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Cosmo Kramer, usually referred to as simply "Kramer", is a
fictional character In fiction, a character (or speaker, in poetry) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life perso ...
in the American television sitcom '' Seinfeld'' (1989–1998) played by Michael Richards. The character is loosely based on comedian
Kenny Kramer Kenny Kramer (born May 1943) is an American former stand-up comedian, who was the inspiration for the character of Cosmo Kramer from the television sitcom ''Seinfeld''. Early life Kramer grew up in New York City, in the Tremont section of the ...
,
Larry David Lawrence Gene David (born July 2, 1947) is an American comedian, writer, actor, and television producer. He and Jerry Seinfeld created the television sitcom ''Seinfeld'', on which David was head writer and executive producer for the first seve ...
's ex-neighbor across the hall. Kramer is the neighbor of the series' main character, Jerry Seinfeld, and is friends with
George Costanza George Louis Costanza is a fictional character in the American television sitcom ''Seinfeld'' (1989–1998), played by Jason Alexander. He is a short, stocky, balding man who struggles with numerous insecurities, often dooming his romantic rela ...
and
Elaine Benes Elaine Marie Benes () is a fictional character on the American television sitcom ''Seinfeld'', played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Elaine's best friend in the sitcom is her ex-boyfriend Jerry Seinfeld, and she is also good friends with George Costanz ...
. Of the series' four central characters, only Kramer has no visible means of support; what few jobs he holds seem to be nothing more than larks. A
lovable rogue The lovable rogue is a fictional stock character, often from a working-class upbringing, who tends to recklessly defy social norms and social conventions, but who still evokes empathy from the audience or other characters. Description Characte ...
, his trademarks include his upright hairstyle and vintage wardrobe, whose combination led Elaine to characterize him as a " hipster doofus"; his taste in fresh fruit; love of occasional smoking,
Cuban cigars Cuban cigars are cigars manufactured in Cuba from tobacco grown within that island nation. Historically regarded as among the world's “finest”, they are synonymous with the island's culture and contribute nearly one quarter of the value of a ...
in particular; bursts through Jerry's apartment door without knocking; frequent pratfalls and penchant for nonsensical, percussive outbursts of noise to indicate
skepticism Skepticism, also spelled scepticism, is a questioning attitude or doubt toward knowledge claims that are seen as mere belief or dogma. For example, if a person is skeptical about claims made by their government about an ongoing war then the p ...
, agreement, irritation and a variety of other feelings. He has been described as "an extraordinary cross between
Eraserhead ''Eraserhead'' is a 1977 American surrealist film, surrealist horror film written, directed, produced, and edited by David Lynch. Lynch also created its Eraserhead (soundtrack), score and sound design, which included pieces by a variety of oth ...
and
Herman Munster Herman Munster is a fictional character in the CBS sitcom '' The Munsters'', originally played by Fred Gwynne. The patriarch of the Munster household, Herman is one of Frankenstein’s monsters, created in a lab in Germany in the nineteenth ...
". Kramer appeared in all but two episodes: " The Chinese Restaurant" and "
The Pen "The Pen" is the 20th episode of '' Seinfeld'', the third episode of the third season which first aired on October 2, 1991. This is the only episode in which the character of George Costanza does not appear and one of two episodes in which Kr ...
", in the second and third seasons, respectively. In the pilot episode, Kramer was called "Kessler" to prevent legal issues; Kenny Kramer later permitted the use of his name.


Background and family

In " The Trip", Kramer says a man in a park exposed himself to him when he was a young boy. In "
The Big Salad "The Big Salad" is the 88th episode of the NBC sitcom '' Seinfeld''. This was the second episode for the sixth season. It aired on September 29, 1994. In this episode, George becomes irritated when he doesn't receive thanks for buying Elaine a sal ...
" Kramer reveals to Jerry that he grew up in a strict household where he had to be in bed every night by 9:00PM. Kramer never completed high school; however, it is made clear in " The Barber" that Kramer has a
GED The General Educational Development (GED) tests are a group of four subject tests which, when passed, provide certification that the test taker has United States or Canadian high school-level academic skills. It is an alternative to the US high ...
. Kramer was estranged for a long period from his mother, Babs Kramer, who works as a restroom matron at an upscale restaurant. Unlike
George George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd Presid ...
and Jerry, Kramer's character does not have a well-developed network of family members shown in the sitcom. He is the only main character on the show whose father never makes an appearance; in "
The Chinese Woman "The Chinese Woman" is the 90th episode of the NBC sitcom '' Seinfeld''. This was the fourth episode for the sixth season. It aired on October 13, 1994. In this episode Jerry dates a woman who he believes is Chinese due to her name, Donna Chang, ...
", Kramer mentions that he is the last male member of his family, implying that his father had died. He also mentions in "
The Lip Reader "The Lip Reader" is the 70th episode of the sitcom '' Seinfeld''. It is the sixth episode of the fifth season, and first aired on October 28, 1993. In this episode, George gets Jerry's deaf girlfriend to use her lip reading talent to eavesdrop on ...
" that he has or had a deaf cousin, from whom he learned fluent American Sign Language. He also has no children. In "
The Strong Box "The Strongbox" is the 170th episode of the NBC sitcom '' Seinfeld''. This was the 14th episode for the ninth and final season. It aired on February 5, 1998. In this episode, George's girlfriend stubbornly refuses to accept his breaking up with he ...
", it is revealed that Kramer spent a brief time in the
Army An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
, although info about this time is "classified". In "
The Robbery "The Robbery" is the third episode of the first season of the NBC sitcom '' Seinfeld''. It aired as the third episode of the season on June 7, 1990. It was written by Matt Goldman, making this the first ''Seinfeld'' episode not written by the s ...
", he says he lived in
Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
for three months.


