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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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Pinging the Seinfeld ping list!


1 posted on 02/01/2026 11:50:08 AM PST by PROCON
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To: Larry Lucido; Red in Blue PA; Gamecock; SaveFerris; FredZarguna; KC_Lion; Lil Flower; CopperTop; ...

Seinfeld Pingy


2 posted on 02/01/2026 11:50:53 AM PST by PROCON (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: PROCON

Uncle Leo was the best…


3 posted on 02/01/2026 11:57:02 AM PST by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)
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To: PROCON; dfwgator

He tried to shoot The Outlaw Josey Wales!!


4 posted on 02/01/2026 11:57:30 AM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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He and his nephew (?)

I hate those guys 😁

That Redleg turned him Every Which Way But Loose!


5 posted on 02/01/2026 11:59:21 AM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: SaveFerris

Seinfeld in Pulp Fiction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1MBVXkQbWU


6 posted on 02/01/2026 11:59:41 AM PST by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: dfwgator

everybody gets got


7 posted on 02/01/2026 12:03:36 PM PST by Third Person
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To: SaveFerris

He always wanted to face one of them pistol fighters!


8 posted on 02/01/2026 12:08:43 PM PST by KobraKai
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To: PROCON

I was laughing out loud just reading that article. Uncle Leo was great.


9 posted on 02/01/2026 12:10:27 PM PST by HYPOCRACY (Wake up, smell the cat food in your bank account. )
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To: PROCON
images-(1)
10 posted on 02/01/2026 12:11:33 PM PST by V_TWIN (America....so great even the people that hate it won't leave)
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To: PROCON

Mail fraud! Uncle Leo?


11 posted on 02/01/2026 12:15:36 PM PST by kawhill (Dywedwch Wrthym + Add translation Welsh-English dictionary 'Tell Us')
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To: PROCON

Hello!

Love Seinfeld. Still watch the reruns.


12 posted on 02/01/2026 12:17:27 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: PROCON
Let’s give Uncle Leo a bit of credit. He really cleaned up his life, going from a ruthless bounty hunter to just an eccentric uncle.

(From “The Outlaw Josey Wales”.)

Oh, and Lesser enlisted in the United States Army the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Quite a guy.

13 posted on 02/01/2026 12:18:38 PM PST by Leaning Right (It's morning in America. Again.)
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To: PROCON

My absolute all time favorite was Mr Bookman!

https://youtu.be/D9tP9fI2zbE?si=46lJ0wgspyVJV8-r


14 posted on 02/01/2026 12:24:24 PM PST by Cowgirl of Justice
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To: Leaning Right

I just saw Uncle Leo on an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond!


15 posted on 02/01/2026 12:25:16 PM PST by Cowgirl of Justice
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To: KobraKai

I like when Josey spits on Uncle Leo’s forehead and says “buzzards gotta eat, same as the worm.”


16 posted on 02/01/2026 12:25:37 PM PST by crusty old prospector
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To: PROCON

one of my favorites

Jerry: Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about Dr. Whatley. I have a suspicion that he’s converted to Judaism just for the jokes.
Father: And this offends you as a Jewish person?
Jerry: No, it offends me as a comedian. And it’ll interest you that he’s also telling Catholic jokes.
Father: Well.
Jerry: And they’re old jokes. I mean, the Pope and Raquel Welch in a lifeboat.
Father: I haven’t heard that one.
Jerry: Oh, I’m sure you have. They’re out on the ocean and, yada, yada, yada, and she says, “Those aren’t buoys.” [Father starts laughing] Father.


17 posted on 02/01/2026 12:25:38 PM PST by Jeff Vader
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To: Leaning Right
I remember him as the Engineer sgt from Kelly’s Heroes.


18 posted on 02/01/2026 12:26:04 PM PST by Apparatchik (Русские свиньи, идите домой)
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To: SaveFerris
Josey Wales: "Whenever I get to liking some one they ain't around long."

Chief : "I noticed when you get to disliking someone they around for long neither.

19 posted on 02/01/2026 12:30:38 PM PST by Nateman (Democrats did not strive for fraud friendly voting merely to continue honest elections.)
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To: SaveFerris

Sadly the majority of FReepers on the Seinfeld ping list haven’t posted here in years.


20 posted on 02/01/2026 12:32:27 PM PST by PROCON (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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