Actor Hiram Kasten, best known for his role in ‘Seinfeld’, has passed away at the age of 71. The news was shared on his official Facebook page.
His obituary described him as a truly charming guy
and revealed that he passed away on Sunday, according to reports from Mirror.co.uk. Kasten had been battling multiple illnesses for seven years, including prostate cancer and a lifelong struggle with Crohn’s disease. In the last six months, he revealed to those closest to him that he was terminally ill. As per Mirror.co.uk, he received an outpouring of love and frequent Zoom calls from friends, which his wife Diana said prolonged his life for at least another two months, allowing him to laugh with his peers.
A Pillar in Comedy
Throughout his life, Hiram was an iconic figure in the New York City and New Jersey comedy scenes. Starting his stand-up career in 1978 when Jerry Seinfeld first passed him at an audition at ‘The Comic Strip’, Kasten quickly became a staple in the comedy circuit of the 1970s and 1980s. His obituary illustrated his remarkable style: He channeled the greats in his demeanor onstage, always dressing for the occasion. With open-collared shirts and natty sports jackets, complete with a pocket hanky billowing forth, he stood out among his peers. He was the ‘missing link’ to another generation of comedians he watched on TV as a child. He emulated Alan King, Jackie Gleason, and Jerry Lewis.
The Familiar Face on TV
Kasten’s most well-known performance was undoubtedly as Michael, co-worker of Elaine Benes (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus), in three episodes of ‘Seinfeld’ between 1993 and 1994. Despite the brief appearance, it made a lasting impact on fans of the show. Besides Seinfeld, he also appeared on other notable television series including ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’, ‘Saved By the Bell’, ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’, ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’, and ‘My Wife and Kids.’
Friendship That Stood the Test of Time
Kasten’s connection with Jerry Seinfeld was particularly noted in his obituary. The pair shared a close friendship which spanned over 45 years. Seinfeld passed Hiram on his first audition and he became a regular
; their bond became even stronger over time.
An Enduring Legacy
He loved being a dad to his beautiful daughter, complementing his professional accolades with personal joy as noted in his obituary.
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