History of Jerry Seinfeld in Timeline
Jerry Seinfeld is a highly acclaimed American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer known for his observational comedy. He has earned significant recognition, including a Primetime Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, and multiple Screen Actors Guild Awards, along with Grammy nominations. He has consistently been ranked among the greatest stand-up comedians, securing positions in Comedy Central's and Rolling Stone's lists of all-time greats.
1935: Favorite film: A Night at the Opera
In 1935, "A Night at the Opera" was released, which Seinfeld mentioned as one of his 5 favorite films.
April 29, 1954: Jerry Seinfeld Born
On April 29, 1954, Jerome Allen Seinfeld, known as Jerry Seinfeld, was born in Brooklyn, New York. He later became a stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer.
1955: Owned Porsche 550 Spyder
In 1955, the same model of the Porsche 550 Spyder was manufactured, that Seinfeld later owned. The car was the same model and pearl-grey color of the car James Dean was driving in his fatal crash.
1967: Favorite film: The Graduate
In 1967, "The Graduate" was released, which Seinfeld mentioned as one of his 5 favorite films.
1967: Owned 1967 Fiat 500
In 1967, a Fiat 500 was manufactured, a model that Seinfeld later owned.
1971: Steve McQueen's Porsche 917
In 1971, Steve McQueen drove the Porsche 917 Chassis 022 film Le Mans.
1972: Favorite film: The Heartbreak Kid
In 1972, "The Heartbreak Kid" was released, which Seinfeld mentioned as one of his 5 favorite films.
1976: Graduation from Queens College
In 1976, Jerry Seinfeld graduated from Queens College of the City University of New York with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and theater.
1976: Early Stand-Up Comedy
In 1976, after graduating college, Jerry Seinfeld began performing stand-up comedy, trying out at open-mic nights in New York City.
1979: Favorite film: The In-Laws
In 1979, "The In-Laws" was released, which Seinfeld mentioned as one of his 5 favorite films.
1980: Recurring Role on Benson
In 1980, Jerry Seinfeld had a small recurring role on the sitcom "Benson", playing Frankie, a mail-delivery boy. He was later fired due to creative differences.
January 1981: Stand-up on An Evening at the Improv
In January 1981, Jerry Seinfeld performed stand-up comedy on "An Evening at the Improv".
1984: Called off Engagement
In 1984, Seinfeld mentioned he was engaged but called it off on national television with Dr. Ruth Westheimer.
September 5, 1987: Stand-Up Confidential Airs
On September 5, 1987, Jerry Seinfeld's first one-hour stand-up special, "Stand-Up Confidential", aired live on HBO.
1987: Stand-Up Confidential Release
In 1987, Jerry Seinfeld released his first stand-up special, titled "Stand-Up Confidential".
1988: Creation of The Seinfeld Chronicles
In 1988, Jerry Seinfeld created "The Seinfeld Chronicles" with Larry David for NBC, later renamed "Seinfeld".
1989: Seinfeld Sitcom Debut
In 1989, Jerry Seinfeld co-created and starred in the NBC sitcom "Seinfeld" with Larry David, playing a semi-fictionalized version of himself. The show quickly gained popularity.
1992: Favorite film: Glengarry Glen Ross
In 1992, "Glengarry Glen Ross" was released, which Seinfeld mentioned as one of his 5 favorite films.
May 1993: Met Shoshanna Lonstein
In May 1993, Seinfeld met 17-year-old Shoshanna Lonstein in Central Park and started dating her.
1993: SeinLanguage Release
In 1993, Jerry Seinfeld released his book "SeinLanguage".
1993: Released "SeinLanguage"
In 1993, Jerry Seinfeld wrote and released the book "SeinLanguage", an adaptation of his stand-up material.
1994: Receives Honorary Doctorate from Queens College
In 1994, Jerry Seinfeld received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Queens College.
1995: Golden Globe Award
In 1995, Jerry Seinfeld won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy for his role in "Seinfeld".
1997: Ended Relationship with Shoshanna Lonstein
In 1997, Seinfeld's relationship with Shoshanna Lonstein ended, citing press coverage and missing New York City.