Personality

Though eccentric, Kramer is generally caring, friendly and kind-hearted; he often goes out of his way to help total strangers, and tries to get his friends to also help others and to do the right thing even when they do not want to. He is confident in his own unique way of doing things, yet he can be neurotic and highly-strung. His quirkiness, strange body movements and frequent gibberish mutterings have become his trademark. He is also well liked by Jerry's parents, who he calls once a week, as if he was their own son. Kramer was originally envisioned as a recluse who never left his apartment except to visit Jerry. This was the original reason behind why Kramer helps himself to Jerry's possessions and food without any pushback and also why he is absent from the season two episode "The Chinese Restaurant," which takes place entirely outside of the building. However, in season three Kramer starts to join Jerry, Elaine, and George in various scenes outside of the building. As the series progresses, Kramer completely loses any hints of reclusiveness and becomes one of the most extroverted characters on the show. Kramer also gets his friends directly into trouble by talking them into unwise or even illegal actions such as parking in a disabled parking space (" The Handicap Spot"), urinating in a parking garage ("
The Parking Garage "The Parking Garage" is the 23rd episode of the situation comedy ''Seinfeld''. It was the sixth episode of the show's third season. It aired on October 30, 1991 on NBC. Written by Larry David and directed by Tom Cherones, the episode takes place ...
"), committing
mail fraud Mail fraud and wire fraud are terms used in the United States to describe the use of a physical or electronic mail system to defraud another, and are federal crimes there. Jurisdiction is claimed by the federal government if the illegal activity ...
(" The Package") or even hiring an
assassin Assassination is the murder of a prominent or important person, such as a head of state, head of government, politician, world leader, member of a royal family or CEO. The murder of a celebrity, activist, or artist, though they may not have a ...
to get rid of a dog (" The Engagement"). Kramer is also known to mooch off his friends, especially Jerry. Kramer regularly enters and uses Jerry's apartment without knocking, and often helps himself to Jerry's food. Kramer also uses tools/appliances of Jerry's, only occasionally with permission, and often returning them in a state of disrepair. Kramer is known for his extreme honesty and lack of tact; in "
The Nose Job "The Nose Job" is the 26th episode of '' Seinfeld''. It is the ninth episode of the show's third season. It first aired on November 20, 1991. The episode was written by Peter Mehlman and was directed by Tom Cherones. Plot Kramer wants a jacket b ...
", he tells George's insecure girlfriend that she needs a nose job. In " The Kiss Hello" Elaine tries to take advantage of this personality quirk by inviting Kramer to meet her friend, Wendy, whose hairstyle she feels is outdated. Kramer rarely gets into trouble for his candor, but his friends often do; in "
The Cartoon ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...
", Kramer makes comments to
Sally Weaver This is a list of characters who appeared on '' Seinfeld''. This list features only characters who appeared in multiple episodes; those that appeared in only one are not included here. Primary characters Jerry Seinfeld George Costanza Elain ...
, who then blames Jerry for "ruining her life" as a result. In general, Kramer excels at persuading Jerry into doing things against his better judgment. Kramer has displayed an almost unbending loyalty toward Jerry, such as in " The Millennium" and " The Bottle Deposit.", risking the failure of his own plans for Jerry's benefit. Kramer also thought nothing of giving Jerry a large amount of his banked blood in The Blood. In the same respect, Jerry has helped Kramer out of good will and always seems to forgive and ultimately accept Kramer's mooching tendencies. At times, Jerry is entertained by Kramer's antics, which may also be a factor in the friendship's endurance. However, Kramer is also quick to assume the worst of Jerry, believing him guilty of everything from sabotaging a Miss America contestant (in " The Chaperone") to having a double life as a
Nazi Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in ...
leader (in " The Limo"), and is often oblivious to his sentiments. In "
The Serenity Now "The Serenity Now" is the 159th episode of the NBC sitcom '' Seinfeld''. This was the third episode of the ninth and final season. It aired in the U.S. on October 9, 1997.Newman, though like the main characters they frequently get into conflict with each other, most notably in "
The Butter Shave "The Butter Shave" is the 157th episode of the NBC sitcom '' Seinfeld''. It is also the first episode of the ninth and final season. It aired on September 25, 1997. In this episode, George gets a new job and preferential treatment due to his co-wor ...
", in which Newman attempts to eat Kramer alive. Their
get-rich-quick scheme A get-rich-quick scheme is a plan to obtain high rates of return for a small investment. The term "get rich quick" has been used to describe shady investments since at least the early 20th century. Most schemes create an impression that part ...
