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Larry David

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Larry Gene David (born July 2 1947) is an American actor, writer, producer, and film director born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. David is the co-creator and writer for the television series, Seinfeld. In addition, he created and stars in the HBO series, Curb Your Enthusiasm.

David, a former standup comedian, was a writer and cast member for ABC's Fridays television series from 1980 to 1982, and a writer for NBC's Saturday Night Live from 1984 to 1985. During his entire time at SNL, David only got one sketch included in the show — the last sketch of the night (where the weaker sketches are usually scheduled). David quit his writing job at SNL in the middle of that season, only to show up to work a few days later to act as if nothing had happened (and stayed through the rest of the season). This event ultimately inspired part of a plot on Seinfeld.

David graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with bachelor degrees in history (1970) and business (1971).

On March 31, 1993 David married Laurie Lennard; they have two children and live in Van Nuys, California. Like her counterpart in Curb Your Enthusiasm, she is also an environmental activist. Since May 2005 David and his wife have been contributing bloggers at The Huffington Post.

Seinfeld

In 1989, David teamed up with comedian Jerry Seinfeld to create The Seinfeld Chronicles for NBC. The show was later retitled simply Seinfeld, and became one of the most successful shows in television history. David periodically appeared on the show. Larry David was the primary inspiration for the character of George Costanza on Seinfeld. David left Seinfeld, on amicable terms, after the seventh season. However, he returned to write the series finale in 1998. Larry David was once credited by Jerry Seinfeld, to being 90% of the show Seinfeld. Although his writing ceased in the later years, his job as executive producer is in reality what made Seinfeld the show it became. Since the first episode, David wished to have a show based on conversational and observational humour. It also became a somewhat dark show, since in Seinfeld, essentially, bad things happen to people, and the characters never learn any real lessons. Larry's ideas for Seinfeld were also a huge part in Jerry Seinfeld's project with NBC, as Jerry was never sure what to make of it. Larry David suggested that the show be about 'nothing', that he should live next to his real neighbour Kramer, that George be based on him, and many more along the course of the series.

Larry David's appearances on Seinfeld

All of Larry David's appearances on Seinfeld were uncredited.

  • Voice of the airplane passenger who forgot that he ordered the kosher meal which Elaine was forced to eat. ("The Airport," Season 4, Episode 12)
  • Voice of the passerby on the beach who called out: "Is anyone a marine biologist?" ("The Marine Biologist," Season 5, Episode 13)
  • Frank Costanza's cape-wearing lawyer ("The Chinese Woman," Season 6, Episode 4)
  • Voice of George Steinbrenner, George Costanza's boss ("The Opposite," Season 5, Episode 22, onward)
  • Voice of Newman in early episodes (before syndication)
  • Voice of the car thief ("The Alternate Side", Season 3, Episode 11)
  • Actor in B-movie with the line "Like flaming globes, Sigmund!" ("The Heart Attack", Season 2, Episode 8)
  • Voice of the heckling prisoner ("The Finale: Part 2", Season 9, Episode 22)
  • Voice of one of the elderly diners who Elaine tries to get an eggroll from. He can be heard exclaiming "What did she say?" over and over. ("The Chinese Restauraunt", Season 2, Episode 6)

Curb Your Enthusiasm

In 1999, the HBO cable television channel aired David's special, Larry David: Curb Your Enthusiasm, a hybrid work using story outlines and improvised dialog, shot in a documentary style. Before it aired, HBO had suggested that David commit to a series using the same method. The result, entitled Curb Your Enthusiasm, first aired in 2000. It revisits many of the themes first brought up in Seinfeld, albeit in a markedly different style.

In 2004, Curb Your Enthusiasm was credited with helping clear a Los Angeles man named Juan Catalan of a death penalty murder case. Catalan, who was arrested on suspicion of murder, maintained his innocence, saying he was at a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game on May 12, 2003, during the time of the slaying. During the game, an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm was being shot in Dodger Stadium which contained footage of Juan Catalan with his daughter. When told that his show had released a wrongfully accused man, Larry David commented in a New Yorker article, "I tell people that I've now done one decent thing in my life. Albeit inadvertently."

In 2005, David was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in the "Best Performance By An Actor In A Television Series — Musical Or Comedy" category, for his work on the show. In the same year, fellow comedians and comedy insiders, in a poll to select The Comedian's Comedian, voted him amongst the top fifty greatest comedy acts ever.

Other projects

David has also appeared in minor parts in two Woody Allen films, Radio Days (1987) and Oedipus Wrecks (1989).

David wrote and directed the 1998 film Sour Grapes, about two cousins who feud over a casino jackpot. It was not a commercial success.

References

  1. ""Curb" Curbs Injustice". E!. June 20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)

External links

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