Michael Richards's Real Name: Michael Richards

Quick answer: The actor is known professionally as Michael Richards. Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television, via Encyclopedia.com, lists his full name as Michael Anthony Richards and gives the birth date July 24, 1949, in Los Angeles, California, while noting that some sources cite 1948 and that some sources cite Culver City or Van Nuys. A Television Academy awards biography independently documents his work as Kramer on Seinfeld and his Emmy Awards, but does not record a longer legal name or a birth date.

Real name and early life

The Encyclopedia.com entry lists his full name as Michael Anthony Richards, born July 24, 1949 (some sources cite 1948), in Los Angeles (some sources cite Culver City or Van Nuys), California, the son of William, an electrical engineer, and Phyllis, a medical librarian. Because those date and place details are contested even within that entry, and because the Television Academy page does not independently confirm the longer name or the birth facts, the longer form is not used as an agreed title here. The Encyclopedia.com entry says he earned a B.A. at Evergreen State College and studied drama at Los Angeles Valley College, later acting with the San Diego Repertory Company and performing stand-up comedy at clubs including the Comedy Store and the Improv in Los Angeles.

Career highlights

The Encyclopedia.com entry says he appeared in multiple roles on the ABC series Fridays from 1980 to 1982, had a recurring role on St. Elsewhere from 1984 to 1985, appeared in Marblehead Manor from 1987 to 1988, and starred as Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld from 1989 to 1998. The Television Academy independently records his work as Kramer on Seinfeld and lists Emmy Awards for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series in 1993, 1994, and 1997, plus nominations in 1995 and 1996. The Encyclopedia.com entry independently records the same three Emmy wins and the 1995 and 1996 nominations, all for Seinfeld. It also lists later work including the film Unstrung Heroes (1995) and the later television film David Copperfield (2000).

Name notes for searchers

People looking up Michael Richards or Michael Anthony Richards are looking for the same actor known from Seinfeld. The longer name is documented in one of the sources used here, not independently confirmed by the other.