Lucille Ball, Don Knotts, and Michael Richards are three comedic actors whose hard work and dedication to their craft on and off-camera resulted in three of the most iconic sitcom characters of the 20th century: Lucy Ricardo, Deputy Barney Fife, and Cosmo Kramer. Their attention to detail and quest for comedy perfection helped make these fictional characters memorable for generations of TV viewers.
In his insightful and introspective memoir Entrances and Exits, Michael Richards gives readers a look behind the curtain at his acting process and his personal life. As a fan of his work, I was excited to read about Richards’s career before he made his indelible mark on TV history on Seinfeld as Kramer. During these early formative years, Richards developed his zany approach to comedy, which served him well during nine seasons of the NBC juggernaut and helped him win three Emmys for the role.
Many people may not realize the commitment and dedication Richards put into crafting the role of Kramer. To him, it was more than just an acting gig; it was a quest to provide the highest level of comedy performance possible and make it look effortless in each episode. The result was comedy gold, but the role took its toll on the actor in many ways during and after Seinfeld’s run.
I appreciated that Richards wasn’t afraid to talk about his career missteps and human faults, which give him more depth and dimension in the book. While Kramer is loud and extroverted, Richards is the opposite, a spiritual and analytical man who takes great joy in learning and discovering new aspects of himself and humanity.
Michael Richards will forever be associated with Seinfeld and his fantastic work for nine seasons as Cosmo Kramer. Richards’s love for comedy and his passion for acting helped make Kramer a pop culture icon, a role that viewers will be laughing at for decades to come.
I highly recommend Entrances and Exits by Michael Richards.