August 1998: Met Jessica Sklar
In August 1998, Seinfeld met Jessica Sklar, who was married at the time, at a Reebok Sports Club.
1998: I'm Telling You for the Last Time Release
In 1998, Jerry Seinfeld released his second stand-up special, titled "I'm Telling You for the Last Time".
1998: Return to Stand-Up Comedy
In 1998, after ending his sitcom, Jerry Seinfeld moved back to New York City and returned to stand-up comedy, going on tour and recording a comedy special titled "I'm Telling You for the Last Time".
1998: Seinfeld Sitcom Finale
In 1998, the final episode of the sitcom "Seinfeld" aired after a successful run. Despite an offer for a tenth season, Seinfeld declined, bringing the show to its conclusion.
December 25, 1999: Married Jessica Sklar
On December 25, 1999, Jerry Seinfeld married Jessica Sklar, with comedian George Wallace as the best man.
1999: Auctioned Breitling Watch for Charity
In 1999, Seinfeld auctioned a Breitling Chronomat watch for charity at an event in New York City, selling it for $11,000.
1999: Porsche 959 Made Street Legal
In 1999, Seinfeld's Porsche 959 was made U.S. street legal under the "Show or Display" federal law.
2000: Political Contributions in 2000
In 2000, Jerry Seinfeld made political contributions to George W. Bush's and Al Gore's presidential campaigns, as well as to four Democratic Party primary candidates.
2000: Bought Billy Joel's House
In 2000, Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld bought Billy Joel's house in Amagansett, New York, for $32 million.
2001: Created the Good+Foundation
In 2001, Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld created the charitable organization Good+Foundation after their first child was born.
2002: Halloween Release
In 2002, Jerry Seinfeld released his children's book "Halloween".
2002: Acquired McQueen's Porsche
In 2002, Seinfeld acquired Steve McQueen's Porsche 917 Chassis 022, driven in the 1971 film Le Mans.
2002: Purchased Property for Car Storage
In 2002, Seinfeld purchased property on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and built a $1.4 million garage to store his Porsches.
2002: Wrote the Children's Book "Halloween"
In 2002, Seinfeld wrote the children's book "Halloween", illustrated by James Bennett.
2002: Comedian Documentary
In 2002, the documentary "Comedian" was released, chronicling Jerry Seinfeld's process of developing and performing new stand-up material.
February 2004: Wrote Article Reviewing Porsche Carrera GT
In February 2004, Seinfeld wrote an article for Automobile reviewing the Porsche Carrera GT.
November 18, 2004: "Puffy Shirt" Donation
On November 18, 2004, Jerry Seinfeld donated the "puffy shirt" from the Seinfeld episode of the same name to the National Museum of American History.
2004: Highest Paid Celebrity
According to Forbes magazine, as of 2004, Seinfeld's cumulative earnings from "Seinfeld" were $267 million, making him the highest-paid celebrity that year. Seinfeld also earned $100 million from syndication deals and stand-up performances.
2004: Political Contributions in 2004
In 2004, Jerry Seinfeld made political contributions to four Democratic Party primary candidates.
May 13, 2006: SNL Cameo Appearance
On May 13, 2006, Jerry Seinfeld made a cameo appearance on "Saturday Night Live" as host Julia Louis-Dreyfus' assassin, parodying the "Seinfeld curse".
2006: Earned $60 Million
In 2006, Seinfeld earned $60 million from syndication deals and stand-up performances.
February 25, 2007: Academy Awards Presenter
On February 25, 2007, Jerry Seinfeld appeared at the 79th Academy Awards as the presenter for "Best Documentary".
October 4, 2007: Guest Appearance on 30 Rock
On October 4, 2007, Jerry Seinfeld made a guest appearance as himself in the "30 Rock" episode "SeinfeldVision".
2007: Bee Movie Release
In 2007, Jerry Seinfeld co-produced, co-wrote, and starred in the DreamWorks animated film "Bee Movie".
February 24, 2008: Academy Awards - Bee Movie
On February 24, 2008, at the 80th Academy Awards, Jerry Seinfeld appeared as the voice of his Bee Movie character, Barry, presenting Best Animated Short Film.
