Jerry Stiller Was Forced to Replace One of His Idols on ‘Seinfeld’
While it’s tough to picture anyone other than Jerry Stiller playing Frank Costanza, the part of George’s hot-headed dad originally went to a totally different actor, a fact that has eluded many Seinfeld fans because Larry David promptly George Lucas-ed all of the original performer’s scenes for syndication once Stiller was cast.
Frank first showed up in Season Four’s “The Handicap Spot” and was originally played by actor John Randolph, who previously appeared in classic films like Serpico and Seconds, although he’s perhaps most recognizable to modern audiences as Clark Griswold’s father in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Apparently playing the dads of unhinged man-children was kind of his thing.
While David doesn’t remember whether or not Randolph was unavailable for Season Five, or if they simply made a decision to change the actor, Stiller was hired at the suggestion of Larry Charles. Casting director Marc Hirschfeld claimed that it was “probably the first time that we flew an actor in from New York to do a role in the show without ever seeing him audition.”
Even though he had never heard of Seinfeld, Stiller was thrilled to land the job. “I got Frank Costanza … when my life was disappearing as an actor,” Stiller explained. “I was close to that seven-decade mark.”
But replacing Randolph was bittersweet for Stiller, who looked up to the actor. Stiller recalled that, when he first moved to New York as an aspiring performer, he caught Randolph in the Broadway play Command Decision, and actually snuck backstage to meet him. “I was so moved by that performance that I ran upstairs to his dressing room, and there he was taking a shower,” Stiller once admitted.
When Randolph questioned the intruder, Stiller responded, “I’m Jerry Stiller, I just want to tell you how much I love you.” Instead of alerting security, Randolph offered him some words of encouragement, telling the young thespian, “Just stick to it, who knows, maybe we’ll work (together) one day.”
They did, in fact, work together on the stage eventually, but Randolph soon became the victim of the Red Scare. “He was blacklisted; he went through hell. And when he did finally come back, here I was replacing him in this show. And I had very mixed feelings — but not for long,” Stiller noted with a smile.
Once he had the job, Stiller very nearly suffered the same fate as Randolph. Stiller was instructed by David to play Frank as very “meek” and “subdued,” to offer a contrast to George’s mother. But it clearly wasn’t working. So after four days of downplaying the performance, out of fears that he too would be replaced, Stiller let loose.
“That’s it, keep it that way!” David immediately responded.
Also, Stiller was also permitted to remove the bald cap he was originally supposed to wear. No word on whether or not they ever forced him to wear a Manssiere.
You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time you’re reading this).
