The Netflix comedy special Jerry BeforeSeinfeldarrived in fall 2017, with a title reminding us that the television giant was a popular standup comic way before he ever starred in one of the biggest TV shows of all time.Seinfeld, the show infamously about nothing that aired on NBC from the late ’80s till the late ’90s, featured plenty of A list talent before they were big celebrities, all throughout its near decade long run. Today we’re looking at 10 actors you forgot were onSeinfeld.
10Jeremy Piven
Larry Davidfamously wroteGeorge Costanzaas his proxy onSeinfeld. When Jerry and George were casting their pilot within the show, Jeremy Piven played Michael, who read for the part of George. It seems like he had more hair onEntourage. Hmm.
9Mariska Hargitay
Speaking of George and Jerry’s pilot, somebody had to playElaine, right? Mariska Hargitay, future star ofLaw & Order: SVU, played an actress who read for Elaine.
8Jon Favreau
Of all the famous clowns, from Pennywise to Ronald McDonald, we have to give a special shout-out to Eric the Clown, a children’s party entertainer played by Jon Favreau. Rolling Stone rankedSeinfeldat #5 on their list of the 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time and the actor/director showed up in the magazine’s pick for #1, too. Favreau played himself in a memorable episode of HBO’sThe Sopranos.
7Janeane Garofalo
In thatSopranosepisode, Favreau was directing a movie starring Janeane Garofalo, who made a cameo. Janeane was Jeannie on Seinfeld. Her and Jerry had “tremendous kiss compatibility.” She was in two episodes, starting withThe Invitations.
6Bryan Cranston
Speaking of Rolling Stone’s Greatest TV Shows of All Time,Breaking Badmade the list at #3. 14 years before he made his debut as Walter White in the acclaimed AMC drama, Bryan Cranston was onSeinfeldas infamous re-gifting dentist Tim Whatley.
5Anna Gunn
Bryan Cranston’s onscreen wife had aSeinfeld moment, too! Anna Gunn, future carwash operator and beleaguered conscience Skylar White, was in the episodeThe Glasses, as Jerry’s girlfriend, Amy. You may recall this is the episode where George’s glasses are stolen at the gym. This actually happened to aSeinfeldwriter.
4Bob Odenkirk
We are not finished withBreaking Badcast members! The man who defined Saul Goodman aka Jimmy McGill, a character we’d get to know even better on theBreaking BadspinoffBetter Call Saul, was also onSeinfeld. Bob Odenkirk was in the Season 8 episodeThe Abstinence, as a soon to be doctor who dumps Elaine.
3Patton Oswalt
Seinfeldcould be quite the playground for standups and comedic actors. Patton Oswalt gives it back to George in the Season 6 episodeThe Couchas a video store clerk. Remember video stores? That was a thing. We miss those. For real.
2Jennifer Coolidge
Stifler’s mom has always had it going on! Before theAmerican PieandLegally Blondemovies, Jennifer Coolidge played Jodi, Jerry’s massage therapist gal pal who didn’t care to work for free. Maybe Jerry was sore from learning to “bend and snap.”
1Teri Hatcher
From Lois Lane onLois and Clarkto Lex Luthor’s mom on the CW’sSupergirl, Teri Hatcher has always been more than just a Desperate Housewife. She’s even in aJames Bondmovie! She’s gotSeinfeldon her resumé, too, thanks to the Season 4 episode,The Implant. These ten are just the tip of the New York nothing iceberg, like so many ruffles on a poet shirt. Danny Strong, Amanda Peet, Chris Parnell, Lauren Graham, Megan Mullally, Kyle Gass, Marcia Cross, Kathy Griffin, so many cut their teeth (and in the case of Kristin Davis, brushed their teeth) during the show’s near impeachable run. Yeah, we didn’t like that series finale either, but theSeinfeld reunionwithinCurb Your Enthusiasmin 2009 absolutely made up for it. There’s even a near complete episode cut together from the show within a show, courtesy of actor Topher Grace. Now if only Topher would figure out a way to release hisStar Warsprequel edit.