s appear in " The Old Man" and "The Bottle Deposit". One of Kramer's friends, Bob Sacamano, is referred to by Kramer on several occasions, yet never makes an onscreen appearance. Sacamano is used as a source for several weird anecdotes, nutty ideas, or inaccurate information. Lomez is another good friend of Kramer's who is mentioned, yet never makes an appearance. Kramer's apartment is the subject of numerous radical experiments in
interior design Interior design is the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using the space. An interior designer is someone who plans, researches, coordi ...
. Oftentimes, the "experiments" never happen due to Kramer's inherent short-attention span, including his plan to eliminate all furniture and build "levels... like ancient Egypt" in "
The Pony Remark "The Pony Remark" is the second episode of the second season of the NBC sitcom '' Seinfeld'', and the seventh episode overall. The episode was written by series co-creators Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, based on a remark David once made. In th ...
". He reconstructed the set of ''
The Merv Griffin Show ''The Merv Griffin Show'' is an American television talk show starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, May 10, 1965 to July 4, 1969 in first-run syndication, from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 1972 ...
'' in "
The Merv Griffin Show ''The Merv Griffin Show'' is an American television talk show starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, May 10, 1965 to July 4, 1969 in first-run syndication, from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 1972 ...
". Inside views of Kramer's apartment are seldom seen, but it's known that he installed hardwood flooring and woodgrain-like wallpaper to, as he explains to Jerry, "give it the feel of a ski lodge." The apartment is centered around a large hot tub and couch styled after a 1957 Chevy. The apartment is decorated with many small statues of people, all made entirely out of
pasta Pasta (, ; ) is a type of food typically made from an unleavened dough of wheat flour mixed with water or eggs, and formed into sheets or other shapes, then cooked by boiling or baking. Rice flour, or legumes such as beans or lentils, ar ...
. Kramer has also experimented with his apartment entrance, including reversing his peephole "to prevent an ambush" in " The Reverse Peephole" and installing a screen door in "
The Serenity Now "The Serenity Now" is the 159th episode of the NBC sitcom '' Seinfeld''. This was the third episode of the ninth and final season. It aired in the U.S. on October 9, 1997.The Abstinence "The Abstinence" is the 143rd episode of the American sitcom ''Seinfeld''. This was the ninth episode for the eighth season, originally broadcast on the NBC network on November 21, 1996. This episode focuses on George and Elaine's experiments wi ...
" he sets up a smoking club in his apartment, which included a regularly-scheduled "pipe night" for those who preferred pipe tobacco to cigars and/or cigarettes. His face gets ruined after so much smoking and he hires Jackie Chiles to sue the cigarette company, but instead gets his image as the
Marlboro Man The Marlboro Man is a figure that was used in tobacco advertising campaigns for Marlboro cigarettes. In the United States, where the campaign originated, it was used from 1954 to 1999. The Marlboro Man was first conceived by Leo Burnett in 1954. ...
on the Marlboro billboard in
Times Square Times Square is a major commercial intersection, tourist destination, entertainment hub, and neighborhood in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is formed by the junction of Broadway, Seventh Avenue, and 42nd Street. Together with adjacent ...
. He hires Cuban cigar rollers in an attempt to make his own Cuban cigars in "
The English Patient ''The English Patient'' is a 1992 novel by Michael Ondaatje. The book follows four dissimilar people brought together at an Italian villa during the Italian Campaign of the Second World War. The four main characters are: an unrecognisably burn ...
". Richards's portrayal of the Kramer character closely resembles that of Stanley Spadowski, a janitor-turned-children's-TV-host he played in the 1989
comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...
'' UHF'', starring "Weird Al" Yankovic. Kramer's conversation sometimes contains
onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia is the process of creating a word that phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the sound that it describes. Such a word itself is also called an onomatopoeia. Common onomatopoeias include animal noises such as ''oink'', '' ...
or nonsensical sounds in order to stress an emotional point or describe earlier actions. He sometimes expresses his agreement with a sentiment or suggestion via the word " giddyup". He indicates pleasure with "Oh, Mama!" and frustration or disgust with "Oh... yeah!" Of the four main characters, Kramer has the fewest on-screen romantic relationships. He has no trouble attracting women, but interactions with them usually begin and end with purely carnal encounters. What few relationships he has are short-lived.


