Michael Richards, the actor best known for his role as Cosmo Kramer on the iconic sitcom “Seinfeld,” has re-emerged into the public eye with the release of his new memoir, “Entrances and Exits.” At 74, Richards is making his first live television appearance in years, marking a significant moment in his life and career.
Richards, who has largely stayed out of the spotlight for the past two decades, speaks with a measured and reflective tone. His demeanor is a far cry from the frenetic energy of Kramer, a character whose eccentricities and physical comedy made him a household name. Despite his three Emmy wins and the lasting impact of his role, Richards has carried the weight of a career-altering incident that led him to retreat from public life.
In “Entrances and Exits,” Richards opens up about his tumultuous journey, from a challenging childhood and military service to his rise as a sitcom star and his struggles with cancel culture. The title of the memoir, inspired by Shakespeare, reflects the constant changes and transitions in his life. “It’s not just for the sake of performance,” Richards explains. “I’m constantly in a state of change, situations coming and going.”
Richards’ portrayal of Kramer was marked by his unique entrances and exits, often bursting through Jerry Seinfeld’s apartment door with a mix of physical comedy and quirky charm. “I used to play Kramer slow,” Richards recalls. “After 13 shows, I started playing him faster so that he’s ahead of everybody.” This change in pace became a defining characteristic of Kramer, along with his distinctive hairstyle, lobster-printed shirt, and catchphrase “Giddy up!”
To perfect Kramer’s signature slides into the apartment, Richards made modifications to his black Doc Martens shoes, sanding the soles and using silicone spray. “I hope that doesn’t disappoint people,” he says. “That they just think I had the magic to just slide in.” His entrances became so popular that the studio audience’s applause often had to be curtailed.
Richards’ dedication to physical comedy was evident in his performances, which often involved elaborate stunts and pratfalls. He introduced this physicality in the second season of “Seinfeld,” particularly in a scene where Kramer gets revenge on a laundromat by putting cement in their washing machine. “Rather than saying funny, I wanted to do funny,” Richards explains. “It just felt like a very whole performance.”
Despite his success, Richards found it difficult to enjoy the experience fully due to his intense focus on preparation and detail. “Kramer was built up from the shoes to the hair to the mannerisms,” he says. “It was a manufactured character. It was a study, a big study.”
Richards never watched an episode of “Seinfeld” while filming, fearing that his critical nature would detract from his performance. It wasn’t until recently, watching the series with his son Antonio, that he could appreciate the show objectively. “I just felt so proud to be a part of such a damn good show,” he says, tears in his eyes.
However, Richards’ career took a dramatic turn in 2006 when he responded to a heckler at the Laugh Factory with racial slurs. The incident, captured on video, led to widespread condemnation and effectively ended his career as a public entertainer. “I canceled myself out,” Richards admits. “To be so possessed by anger, that was so horrible, so embarrassing.”
Richards spent the next 18 years out of the spotlight, seeking to understand and address the source of his anger. “I welcomed the personal work,” he says. “I went into analysis. I was ready for it. I think I was having a kind of midlife crisis.”
In 2018, Richards was diagnosed with prostate cancer, a moment that prompted deep reflection and ultimately led him to write his memoir. “The cancer certainly set me up for some big reveal work,” he says. “I wanted to leave something for the fans of ‘Seinfeld.’ I wanted to share the process of how I made the K-Man.”
Richards’ return to the public eye with “Entrances and Exits” offers a candid look at his life, career, and the personal struggles that have shaped him. As he considers the possibility of returning to acting, Richards reflects on the impact of “Seinfeld” and the connection it created with audiences. “I wish I could have enjoyed it more then,” he says. “Now, I do indeed enjoy it. But it just took a while to come into my heart.”
As Richards makes his exit from the studio, he leaves behind a legacy of laughter, introspection, and a story that continues to resonate with fans old and new.
