coming out of a coma, one of his last appearances - "The Money" - on the show in 1997. He made his Broadway debut in "Tchin-Tchin" in 1962 and worked all the way up to 1998 before his death in 2001. Baron suffered from emphysema and died at 64. Amazingly, he was only just over 60 when he last appeared on "Seinfeld."
Mrs. Choate (Frances Bay) 1919-2011
The lovable mother from "Happy Gilmore" was - to Jerry, at least - the "old bag" with the last marble rye. She appeared in the 1996 episode, taking George's much-needed marble rye from Jerry at the local bakery, the last marble rye, in fact. She returned for vengeance in the 1998 finale to tell her tragic story as though she were Rose, the surviving member of The Titanic. Sweet, little Frances Bay passed away in 2011 from complications with pneumonia at age 92.
Sid Fields (Bill Erwin) 1914-2010
William Erwin was a film, TV and stage actor, as well as self-taught cartoonist, with more than 250 credits, but we'll always remember him as Sid Fields, better known as the racist old man with poor eye sight, but an impressive record collection on the "Seinfeld" episode "The Old Man." He received an Emmy nomination for his small, but memorable, outstanding guest role. Erwin also held spots in classic John Hughes comedies - "Dennis the Menace," "Trains, Planes and Automobiles" - as well as "I Love Lucy" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation." He died in late 2010 of natural causes at the age of 96.
Izzy Mandelbaum (Lloyd Bridges) 1913-1998
The tough-talking, weight-lifting Mandelbaum ended up meeting his end in real life, but luckily it didn't involve a TV set or barbells. Father of Beau and Jeff Bridges, Lloyd played a hilarious role in "Seinfeld," along with a Broadway debut in 1939's "Orthello" and a classic role opposite Charlie Sheen in the satire comedy "Hot Shots! Part Deux." He died of natural causes in 1998, just two months before "Seinfeld" ended, at the age of 85. "You think you're better than me? It's go time. Mandelbaum! Mandelbaum! Mandelbaum!"
Mr. Kruger (Daniel von Bargen) 1950-2015
The late arrival to "Seinfeld" was the devil-may-care, Festivus-loving boss of George Costanza, Mr. Kruger. Between his impressive full rotations in an office chair and giving George the nickname, Coco the Monkey, Kruger was one of our easy favorites. He attempted suicide by shooting himself in the temple in 2012 after a struggle with diabetes and eventual leg amputation. He passed away in March of 2015. K-UGER!
Mr. Pitt (Ian Abercrombie) 1934-2012
Elaine's boss in season six was the Snickers-cutting, sock specific English hypochondriac, Mr. Pitt, a child wrapped in an old man's body. Abercrombie played the role, as well as the role of the butler in "Birds of Prey" and "The Lost World: Jurassic Park," to perfection. He died in Los Angeles at the age of 77 from kidney failure and lymphoma in 2012.
Hairdresser (Taylor Negron) 1957-2015
A recently deceased "Seinfeld" character is Elaine's overly enthusiastic hairdresser from "The Smelly Car," played by the talented Taylor Negron. He was a comedian, actor, playwright and painter. He starred in films such as "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and "Angels in the Outfield." He displayed his paintings in solo exhibitions at the Los Angeles Laemmle Royal Theater. In 2008, he wrote "The Unbearable Lightness of Being Taylor Negron - A Fusion of Story and Song." Negron was a bit of a Renaissance man who died at 57 after a lengthy battle with cancer in January of 2015.
Cushman (Paul Gleason) 1939-2006
Gleason had a small but memorable role in "The Opposite," the episode where George goes against his very being to land a job with the New York Yankees. Gleason played the manager that hired him. Some of his memorable roles include the original "Die Hard," "Trading Places" and "The Breakfast Club." He was a man of '80s classics and continued strong until he died at age 67 from a form of lung cancer in 2006. He was also in "Ewoks: The Battle for Endor," a staple TV movie of my childhood.
The Original Frank Costanza (John Randolph) 1915-2004
George's dad in the first seasons before they cast Jerry Stiller as Frank Constanza was none other than John Randolph. He was part of the original production of "The Sound of Music," which dates back to 1959. You'll also remember him as Clark Griswold's father in the holiday classic, "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." He died of natural causes at the age of 88.
Alton Benes (Lawrence Tierney) 1919-2002
Elaine's novelist father, Alton Benes, appeared in an early episode, "The Jacket," in 1991, which was his first and only episode. Supposedly he was as scary off set as he was on, then allegedly stole a butcher knife from set, which nobody approached him about, you know, because he's so freaking scary. Being typecast as a mobster and overall tough guy - he played Jesse James, also John Dillinger in the 1945 "Dillinger" - Tierney played the role remarkably the same on "Seinfeld" as a hard ass Hemingway-esque, whiskey-loving writer who despises men with flamboyant linings in their coats. Tierney died in 2002 of pneumonia at age 82.
Mr. Hoyt (James Rebhorn) 1948-2014
Someone had to put those sons of bitches behind bars, and who better than James Reborn as the lawyer in part two of the series finale of "Seinfeld." His 16 years worth of experience on "Law & Order" made him more than qualified. Rebhorn died last year from melanoma at the age of 65. His last credit was as Frank Mathison, Carrie's (Claire Danes) father, in the first three seasons of "Homeland."
Howie (John Pinette) 1964-2014
In addition to being the fat guy the gang made fun of in the finale while he was getting mugged - you recall the Good Samaritan law - Pinette was also a Broadway performer and stand-up comedian. He passed away last year in his hotel room in Pittsburgh from natural causes at the age of 50. He was said to have struggled with liver and heart disease.