Immortalized as Cosmo Kramer on the classic American sitcom Seinfeld, L.A. comedy star Michael Richards, born in Culver City, California, developed an early interest in acting in high school. He attended the California Institute of the Arts and graduated at Evergreen State College in Washington with his BFA in drama. Around this time, he founded an improv company with Ed Begley Jr. although it didn't last long. Michael interrupted his fledgling career with a two-year stint in the Army and lived a rather wanderlust lifestyle until finally grounding himself again in theater. First performing with the San Diego Repertory Company, he subsequently returned to L.A. where he developed a stand-up comedy act.

Inspired by the physical comedy of such legends as Charles Chaplin and Jacques Tati, he paid his dues on the comedy circuit until comedian Billy Crystal noticed him and gave him a break on one of his comedy specials. Michael earned a regular spot on the sketch comedy series Fridays, where he created the character of Battle Boy who liked to blow up army soldiers. He also appeared in such minor slapstick films as Young Doctors in Love and Transylvania 6-5000.

Everything finally came together for the elastic-faced comedian in 1989, after being cast as Cosmo Kramer, Jerry Seinfeld's convulsive, frizzy-mopped neighbor and pal on Seinfeld. The frenzied character earned him three Emmy awards and instant cult status. What can be a blessing, however, can also be a curse. So strongly identified with the Kramer character, Michael has major concerns once the series ended in 1998.

Despite great comedy work in the films Unstrung Heroes and Trial and Error, he didn't nab a strong career in film. Meanwhile, a subsequent sitcom vehicle The Michael Richards Show, in which he served as creator, co-writer, and co-executive producer, went down the tubes quickly after his character was criticized as too one-note and "Kramer-esque" in style. Like other similar actors before him, such as Carroll O'Connor, the versatile Michael is smartly riding out the Kramer storm until he finds the right time to resurface.
Attended Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington, USA. Attended the California Institute of the Arts. Was originally cast in 1986 as Al Bundy in _"Married... with Children" (1987)_ . Most renowned for his role as Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld. His character in Seinfeld was named Kessler in the original pilot. Cosmo Kramer, his character in Seinfeld, always wore clothes one size too big to make him appear to be laid back and loose. Is a 33-degree Scottish Rite Freemason. Is a Vietnam-era Army Veteran. He was drafted and served for two years in West Germany. Auditioned for the role of Al Bundy on "Married... With Children". His big dream when he started acting was to play a detective. This led him to create The Michael Richards Show, a sitcom about a private detective agency. The show flopped and was quickly canceled. Later he was considered for a role in another detective show, Monk, which ultimately went to Tony Shaloub. Was the actor Andy Kaufman threw water on during a "live" skit (this particular series of events was actually predetermined) on _"Fridays" (1980)_ . In the Kaufman biopic Man on the Moon, Richards' character was played by Norm MacDonald. Is the only cast member on Seinfeld who has never hosted SNL 25.