Development


Inspiration

The character of Kramer was originally based on the real-life
Kenny Kramer Kenny Kramer (born May 1943) is an American former stand-up comedian, who was the inspiration for the character of Cosmo Kramer from the television sitcom ''Seinfeld''. Early life Kramer grew up in New York City, in the Tremont section of the ...
, a neighbor of co-creator
Larry David Lawrence Gene David (born July 2, 1947) is an American comedian, writer, actor, and television producer. He and Jerry Seinfeld created the television sitcom ''Seinfeld'', on which David was head writer and executive producer for the first seve ...
from New York. However, Michael Richards did not in any way base his performance on the real Kramer, to the point of refusing to meet him. This was later parodied in "
The Pilot A pilot is a person who flies or navigates an aircraft. Pilot or The Pilot may also refer to: * Maritime pilot, a person who guides ships through hazardous waters * Television pilot, a television episode used to sell a series to a television netw ...
" when the actor that is cast to play him in Jerry and George's sitcom refuses to base the character on the real Cosmo Kramer. At the time of the shooting of the original ''Seinfeld''
pilot An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its directional flight controls. Some other aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are also considered aviators, because they a ...
, "
The Seinfeld Chronicles "The Seinfeld Chronicles" (also known as "Good News, Bad News", "Pilot", "The Premiere", or simply "Seinfeld") is the pilot episode of the American sitcom ''Seinfeld'', which first aired on NBC on July 5, 1989. The first of the 180 ''Seinfeld' ...
," Kenny Kramer had not yet given consent to use his name, and so Kramer's character was originally known as "Kessler." Larry David was hesitant to use Kenny Kramer's real name because he suspected that Kramer would take advantage of this. David's suspicion turned out to be correct; Kenny Kramer created the "Kramer Reality Tour", a
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
bus tour that points out actual locations of events or places featured in ''Seinfeld''. The "Kramer Reality Tour" is itself spoofed on ''Seinfeld'' in "
The Muffin Tops "The Muffin Tops" is the 155th episode of the sitcom ''Seinfeld''. This was the 21st episode of the eighth season. It aired on May 8, 1997. In this episode, George dates a woman while pretending to be a tourist from Arkansas, Kramer starts runn ...
." In the episode, when Kramer's real-life stories are used by Elaine to pad the biography of J. Peterman she was ghostwriting, Kramer develops a reality bus tour called "The Peterman Reality Tour" and touts himself as "The Real J. Peterman". Richards' physicality can be seen in his early 1980s appearances on ''The Tonight Show'', the early 1980s ABC sketch comedy show "Fridays", and his appearance in the film "Young Doctors in Love" where he plays a hit man; a nod to this appears in the "Air Conditioner" episode.


Given and surnames

Kramer was known only as "Kramer" during the show's first five seasons (from 1990 to 1994). In "
The Seinfeld Chronicles "The Seinfeld Chronicles" (also known as "Good News, Bad News", "Pilot", "The Premiere", or simply "Seinfeld") is the pilot episode of the American sitcom ''Seinfeld'', which first aired on NBC on July 5, 1989. The first of the 180 ''Seinfeld' ...
", Jerry referred to him as "Kessler", which was his original name for the show, until it was changed to "Kramer". However, in the first draft of the script, he was named "Hoffman". In a flashback in "
The Betrayal "The Betrayal" is the 164th episode of the NBC sitcom '' Seinfeld''. This was the eighth episode for the ninth and final season. It aired on November 20, 1997. In this episode, Jerry betrays George by having sex with his girlfriend Nina, right be ...
", Kramer says that his name is incorrectly listed as "Kessler" in the apartment building. This
retcon Retroactive continuity, or retcon for short, is a literary device in which established diegetic facts in the plot of a fictional work (those established through the narrative itself) are adjusted, ignored, supplemented, or contradicted by a subs ...
s the pilot's use of "Kessler" as the character's name.
George George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd Presid ...
finds out his first name of "Cosmo" through an encounter with Kramer's long estranged mom, Babs, in " The Switch". For the most part, characters continued to call him Kramer for the remainder of the show's run. The name "Cosmo" was suggested by Larry David; he took the name from a boy who lived in the same apartment building as him and
Kenny Kramer Kenny Kramer (born May 1943) is an American former stand-up comedian, who was the inspiration for the character of Cosmo Kramer from the television sitcom ''Seinfeld''. Early life Kramer grew up in New York City, in the Tremont section of the ...
. The episode titled " The Bet" would have revealed Kramer's first name as "Conrad", not "Cosmo", but it was never filmed.


