My agent called one day to tell me about an audition for a few lines on a new sitcom. A better-known actress had turned down the role, saying it was too small for her. In Hollywood the general rule is “Don't ever accept a job as a bit player, because then you will always be stuck in that category.” Self-respect was not a luxury I could afford, so I went in and got the job. On Seinfeld!
When the show aired, my husband, Benni, didn’t get it.
“It’s not about anything,” he said.
How right he was. My few lines turned into the recurring character of Doris Klompus, a neighbor at Jerry’s parents’ Florida condo complex. My TV husband, Jack Klompus, was always fighting with Jerry’s father.
I’m in some of the classic episodes: “The Pen,” “The Cadillac,” “ Raincoats.” My role was so minor that the audience didn’t even notice when I played a second character: the obnoxious lady sitting next to Elaine on an airplane. I can be pretty blunt in real life, so the nagging wife and the busybody passenger were easy fits.
The atmosphere on the set was very New York Jewish. There were always containers of Chinese takeout lying around, and on the first day of the Jewish New Year, Jerry was very concerned about getting to temple on time for services.
Jerry is known for being very loyal to his friends, and I saw proof of that one day when he anxiously checked his messages every half hour to get word on the pending birth of his buddy Larry Miller’s baby. Eventually, I got friendly with the cast — which mostly meant listening to stories about their sex lives — definitely my idea of a good time.
Liz Sheridan, who played Jerry’s mom, told me about her affair with James Dean. Jason Alexander claimed to be the world’s best kisser. And Sandy Baron, who played my husband, shared every salacious detail about the time he was set up on a blind date with a woman who turned out to be actually blind. Best sex he ever had.