Long before they became household names, many of Hollywood’s biggest stars made memorable appearances on *Seinfeld*, often in small but unforgettable roles. The legendary sitcom became an unexpected launching pad for future A-listers who would go on to dominate film, television, and pop culture. Here are some of the biggest celebrities who appeared on Seinfeld before they became famous.
Sarah Silverman
Episode: “The Money” (Season 8, Episode 12)
Though primarily known as a stand-up comedian, Silverman also has experience in the realm of acting. In this specific episode, she played the role of Kramer’s girlfriend, Emily. However, as good as this pairing appeared to be on paper from a comedic standpoint, the situation in real life didn’t go as smoothly. Silverman reportedly messed up one of her lines during the taping of the episode. On her podcast a few years ago, Silverman spoke about how Michael Richards berated her for not getting the line correct. In response, she stood up for herself and let it be known she didn’t appreciate the way he spoke to her.
Patton Oswalt
Episode: “The Couch” (Season 6, Episode 5)
Like Silverman, Oswalt primarily began his entertainment career as an actor. His unique vocal intonation — coupled with his uncanny timing — made him a perfect choice for a cameo appearance. On Seinfeld, Oswalt played a video store clerk. According to his IMDb page, this was the first role Oswalt had ever done on television as a working actor.
Christine Taylor
Episode: “The Van Buren Boys” (Season 8, Episode 14)
Taylor broke out during the late-1990s/early 2000s via her roles in Zoolander, The Brady Bunch Movie, and The Wedding Singer. Married to Ben Stiller in real life, Taylor portrayed one of Jerry’s attractive girlfriends during a random episode. If one watches closely, most of Jerry’s on-screen girlfriends went on to become established actresses. Funnily enough, Taylor’s father-in-law, Jerry Stiller, plays the hilarious Frank Costanza on the show.
Peter Krause
Episode: “The Limo” (Season 3, Episode 19)
Well, this was an interesting role for Krause. Over the last few decades, he’s become a rather popular leading man. Parenthood and Six Feet Under are the two most notable shows that Krause has appeared on. In this episode of Seinfeld, Krause played a white supremacist (yes, you read that correctly). It remains one of the show’s most noteworthy episodes. Imagine the shock Jerry and George had when jumping into a limo and not realizing who they were riding with.
Jon Favreau
Episode: “The Fire” (Season 5, Episode 20)
Favreau has been a fixture in Hollywood for upwards of 30 years. Starting with Swingers, Favreau first became an actor — and has since become heavily involved in directing. On Seinfeld, he played Eric the Clown — a character hired to entertain the son of George Costanza’s girlfriend. In typical Seinfeld fashion, Eric and George got into a fight. This was said to be Favreau’s television debut.
Jennifer Coolidge
Episode: “The Masseuse” (Season 5, Episode 9)
Though a veteran actress, we had come to know Coolidge from two roles: “Stifler’s Mom” in the American Pie series, and Elle Woods’ friend from Legally Blonde. She’s since enjoyed a major renaissance through commercial work and her role in the hit HBO show, White Lotus. In this specific episode, Coolidge plays — you guessed it — one of Jerry’s girlfriends. As one can see from the title of the episode, she’s a masseuse.
Bob Odenkirk
Episode: “The Abstinence” (Season 8, Episode 9)
Bob Odenkirk is great. A likable and charming character, he most recently starred in Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad. On Seinfeld, he plays Elaine’s boyfriend — a would-be doctor who’s not exactly a doctor yet. Of course, this sort of ambiguity is right up Seinfeld’s alley. Odenkirk had reportedly auditioned for two previous episodes as other characters.
Anna Gunn
Episode: “The Glasses” (Season 5, Episode 3)
Like Odenkirk, Gunn made her mark on Breaking Bad. The highly gifted actress won two Emmy awards for her role on the breakout show. Of course on Seinfeld, she played one of Jerry’s many girlfriends on an episode midway through the show’s run.
Catherine Keener
Episode: “The Letter” (Season 3, Episode 20)
Keener has been a veteran of the silver screen for quite some time. After being somewhat of an unknown, she broke out with her role in The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Since then, Get Out has been one of her most prominent roles. She played Jerry’s artist girlfriend in one of the show’s earlier seasons.
Mariska Hargitay
Episode: “The Pilot” (Season 4, Episode 23)
Hargitay has been well known for her spot on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. A storyline within Seinfeld involved Jerry pitching a pilot to NBC. The character of Elaine would be cast. As such, Hargitay played an actress auditioning to play Elaine in a show about Jerry’s life. Interestingly enough, Hargitay was said to have auditioned for the role of Elaine before the show was cast.
Denise Richards
Episode: “The Shoes” (Season 4, Episode 16)
Based on her drop-dead gorgeous looks, Richards made a ton of cameo spots over the years. Her breakout came in “The World is Not Enough” — though she also gained further publicity through her rocky marriage to Charlie Sheen. On Seinfeld, she played the daughter of an NBC exec working with Jerry to create his television show.
Kathy Griffin
Episode: “The Doll” (Season 7, Episode 16)
Griffin has been a controversial character since breaking into show business. A comic by trade, she hasn’t been afraid to speak her mind publicly (particularly as it pertains to the former President). Griffin has made appearances on many television shows (including her own reality show for a few years). On Seinfeld, she played the roommate of George’s then-wife, Susan.