Employment

Despite the failure of the majority of his schemes and his unwillingness to even apply for a normal job, Kramer always seems to have money when he needs it. In the episode " The Shoes", Jerry remarks that Kramer received a "ton of money" at some earlier point in his life (presumably via inheritance). In "
The Visa "The Visa" is the 55th episode of the sitcom '' Seinfeld''. It is the 15th episode of the fourth season. It aired on January 27, 1993. In this episode, Jerry pretends to be deeply morose in front of George's girlfriend Cheryl so as not to make Ge ...
", George makes a comment about Kramer going to a fantasy camp, and how Kramer's "whole life is a fantasy camp. People should plunk down two thousand dollars to live like him for a week. Do nothing, fall ass-backwards into money, mooch food off your neighbors, and have sex without dating. That's a fantasy camp." As a younger man, Kramer had several jobs. In the episode "
The Strong Box "The Strongbox" is the 170th episode of the NBC sitcom '' Seinfeld''. This was the 14th episode for the ninth and final season. It aired on February 5, 1998. In this episode, George's girlfriend stubbornly refuses to accept his breaking up with he ...
", Kramer says he was briefly in the army, and claims the reason for his discharge is classified. In the episode "
The Muffin Tops "The Muffin Tops" is the 155th episode of the sitcom ''Seinfeld''. This was the 21st episode of the eighth season. It aired on May 8, 1997. In this episode, George dates a woman while pretending to be a tourist from Arkansas, Kramer starts runn ...
", Kramer mentions shaving his chest when he was a lifeguard. His long term unemployed status is explained in "
The Strike ''The Strike'' (also known as ''Strike!'', although this is more properly the title of the fictitious Hollywood movie featured in the episode) is one of the short comedy films – written by Peter Richardson and Pete Richens, and directed by Ric ...
", when he goes back to work at
H&H Bagels H&H Bagels is a bagel company in New York City that has been described as "classic," "famous," and "iconic." The original store has closed, but five retail locations on the Upper East Side and Upper West Side of Manhattan and at John F. Kennedy I ...
after being on
strike Strike may refer to: People * Strike (surname) Physical confrontation or removal *Strike (attack), attack with an inanimate object or a part of the human body intended to cause harm *Airstrike, military strike by air forces on either a suspected ...
since 1985. He is fired by the end of the episode. In the episode "
The Bizarro Jerry "The Bizarro Jerry" is the 137th episode of the United States, American television sitcom ''Seinfeld''. This was the third episode of the eighth season, originally airing on the NBC network on October 3, 1996. The title and plot extensively referen ...
" Kramer accidentally begins working for a company called Brandt-Leland. He is fired later in the episode because he has "no business training at all." He is a
compulsive gambler Problem gambling or ludomania is repetitive gambling behavior despite harm and negative consequences. Problem gambling may be diagnosed as a mental disorder according to ''DSM-5'' if certain diagnostic criteria are met. Pathological gambling is ...
who successfully avoids gambling for several years until " The Diplomat's Club", in which he bets with a wealthy
Texan Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by bo ...
on the arrival and departure times of flights going into New York's
LaGuardia Airport LaGuardia Airport is a civil airport in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City. Covering , the facility was established in 1929 and began operating as a public airport in 1939. It is named after former New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia ...
. A struggling (and terrible) actor, Kramer's first gig was a one-line part in a
Woody Allen Heywood "Woody" Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg; November 30, 1935) is an American film director, writer, actor, and comedian whose career spans more than six decades and multiple Academy Award-winning films. He began his career writing ...
movie in "
The Alternate Side "The Alternate Side" is the 28th episode of the sitcom ''Seinfeld''. The episode was the 11th episode of the show's third season, and aired on December 4, 1991. The episode was written by Larry David and Bill Masters, and was directed by Tom Cher ...
" (his line, "These pretzels are making me thirsty", becomes the show's first
catchphrase A catchphrase (alternatively spelled catch phrase) is a phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance. Such phrases often originate in popular culture and in the arts, and typically spread through word of mouth and a variety of mass ...
). Although he is fired before completing his scene, he says he "caught the bug" because of it, and briefly moves to
Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
to pursue a career in Hollywood. After returning to New York, Kramer auditions for the role of "Kramer" in the pilot of a new sitcom called ''Jerry'', using his stage name of Martin van Nostrand ("
The Pilot A pilot is a person who flies or navigates an aircraft. Pilot or The Pilot may also refer to: * Maritime pilot, a person who guides ships through hazardous waters * Television pilot, a television episode used to sell a series to a television netw ...
"). He is unable to complete the audition due to an intestinal problem. Kramer later works as a stand-in on a
soap opera A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...
with his friend
Mickey Abbott This is a list of characters who appeared on '' Seinfeld''. This list features only characters who appeared in multiple episodes; those that appeared in only one are not included here. Primary characters Jerry Seinfeld George Costanza Elain ...
in " The Stand In" and various other low-paying or non-paying theater projects, such as acting out illnesses at a medical school in " The Burning".