June 2, 2008: Stand Up for a Cure
On June 2, 2008, amidst his spring 2008 tour, Jerry Seinfeld performed in his hometown of New York City for a one-night-only show at the Hammerstein Ballroom to benefit Stand Up for a Cure, a charity aiding lung cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
June 2008: Starred in Microsoft Ad
In June 2008, Seinfeld appeared with Bill Gates in Microsoft's advertisements for Windows and earned $10 million.
August 2008: Windows Vista Pitchman
In August 2008, it was reported that Jerry Seinfeld would be the pitchman for Windows Vista, as part of a $300-million advertising campaign by Microsoft.
September 2008: Windows Vista Ads Aired
In mid-September 2008, Jerry Seinfeld's ads for Windows Vista began airing, but were later cut from television after three installments.
2008: Involved in Car Accident
In 2008, Seinfeld was involved in a car accident when the brakes on his 1967 Fiat 500 failed, but no one was hurt.
March 2009: Seinfeld Reunion on Curb Your Enthusiasm
In March 2009, it was announced that Jerry Seinfeld and the entire cast of "Seinfeld" would be appearing for a reunion in Larry David's HBO series "Curb Your Enthusiasm".
June 2009: Highest Paid Comedian
Between June 2008 and June 2009, Seinfeld earned $85 million, making him the world's highest-paid comedian.
September 14, 2009: First Guest on The Jay Leno Show
On September 14, 2009, Jerry Seinfeld was the first guest on Jay Leno's talk show "The Jay Leno Show".
2009: Appears at David Lynch Foundation Benefit
In 2009, Jerry Seinfeld appeared at a David Lynch Foundation benefit for Transcendental Meditation, alongside Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.
June 23, 2010: Called a Mets Game on SNY
On June 23, 2010, Seinfeld called four innings of a Mets game on SportsNet New York, with Keith Hernandez.
August 30, 2010: Guest Appearance on The Howard Stern Show
On August 30, 2010, Jerry Seinfeld made a surprise guest appearance on "The Howard Stern Show", ending the feud the two had in the early 1990s.
2010: The Marriage Ref
In 2010, Jerry Seinfeld created and produced the reality series "The Marriage Ref" which aired on NBC.
July 2011: Surprise Guest on The Daily Show
In July 2011, Jerry Seinfeld was a surprise guest on "The Daily Show", helping Jon Stewart to suppress his urge to tell Michele Bachmann jokes.
2011: The Marriage Ref Ended
In 2011, the reality series "The Marriage Ref" which was created and produced by Jerry Seinfeld came to an end.
December 2012: Promotes Transcendental Meditation
In December 2012, Jerry Seinfeld stated that he had been practicing Transcendental Meditation for 40 years. He also promoted its use in treating PTSD on Good Morning America with Bob Roth of the David Lynch Foundation.
2012: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
In 2012, Jerry Seinfeld created and hosted the web series "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee", featuring conversations with fellow comedians.
June 2013: Appeared on Wale's Album
In June 2013, Seinfeld appeared on rapper Wale's album "The Gifted", on the song "Outro About Nothing."
2013: Forbes Documented Annual Income
In 2013, Forbes documented Seinfeld's annual income as $32 million, which he later disputed.
2013: Responded to NPR about Coffee Culture
In 2013, Seinfeld responded to NPR about the influence of coffee culture in the U.S.
2014: Woody Allen and Joan Rivers
In 2014, Jerry Seinfeld revealed that he invited Woody Allen to be on "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" but hadn't heard back and that Joan Rivers was supposed to be a guest before she died.
2014: Hosted Don Rickles: One Night Only
In 2014, Seinfeld hosted the special "Don Rickles: One Night Only" at the Apollo Theatre, which celebrated Don Rickles' career and served as a roast among friends.
2014: Discussed Autism Spectrum
In 2014, Seinfeld made statements suggesting he related to the autism spectrum, later clarifying his comments.
February 15, 2015: Guest Appearance on SNL 40th Anniversary Special
On February 15, 2015, Seinfeld appeared on the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special and hosted the "Questions from the Audience" segment.