James Spader
Episode: “The Apology” (Season 9, Episode 9)
A veteran actor, Spader has been involved in several noteworthy projects — including Boston Legal, The Blacklist, and Pretty in Pink. In Seinfeld, Spader’s character was a childhood friend of Costanza. Of course, the two quarrel over a sweater incident that happened years prior.
Michael Chiklis
Episode: “The Stranded (Season 3, Episode 10)
Chiklis is most known for his role on The Shield — as well as within the Fantastic Four series. In this earlier episode, he plays a man hosting a party out on Long Island. Jerry and Elaine become stranded at the party because Kramer can’t seem to remember the address given to him. In a wild twist, Chiklis’ character eventually visits Jerry in New York and gets him involved in a tricky situation featuring a prostitute and the police.
Teri Hatcher
Episode: “The Implant” (Season 4, Episode 19)
Hatcher began her performing career as a cheerleader for the San Francisco 49ers. After that, she starred as Lois Clark on a Superman spin-off (featuring Dean Cain). Since then, she’s steadily acted — though nothing’s come close to the success she enjoyed as the lead on Desperate Housewives. Hatcher was Jerry’s girlfriend for this episode. In typical neurotic Jerry fashion, he was trying to figure out whether her breasts were real or fake.
Megan Mullally
Episode: “The Implant” (Season 4, Episode 19)
Funnily enough, Mullally also appeared in the same episode as Hatcher. She played George’s girlfriend in an episode where he only flew with her for her aunt’s funeral to rack up frequent flier miles. If that’s not a Costanza move, nothing is. Among a host of projects she’s been associated with, Mullally was a shining star in the hit sitcom Will & Grace.
Molly Shannon
Episode: “The Summer of George” (Season 8, Episode 22)
Shannon became a relatively big star based on her brilliance on Saturday Night Live. This opened the door for her to appear on both television and film for many exciting projects. In Seinfeld, she was mocked by co-worker Elaine for not moving her arms when she talked. Shannon’s character got her revenge by trashing Elaine’s office in a considerable rage.
Rob Schneider
Episode: “The Friar’s Club” (Season 7, Episode 17)
Whether it be SNL or a myriad of other films, Schneider has been firmly embedded within the comedy landscape for decades. He’s excellent at impressions, and has proven repeatedly to be a master in character sketches. It made perfect sense to have him appear on Seinfeld as a partially deaf employee hired by Elaine’s boss. As such, several hijinks arise.
Lauren Graham
Episode: “The Millennium” (Season 8, Episode 20)
Graham was a little-known actor by the time she appeared on Seinfeld. In this episode, Jerry was stressing how to organize his speed dial list. In the end, Jerry messed everything up in a machinated scheme involving his girlfriend (Graham) and her stepmother. Since Seinfeld, Graham has starred in Gilmore Girls and Parenthood.
Brad Garrett
Episode: “The Bottle Deposit” (Season 7, Episode 20)
The physically imposing figure became a revered actor as the lovable brother of Ray Romano in Everybody Loves Raymond. Since then, Garrett has steadily appeared in some projects. On Seinfeld, Garrett played a wacky car mechanic who ultimately ended up driving away with Jerry’s car (no word on whether Garrett’s character got busted for grand theft auto).
Amanda Peet
Episode: “The Summer of George” (Season 8, Episode 22)
Peet appeared in an episode where she was a waitress dating Jerry. Upon being picked up for an award show, Jerry realized that Peet’s character lived with another man — something he was a bit perplexed about. Peet has steadily been acting since the mid-1990s. She most recently starred in the show Fatal Attraction.
Debra Messing
Episodes: “The Wait Out” (Season 7, Episode 21); “The Yada Yada” (Season 8, Episode 19)
Messing actually appeared on two episodes of the show. A physician on the show, Messing initially dated Jerry after breaking up with a former fling. On her second appearance, Messing yet again was involved with Jerry — though he broke it off with her after her loose lips divulged secrets Jerry preferred to keep private (such as the fact that he hates dentists).
Jeremy Piven
Episode: “The Pilot” (Season 4, Episode 23)
Yes…that is Jeremy Piven. We aren’t sure whether he shaved his head (or if he’s bald), but Piven set out to play Costanza in the famed ‘Pilot’ episode. We have to admit, he looks pretty spot-on in this capacity. As many know, Piven’s breakout role came as explosive super agent Ari Gold in Entourage.
Courteney Cox
Episode: “The Wife” (Season 5, Episode 17)
Prior to her Friends fandom, Cox appeared as a young, bright-eyed actress on Season 5. To get a discount on dry cleaning, Jerry and Cox’s characters pretend to be married. However, a marriage-like tiff between the two leads Jerry to give the discount to another woman. Oh, the deceit!
Bryan Cranston
Episodes: Five in total
Cranston might be the most famous actor on this list. He also is the one that appears in the most episodes as a recurring character. Cranston played Tim Whatley — a character who both dated Elaine and was also Jerry’s dentist. One of Tim’s craziest storylines involved him converting to Judaism for the simple fact of being able to make jokes about Jewish people without making them uncomfortable. Cranston went on to star in Malcolm in the Middle shortly after. His most famous role to date is as Walter White in Breaking Bad.