Inventions, entrepreneurship, and lawsuits

Kramer shows an entrepreneurial bent with "Kramerica Industries," for which he devises plans for a pizza place where customers make their own pie ("
Male Unbonding "Male Unbonding" is the fourth episode of the first season of the NBC sitcom '' Seinfeld'' and aired on June 14, 1990. Despite airing fourth, it was the second episode produced. In it, Jerry Seinfeld tries to avoid meeting an old childhood frien ...
"), a bladder system for tankers that will "put an end to maritime
oil spills An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the marine ecosystem, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution. The term is usually given to marine oil spills, where oil is released into th ...
" ("
The Voice The Voice may refer to: Fictional entities * The Voice or Presence, a fictional representation of God in DC Comics * The Voice (''Dune''), a fictional ability in the ''Dune'' universe * The Voice, a character in the American TV series ''Cleo ...
"), and a product that will put ketchup and mustard in the same bottle. In "
The Friar's Club "The Friar's Club" is the 128th episode of NBC sitcom '' Seinfeld''. This is the 18th episode for the seventh season, originally airing on March 7, 1996. In this episode, Jerry jeopardizes his chances of becoming a member of the New York Friars ...
", he creates a
concept restaurant A theme restaurant is a type of restaurant that uses theming to attract diners by creating a memorable experience. Theme restaurants have a unifying or dominant subject or concept, and utilize architecture, decor, special effects, and other tech ...
that only serves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which he calls P.B. & Js. He also comes up with the idea of a beach-scented cologne in "
The Pez Dispenser "The Pez Dispenser" is the 31st episode of the sitcom '' Seinfeld''. The episode was the fourteenth episode of the show's third season. It aired on January 15, 1992. The episode was written by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David and was directed by To ...
", but a marketing executive for Calvin Klein tells him the idea is ridiculous. Despite this, it is revealed in the episode "
The Pick "The Pick" is the 53rd episode of the sitcom '' Seinfeld''. It is the 13th episode of the fourth season, and first aired on December 16, 1992. In this episode, Elaine mistakenly mails out a Christmas card in which her nipple is exposed to all h ...
" that Calvin Klein began making an ocean-scented cologne. Calvin Klein offers to allow Kramer to be an underwear model, which Kramer accepts. In " The Doorman", Kramer and
Frank Costanza This is a list of characters who appeared on ''Seinfeld''. This list features only characters who appeared in multiple episodes; those that appeared in only one are not included here. Primary characters Jerry Seinfeld George Costanza Elaine ...
co-develop a prototype for a
bra A bra, short for brassiere or brassière (, or ; ), is a form-fitting undergarment that is primarily used to support and cover breasts. It can serve a range of other practical and aesthetic purposes, including enhancing or reducing the appea ...
for men called the "bro" or the "manssiere". In "
The Muffin Tops "The Muffin Tops" is the 155th episode of the sitcom ''Seinfeld''. This was the 21st episode of the eighth season. It aired on May 8, 1997. In this episode, George dates a woman while pretending to be a tourist from Arkansas, Kramer starts runn ...
", Kramer initiates The Peterman Reality Bus Tour, charging customers $37.50 for a tour of his life. Kramer also hatches a scheme to smuggle
Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
ns to the United States to make
Cuban cigars Cuban cigars are cigars manufactured in Cuba from tobacco grown within that island nation. Historically regarded as among the world's “finest”, they are synonymous with the island's culture and contribute nearly one quarter of the value of a ...
, only to learn the "Cubans" are actually Dominicans ("
The English Patient ''The English Patient'' is a 1992 novel by Michael Ondaatje. The book follows four dissimilar people brought together at an Italian villa during the Italian Campaign of the Second World War. The four main characters are: an unrecognisably burn ...
"). He participates in lawsuits against various people and companies and considers himself "very litigious". He is always represented in these lawsuits by
Jackie Chiles Jackie Chiles is a fictional character portrayed by American actor Phil Morris in the NBC sitcom '' Seinfeld''. He appears in the series' seventh through ninth seasons as Cosmo Kramer's lawyer. Character Chiles is a parody of famed attorney J ...
. In " The Maestro," he settles one such suit (though receiving no monetary compensation) against a coffee company whose beverages are too hot (a reference to the
McDonald's coffee case ''Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants'', also known as the McDonald's coffee case and the hot coffee lawsuit, was a highly publicized 1994 product liability lawsuit in the United States against the McDonald's restaurant chain. The plaintiff, Ste ...
). In "
The Abstinence "The Abstinence" is the 143rd episode of the American sitcom ''Seinfeld''. This was the ninth episode for the eighth season, originally broadcast on the NBC network on November 21, 1996. This episode focuses on George and Elaine's experiments wi ...
," Kramer sues a tobacco company for the damage its products cause to his appearance, and in "
The Caddy ''The Caddy'' is a 1953 American semi- musical-comedy- sports film starring the comedy team of Martin and Lewis. It is noteworthy for Dean Martin introducing the hit song "That's Amore". Plot Harvey Miller, whose father was a famous golf pro, is ...
," he sues Sue Ellen Mischke for causing a traffic accident.


