Larry David, creator of Seinfeld and the star of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm | photo by flickr user jaydedman (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Born Lawrence Eugene David, “Larry” is an American actor, writer comedian and producer. He was born on July 2, 1947 in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn where he grew up in a Jewish housing section. David is best known as co-creator of the iconic television series Seinfeld. He wrote for the show for six years and returned to write the series finale in 1998. Larry had some appearances on Seinfeld, including voicing off-screen characters like George Steinbrenner.
David went on to act in Woody Allen’s Radio Days (1987) and New York Stories (1989). In 1998, David wrote and directed a film called Sour Grapes. Roger Ebert gave it zero stars, writing “I can’t easily remember a film I’ve enjoyed less.” In 2000, David created the semi-scripted series Curb Your Enthusiasm for HBO. (He gave the show its title partly to lower people’s expectations after the huge success of “Seinfeld”.) The show, which originally aired as a special, features David playing himself and follows his life. Wildly successful, the show won a Golden Globe in 2003 for Best Comedy Series.
Before he was cracking jokes, David studied at the University of Maryland where he received a B.A. in both history and business. Though a degree in history appeared impractical, “you never know when you might run into a discussion of the Franco-Prussian War,” David proclaimed. After graduation, David enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve. He then headed to New York where he became a stand-up comedian. Other jobs he held while doing stand-up include: a store clerk, limousine driver, and television repairman. David even worked for bra wholesaler E.D. Grandmont, although he claims he never actually sold anything. During this time he lived in government subsidized housing strictly for performing artists, where his neighbor, Kenny “Cosmo” Kramer, served as the inspiration for the character on Seinfeld.
Larry says…
“I don’t like talking to people I know, but strangers, I have no problem with.”
“I’d rather have the thieves than the neighbors – the thieves don’t impose. Thieves just want your things, neighbors want your time.”
“Anyone can be confident with a full head of hair. But a confident bald man – there’s your diamond in the rough.”
