QWho are the characters based on?
AJerry is based on himself. George is based on co-creator Larry David. Kramer is based on Larry David's old neighbor, Kenny Kramer. It was rumored that Elaine is based on comedian Carol Liefer, who wrote for the series and who Jerry Seinfeld dated. However, this was denied. According to Jerry Seinfeld's biography, Elaine was based in part on Susan McNabb, who was dating Seinfeld when the character was created, as well as Monica Yates, who Larry David once dated.
Some of the peripheral characters also have real-life counterparts. Jackie Chiles is based on famed attorney Johnnie Cochran; the Soup Nazi was based on the real-life owner of a soup kitchen in New York; J. Peterman and George Steinbrenner are caricatures of their real-life counterparts.
QWho is David Berkovitz/Son of Sam that Newman keep referring to?
ADavid Berkowitz aka 'Son of Sam' was an infamous serial killer/arsonist who terrorized New York in the late 1970s. He was also a postal worker and Newman claims to have known him and even that they double dated together. He also claims to have taken over his route and inherited his mailbag (which Kramer uses as collateral for his gambling debts) but he is probably lying as Berkowitz was never actually employed delivering the mail. When the police come to arrest Newman for kidnapping a dog on Elaine's behalf he asks them 'What took you so long?' which was Berkowitz's exact reply when he was arrested.
ARuthie Cohen is a cashier at Monk's Cafe, played by actress Ruth Cohen, and seen in more episodes than any other character, besides the main four. The character of Ruthie is normally an unspeaking, uncredited extra, but she received credit for her appearances in Seinfeld: The Gum (#7.10) and Seinfeld: The Foundation (#8.1).
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