Coffee table book about coffee tables

A storyline running throughout the fifth season is the development of one of Kramer's few successful ideas. Kramer first thinks of the book in "
The Cigar Store Indian "The Cigar Store Indian" is the 74th episode of the NBC sitcom '' Seinfeld''. It is the tenth episode of the fifth season, and first aired on December 9, 1993. In this episode, Jerry has troubles with appearing racially insensitive in front of a ...
", although he later claims that he first had the idea when skiing. Throughout the season, his quest to get the book published becomes a running gag. Pendant Publishing (where Elaine and Kramer's then-girlfriend work) decides to publish it in " The Fire". In "
The Opposite ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
", Kramer starts his "book tour" with an appearance on ''
Regis and Kathie Lee ''Live with Kelly and Mark'' (or simply ''Live'') is an American Broadcast syndication, syndicated breakfast television, morning talk show hosted by Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. Executive produced by Michael Gelman, the ''Live with...'' show ...
''. By accidentally spitting his
coffee Coffee is a drink prepared from roasted coffee beans. Darkly colored, bitter, and slightly acidic, coffee has a stimulating effect on humans, primarily due to its caffeine content. It is the most popular hot drink in the world. Seeds of ...
over Kathie Lee Gifford ("All over my Kathie Lee Casuals!"), his book tour goes down in flames. Elaine inadvertently causes the end of Pendant Publishing and therefore the end of Kramer's book. In the episode "
The Wizard Wizard, the wizard, or wizards may refer to: * Wizard (fantasy), a fictional practitioner of magic * Wizard (supernatural), a practitioner of magic Art, entertainment and media Fictional characters * Wizard (Archie Comics), a comic book supe ...
" it is revealed that the book is being made into a movie. The money Kramer makes allows him to briefly retire to Florida and run for president of the condo board at Del Boca Vista, Phase 3. The book itself is full of pictures of celebrities' coffee tables, and even had a pair of foldable wooden legs so that it could itself be turned into a coffee table. He also says that he has plans for a coaster to be built into the cover. Tom Gammill and Max Pross, writers of "The Cigar Store Indian", came up with the idea of the coffee table book about coffee tables, and Larry David added on the idea of the foldout legs to turn it into a coffee table.


Physical moments

Kramer's physical eccentricities are a frequent source of humor. His entrance is a recurring gag. He frequently 'slides' into Jerry's apartment, often resulting in applause, as in " The Virgin". In " The Revenge", Kramer clumsily carries a dry sack of cement powder to the washing machine. In " The Foundation", he takes on a group of kids at a karate school, and in "
The Van Buren Boys "The Van Buren Boys" is the 148th episode of the sitcom '' Seinfeld''. This was the 14th episode for the 8th season, originally airing on February 6, 1997. In this episode, everyone is convinced Jerry's new girlfriend is a loser, Elaine ghostwri ...
", after giving his stories to Elaine to write, he slips up on the golf balls and lands on the floor. In " The Subway", Kramer fights to get a seat with several people on a Subway. He falls a couple times and ends up not getting a seat. Kramer and Newman had been playing the game ''
Risk In simple terms, risk is the possibility of something bad happening. Risk involves uncertainty about the effects/implications of an activity with respect to something that humans value (such as health, well-being, wealth, property or the environm ...
'' for a while. When they were done, Kramer drops the game off at Jerry's apartment. Before he puts it onto the table, he clears the table with his leg with papers flying off. When Kramer and Jerry were going to see a movie, Kramer hid his coffee under his shirt due to him not being allowed to bring it in. Kramer then spills the coffee on himself when he was about to sit down, burning himself in the process. Kramer became a model for Calvin Klein when he went to their office. He showed off his buttocks in white underwear in front of a few Calvin Klein executives. Just before they wanted to take him in to their studio, Kramer has a pratfall in the underwear.


