Hiram Kasten, the New York comedian who gained popularity on sitcoms including “Seinfeld,” has died. He was 71 years old.
Kasten died Sunday in the arms of his wife, Diana Kessel Kastenbaum, at their New York home “just hours after their 38th wedding anniversary,” after a battle with prostate cancer and Crohn’s disease, according to an obituary in the journal Nature. Batavian.
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Kasten, born Hiram Z. Kastenbaum on October 30, 1952, is best known for his supporting role as Michael, Elaine Benes’ classmate on “Seinfeld.” The comedian met Jerry Seinfeld while doing stand-up comedy on Comic Strip Live. In New York City, where Seinfeld is a job As a manager. The comedians struck up “a friendship that lasted 45 years,” the obituary said.
Kasten’s prolific performances in the New York comedy scene have included appearances at clubs such as the Improv, Comedy Cellar, Caroline’s, and Dangerfield’s.
Kasten has also appeared in several other films TV showincluding “Mad About You”, “Everybody Loves Raymond”, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”, “Saved by the Bell” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”.
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Kasten retired from the entertainment industry in 2017 as his health began to deteriorate, but it was only in the past six months that he revealed the severity of his diagnosis to friends. “His great comedy and arts community rallied to his side,” his obituary said, and while “some made trips to Batavia to visit him, late-night Zoom meetings with friends on both coasts ensued and lasted into the wee hours of the morning.”
“It extended his life for at least two more months so he could laugh with his peers,” Kastenbaum said.
He is survived by his wife and daughter, Millicent Jade.
This story originally appeared on Los Angeles Times.
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