Michael Anthony Richards

Michael Anthony Richards was born on July 24, 1949, in Culver City, California to parents Phyllis Nardozzi and William Richards. His mother was a medical records librarian of Italian descent, and his father William Richards was an electrical engineer of Scottish and English descent. His father died in a car crash when Michael was 2 years old and his mother never remarried. He graduated from Thousand Oaks High School in Thousand Oaks, California and was then drafted into the United States Army in 1970. He trained as a medic and was stationed in West Germany where he was a member of a theatrical group called The Training Road Show. After his discharge, he used the benefits of the G.I. Bill to enroll in the California Institute of the Arts, and received a BA degree in drama from The Evergreen State College (Olympia, Washington) in 1975. Michael Richards gained fame for his portrayal of "Cosmo Kramer" on the television sitcom "Seinfeld," which aired for nine seasons from 1989 to 1998. His portrayal of the eccentric and unpredictable neighbor became one of the most iconic characters in television history. "Seinfeld" proved to be a turning point in Michael Richards' career, establishing him as a comedic talent and earning him three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.