‘Seinfeld’ actor Hiram Kasten, who portrayed Michael, the co-worker of Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ character Elaine Benes, has passed away.
The actor and comic Hiram Kasten, who was most known for his work on the television show Seinfeld, has passed away. He was 71 years old.
According to an obituary that was published by a local publication in his birthplace of Batavia, New York, the stand-up comedian, who made his debut in the entertainment industry in New York City comedy clubs during the 1980s and 1990s, passed away on Sunday at his residence.
According to the obituary, which was published on the official Facebook page of Kasten on Sunday afternoon, Kasten started facing a number of ailments starting in 2017. These illnesses included Crohn’s disease and prostate cancer, both of which he had to struggle with throughout his whole life.
Kasten portrayed Michael, a co-worker of Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), in three episodes of Seinfeld, despite the fact that he only featured in a few episodes of the show. However, his connection with the comedian and star of the successful series lasted for a very long time. At The Comic Strip, where Jerry Seinfeld was serving as the MC, the actor was introduced to Jerry Seinfeld for the first time. Seinfeld was able to pass Hiram on his first audition.
As Kasten became a regular at the Big Apple comedy club, the two of them became excellent friends, which led to the beginning of a friendship that lasted for more than forty years, as stated in his obituary.
The actor appeared in a number of television programs during the 1980s and 1990s, including Mad About You, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Saved by the Bell, Everybody Loves Raymond, and 7th Heaven, among others. His most notable part was that of Michael in the television sitcom Seinfeld. According to IMDB, his last appearance in front of the camera was in the film Fumbling Through the Pieces, which was released in 2012.
Just a few hours before he passed away, Kasten celebrated his 38th wedding anniversary with his wife, Diana Kisiel Kastenbaum. She is the only one who will remember him after his passing. His daughter, Millicent Jade Kastenbaum, is also among those who will carry on his legacy.
A memorial event is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles later this summer, according to the family of the actor.