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35 Years Ago, Seinfeld Introduced a Bizarre Character Who Would Haunt the Series Until Its Finale
comicbook.com ^ | Jan. 30, 2026 | Ben Hathaway

Posted on 02/01/2026 11:50:08 AM PST by PROCON

Seinfeld had quite a few memorable supporting characters who, time and time again, would cross paths with Jerry. And, for the most part, the interactions were more awkward or adversarial than pleasant. For instance, rival comedian Kenny Bania. Or Jack Klompus, his parents’ neighbor at Del Boca Vista. Then there’s Bryan Cranston’s Tim Whatley, dentist and re-gifter extraordinaire. Other examples include the vengeful Joe Davola and…Newman! And outside the aforementioned postal worker slash neighbor of Mr. Seinfeld, the best of these recurring characters is none other than Uncle Leo.

Uncle Leo is the type who is always there when you don’t feel like getting into a conversation. A long conversation, at that. But if you try to depart that droning, mostly one-sided conversation early, you’re rude. So where did this character originate? With a “Pony Remark.”

First off, Len Lesser brought such a gentleness to Uncle Leo that it was impossible to hate him, but it was easy to be annoyed by him. And it’s easy to see why, after Season 2’s “The Pony Remark,” he made at least one appearance per season up to and including the divisive “The Finale Part II” in Season 9. He’s the most endearing character outside the core four and Newman.

As mentioned in the intro, Uncle Leo (his preferred full name, going so far as to sign it on a package meant for Jerry) is a conversationalist. He’s just not a particularly interesting conversationalist, oscillating between pointless blathering gossip and complaints about mundane issues that are typically solved with ease. That is when he’s not talking about “Cousin Jeffrey,” who apparently is such an overachiever in the Parks Department he never even gets a chance to pop up in the show.

(Excerpt) Read more at comicbook.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: imconfusedtoo; seinfeld
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To: Apparatchik

Roach in Take This Job and Shove It.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083163/fullcredits/#cast


21 posted on 02/01/2026 12:39:33 PM PST by shelterguy
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To: PROCON

What about The Drake?


22 posted on 02/01/2026 12:44:55 PM PST by subterfuge (I'm a pure-blood!)
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To: Third Person

That’s what he gets for not paying for cable.


23 posted on 02/01/2026 12:45:10 PM PST by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: PROCON

I heard that Castanza became a private detective after the show was finished.


24 posted on 02/01/2026 12:50:08 PM PST by Mark (DONATE ONCE every 3 months. Is that a big deal?)
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To: PROCON

Noticed everyone has a uncle named Tio.


25 posted on 02/01/2026 12:52:25 PM PST by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure.)
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To: SaveFerris

You pull his teeth, he’s harmless as a heel hound. Always wanted to face down one of these pistol fighters they raise all the fuss about. Only way to handle them.


26 posted on 02/01/2026 12:54:18 PM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn... )
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To: crusty old prospector

Captain Terrell: Not a hard man to track. Leaves dead men wherever he goes.


27 posted on 02/01/2026 12:56:42 PM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn... )
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To: PROCON

“They said they were sending over an Asian woman.”


28 posted on 02/01/2026 12:57:34 PM PST by Bruce Campbells Chin
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To: dfwgator

I’d Rather Be High

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JuagF-Eq2A&list=RD3JuagF-Eq2A&start_radio=1


29 posted on 02/01/2026 1:06:38 PM PST by Third Person
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To: SaveFerris

Dying is no way to make a living.


30 posted on 02/01/2026 1:14:39 PM PST by GingisK
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To: SaveFerris; dfwgator; PROCON; gundog; Kenny Bania

31 posted on 02/01/2026 1:27:23 PM PST by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait.)
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To: PROCON

Uncle Leo was great!

But “Jack Klompus, his parents’ neighbor at Del Boca Vista” was actually my brother-in-law for several years, Sandy Baron.

He had known Seinfeld for many years, helping him get a start in comedy. Later in his life he fell on tough times and Seinfeld helped him in return by getting him on his show.


32 posted on 02/01/2026 1:39:04 PM PST by 1FreeAmerican
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To: V_TWIN

Hey! I don’t like your demeanor.


33 posted on 02/01/2026 1:58:51 PM PST by Psalm 73 ("You'll never hear surf music again" - J. Hendrix)
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To: PROCON

Seinfeld, MASH, All In the Family, Cheers... were my favorite shows.

The absolute trash produced today is totally repulsive.

I haven’t turned the TV on in years.


34 posted on 02/01/2026 3:19:29 PM PST by aquila48 (Do not let them make you "care" ! Guilting you is how they control you. )
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To: Leaning Right
"Watch him, Abe. I seen him do some things..."

.

.

.

Abe did not watch him.

35 posted on 02/01/2026 4:00:38 PM PST by Charles Martel (Progressives are the crab grass in the lawn of life.)
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To: central_va

Nasty habit, young man. You born in a barn?


36 posted on 02/01/2026 4:13:46 PM PST by crusty old prospector
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To: subterfuge

Hate the Drake!


37 posted on 02/01/2026 4:53:28 PM PST by drjimmy
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To: V_TWIN

I remember that episode- “Leo, why are you so angry?”


38 posted on 02/01/2026 6:04:32 PM PST by sockmonkey (Conservative. Not a Neocon. )
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To: V_TWIN

I remember that episode- “Leo, why are you so angry?”


39 posted on 02/01/2026 6:04:32 PM PST by sockmonkey (Conservative. Not a Neocon. )
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To: All

Wasn’t there an episode where Jerry tells Uncle Leo something like, “I hate anti-Semitism but now that I know you better, at least I understand it.”


40 posted on 02/01/2026 6:19:37 PM PST by Peter ODonnell (Vision quest for more important matters -- novelty posting only to 26th -- don't shoot the messenger)
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