Pseudonyms

Like the other three characters, Kramer has
pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...
s he uses in various schemes. Under the name H.E. Pennypacker in "
The Puerto Rican Day "The Puerto Rican Day" is the 176th episode of the NBC sitcom '' Seinfeld''. It aired on May 7, 1998, and was the 20th episode of the ninth and final season. It was the show's second-highest-rated episode of all time, with 38.8 million viewers, o ...
", Kramer poses as a prospective buyer interested in an elegant apartment in order to use its bathroom. Kramer also appears as Pennypacker to help Elaine get revenge on a
Mayan Mayan most commonly refers to: * Maya peoples, various indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica and northern Central America * Maya civilization, pre-Columbian culture of Mesoamerica and northern Central America * Mayan languages, language family spoken ...
clothing store, "Putumayo", by repricing all the merchandise in the store with a pricing gun in " The Millennium", though due to a mishap with the pricing gun, Pennypacker instead removes the
desiccants A desiccant is a hygroscopic substance that is used to induce or sustain a state of dryness (desiccation) in its vicinity; it is the opposite of a humectant. Commonly encountered pre-packaged desiccants are solids that absorb water. Desiccants ...
from clothes in the store in order to render them "noticeably musty in five years". In this latter capacity, he claims Pennypacker is "a wealthy American industrialist." As Dr. Martin van Nostrand, Kramer tries to get hold of Elaine's medical chart to erase the negative comments her doctor has made in " The Package". He also uses the Van Nostrand alias in the episode "
The Slicer "The Slicer" is the 163rd episode of the NBC sitcom '' Seinfeld''. This was the seventh episode of the ninth and final season. It first aired on November 13, 1997.
", posing as a "
Juilliard The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most elit ...
-trained dermatologist" for a cancer screening at George's company, Kruger Industrial Smoothing. Mr. Kruger later recognizes him as Dr. Van Nostrand in "
The Strike ''The Strike'' (also known as ''Strike!'', although this is more properly the title of the fictitious Hollywood movie featured in the episode) is one of the short comedy films – written by Peter Richardson and Pete Richens, and directed by Ric ...
". Kramer uses the name Martin van Nostrand (without the "doctor" prefix) while auditioning for the role of himself on the show ''Jerry'' in "
The Pilot, Part 1 "The Pilot" is the two-part season finale episode of season four of ''Seinfeld'', comprising the season's 23rd and 24th episodes (63rd and 64th episodes in the series). It first aired on May 20, 1993. This two-part episode aired at an earlier ti ...
". Kramer poses as Professor Peter van Nostrand in "
The Nose Job "The Nose Job" is the 26th episode of '' Seinfeld''. It is the ninth episode of the show's third season. It first aired on November 20, 1991. The episode was written by Peter Mehlman and was directed by Tom Cherones. Plot Kramer wants a jacket b ...
" in order to retrieve a favorite jacket from another man's apartment; Kramer's jacket, to which he attributes at least some of his amorous success, is a minor plot point in other episodes until, in "
The Cheever Letters "The Cheever Letters" is the 48th episode of the American sitcom ''Seinfeld'', the eighth episode of season four. It was written by Larry David, Elaine Pope, and Tom Leopold, and directed by Tom Cherones. It premiered on October 28, 1992. In thi ...
", he trades it to a
Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
n embassy official for several boxes of authentic Cuban cigars. Kramer is also occasionally called "the K-Man" (" The Barber", "
The Bizarro Jerry "The Bizarro Jerry" is the 137th episode of the United States, American television sitcom ''Seinfeld''. This was the third episode of the eighth season, originally airing on the NBC network on October 3, 1996. The title and plot extensively referen ...
", " The Busboy", " The Note", "
The Hamptons The Hamptons, part of the East End of Long Island, consist of the towns of Southampton and East Hampton, which together comprise the South Fork of Long Island, in Suffolk County, New York. The Hamptons are a popular seaside resort and one o ...
", "
The Scofflaw "The Scofflaw" is the 99th episode of the NBC sitcom '' Seinfeld''. It was the 13th episode for the sixth season. It aired on January 26, 1995. In this episode, George and Jerry both pretend to not know their friend Gary Fogel (played by Jon Lovit ...
" and "
The Soup Nazi "The Soup Nazi" is the 116th episode of the NBC sitcom '' Seinfeld'', which was the sixth episode of the seventh season. It first aired in the United States on November 2, 1995. The Soup Nazi is also the nickname of the eponymous character, Yev K ...
"). A derogatory designation for Kramer has been " hipster doofus", a moniker assigned to him by a woman in a wheelchair he once dated in the episode " The Handicap Spot", and occasionally directed at him by Elaine, as in "
The Glasses "The Glasses" is the third episode of the fifth season of the American sitcom ''Seinfeld''. The 67th episode of the series overall, it was written by the writing team Tom Gammill and Max Pross, their respective debuts for the series, and directe ...
". The nickname was first used in
The Atlantic Monthly ''The Atlantic'' is an American magazine and multi-platform publisher. It features articles in the fields of politics, foreign affairs, business and the economy, culture and the arts, technology, and science. It was founded in 1857 in Boston, ...
review of ''Seinfeld''.


Reception

Ken Tucker wrote in a 1992 review in ''
Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cu ...
'' that Kramer is "the most cartoonish, least-defined person in ''Seinfeld''. Kramer is an earnest dope whose long, gangly body always seems to surprise his mind — he's always running, stumbling, bumping into things; he doesn't enter Jerry's apartment so much as he explodes into it." In 1999, ''
TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corpora ...
'' ranked him number 36 on its '50 Greatest TV Characters of All Time' list.


In popular culture

It is shown that Kramer is subletting his apartment from Paul Buchman, one of the main characters in NBC's ''
Mad About You ''Mad About You'' is an American television sitcom starring Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt as a married couple in New York City. It initially aired on NBC from September 23, 1992, to May 24, 1999, winning numerous awards including four Golden Glob ...
''. Paul and Kramer have a conversation about Paul giving Kramer the apartment in ''Mad About You'' episode "The Apartment" (Season 1, Episode 8). Alternative hip hop group
Das Racist Das Racist was an American alternative hip hop group based in Brooklyn, composed of MCs Heems and Kool A.D. and hype man Ashok Kondabolu (a.k.a. Dapwell or Dap). Known for their use of humor, academic references, foreign allusions, and unconven ...
indirectly reference Kramer by referring to the show '' Seinfeld'' and the actor Michael Richards who portrays him in the song "Rapping 2 U".


Citations


External links


Kramer's Best Lines
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kramer, Cosmo Fictional actors Fictional bakers Fictional characters based on real people Television characters introduced in 1989 Fictional gamblers Fictional golfers Fictional inventors Fictional unemployed people Seinfeld characters American male characters in television