Seinfeld star Hiram Kasten has died. The comedian died on Sunday aged 71, in his wife’s arms just hours after their 38th wedding anniversary, at his home in New York . An obituary posted on his official Facebook page recalls ‘his dream was always to be an actor’, and follows his career through theatre and comedy, and a variety of TV shows including 90s sitcom Seinfeld.
Kasten struck up a friendship with Jerry Seinfeld that lasted 45 years after meeting on the comedy circuit, and went on to play Michael, a co-worker to Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) in the sitcom. His first acting gig however came when he moved to LA from New York, and landed a role in the pilot of Dr Paradise alongside Frank Langella and Sally Kellerman. He also held guest-starring roles in Everybody Loves Raymond, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Saved by the Bell and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
In 2017, health battles stopped Kasten performing and continuing to pursue his career. Those included prostate cancer and a lifelong battle with Crohn’s disease, as well as other illnesses in the last seven years. He told his loved ones and close friends of his terminal illness in the last six months, with his wife Diana saying ‘it prolonged his life for at least another two months to be able to laugh with his peers’.
He is survived by his wife and daughter. Tributes have been paid by fans, with Michael writing: ‘Multi talented. Act, sing, dance, direct, write.
A heart as large as h.
