‘Seinfeld’ Star Reveals Battle With Cancer

‘Seinfeld’ star Michael Richards, 74, revealed a shocking health crisis in his new memoir “Entrances and Exits,” set to hit shelves on June 4.

During a routine checkup in the summer of 2018, Richards was blindsided with a stage 1 prostate cancer diagnosis after tests revealed elevated PSA levels. “I thought. well, this is my time. I’m ready to go,” Richards told PEOPLE. “But then my son came to mind just a few seconds later and I heard myself saying, ‘I’ve got a 9-year-old and I’d like to be around for him. Is there any way I can get a little more life going?'”

After a concerning biopsy result, Richards’ doctor urged him to have his entire prostate removed. “It had to be contained quickly. I had to go for the full surgery. If I hadn’t, I probably would have been dead in about eight months.”

“I had over 40 journals I’d kept over the years and wanted to do a full review of my life,” Richards said. “I’m turning 75, so maybe wanting to do that is something that comes with being my age. I wanted to connect with feelings and memory. I’m surprised at how much I was able to remember.”

22FEB97: Seinfeld stars JASON ALEXANDER (left), JERRY SEINFELD, JULIA LOUIS DREYFUS & MICHAEL RICHARDS with their Screen Actors Guild Awards for Comedy TV Series Ensemble. Pix: PAUL SMITH

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Before finding fame as an actor, Richards served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War era, though he was stationed in Germany rather than Vietnam. After his military service, he pursued an education in drama, earning a degree from the California Institute of the Arts and later studying at the Evergreen State College in Washington.

Richards began his entertainment career in the 1970s, working as a stand-up comedian and appearing on Billy Crystal’s first cable TV special. He gained minor television roles before landing a more permanent spot on the sketch comedy series “Fridays,” which was ABC’s attempt to create its own version of “Saturday Night Live.”

His breakthrough role came in 1989 when he was cast as Cosmo Kramer in “Seinfeld.” Kramer is known for his wild hair, quirky mannerisms, and dynamic entrances into rooms. Richards won three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance, solidifying his place in TV history.

LOS ANGELES – APR 30: Michael Richards, Jerry Seinfeld at the Unfrosted Premiere at the Egyptian Theater on April 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA

Despite his success on ‘Seinfeld,’ Richards’ career faced significant setbacks. In 2006, during a stand-up comedy show at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood, Richards launched into a racially charged tirade against hecklers, which was caught on video and widely circulated. The incident damaged his reputation and led to public apologies, including an appearance on ‘The Late Show with David Letterman.’

“I was immediately sorry the moment I said it onstage,” Richards admitted. He acknowledged that he does not expect absolution or a career revival.

“I’m not looking for a comeback,” he said. “The damage was inside of me,” he elaborates. “So I completely stepped away from show business. It was time to disappear and finally pay attention to where all of my anger was coming from. The most I could do for everybody was go home and get my sh*t together.”

Since then, Richards has kept a relatively low profile in the entertainment industry, with limited appearances in films and television. He took a significant role in the TV show “Kirstie,” which aired in 2013-2014, but has otherwise remained largely out of the spotlight, focusing on personal growth and his private life.

“[I’m] learning and healing. Healing and learning,” he shared about his current life. “But life is always an up and a down.”

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