May 20, 2015: Guest Appearance on David Letterman's Final Late Show
On May 20, 2015, Seinfeld made a guest appearance on David Letterman's final Late Show episode, participating in "The Top Ten List" segment.
November 5, 2015: Participates in "Change Begins Within" Benefit Concert
On November 5, 2015, Jerry Seinfeld participated in the David Lynch Foundation's "Change Begins Within" benefit concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City to promote transcendental meditation for stress control, expressing his enthusiasm for the technique as a life and work tool.
2015: Highest Paid Comedian
In 2015, Forbes ranked Seinfeld as the highest-paid comedian.
2015: Avoids College Campuses Due to Political Correctness
In 2015, Jerry Seinfeld stated that he avoids performing on college campuses because students have become too easily offended by his comedic routines.
June 2016: Second-Highest Paid Comedian
In 2016, Forbes ranked Seinfeld as the second-highest-paid comedian.
January 2017: Netflix Deal
In January 2017, Jerry Seinfeld signed a deal with Netflix that included placing "Seinfeld" and "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" on their streaming service, as well as two new Seinfeld stand-up specials and the development of scripted and non-scripted comedy programming.
January 2017: Appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
In January 2017, Seinfeld appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, honoring Michelle Obama and playing Catchphrase.
June 2017: Highest Paid Comedian
In 2017, Forbes ranked Seinfeld as the highest-paid comedian again. Seinfeld's income between June 2016 and June 2017 was $69 million.
September 19, 2017: Netflix Released "Jerry Before Seinfeld"
On September 19, 2017, Netflix released Jerry Seinfeld's stand-up comedy special, "Jerry Before Seinfeld", showcasing his return to Comic Strip Live.
2017: Jerry Before Seinfeld Release
In 2017, Jerry Seinfeld released his stand-up special "Jerry Before Seinfeld".
2018: "Jerry Before Seinfeld" nominated for Grammy
In 2018, "Jerry Before Seinfeld" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album.
2018: Travel to West Bank
In 2018, Seinfeld and his family traveled to the West Bank to participate in an anti-terrorism training camp, drawing criticism.
2019: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Ended
In 2019, Jerry Seinfeld ended the web series "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee".
October 2020: Participated in The New Yorker Festival
In October 2020, Seinfeld joined Steve Martin at The New Yorker Festival to discuss comedy and related topics.
October 2020: Released "Is This Anything?"
In October 2020, Seinfeld released his book "Is This Anything?", a compilation of his comedy bits over 45 years.
2020: 23 Hours to Kill Release
In 2020, Jerry Seinfeld released his stand-up special "23 Hours to Kill".
May 12, 2024: Delivering Commencement Address at Duke University
On May 12, 2024, Jerry Seinfeld delivered a commencement address and received an honorary degree at Duke University. During the speech, some students booed, waved Palestinian flags, and walked out in protest.
May 2024: GQ Interview About Bialetti Moka Pot
In a May 2024 GQ interview, Seinfeld revealed that a Bialetti moka pot is one of his must-haves.
June 2024: Heckled During Comedy Show in Sydney
In June 2024, Jerry Seinfeld was heckled by protesters during a comedy show in Sydney, Australia, to which he responded with jokes.
June 2024: Started new Tour and appeared in "Everybody's in LA"
In June 2024, Seinfeld embarked on a new tour, starting in Singapore, and appeared as a guest on "John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in LA".
2024: Declared a Billionaire
In 2024, Bloomberg declared Seinfeld a billionaire due to syndication deals and other income streams.
2024: Comments on Political Correctness in Comedy
In 2024, Jerry Seinfeld claimed in an interview with The New Yorker that political correctness was destroying comedy.
2024: Unfrosted Release
In 2024, Jerry Seinfeld co-produced, co-wrote, and starred in the Netflix comedy "Unfrosted".
2024: Receives Honorary Doctor of Arts from Duke University
In 2024, Jerry Seinfeld received an Honorary Doctor of Arts from Duke University.
2025: Response to "Free Palestine" Activist
In 2025, when a social media influencer and ambush activist said "Free Palestine", Seinfeld shook his head and replied “I don't care about Palestine.”
