Upstate New York Comedy Legend From “Seinfeld” Passes Away

Best known for his role on the hit TV show "Seinfeld," Hiram Kasten, a comedian, actor, and resident of Upstate New York, has passed away at the age of 71.

Kasten was a true original whose talent and dedication to his craft left a big impact on the world of comedy.

Born as Hiram Z. Kastenbaum, Kasten battled a number of illnesses throughout his life, including Crohn’s disease and prostate cancer. Kasten passed away on Sunday at the Crossroads House in Batavia.

Kasten was a fixture in the comedy scene for more than four decades. He first met Jerry Seinfeld in the late 1970s while auditioning at The Comic Strip in New York City. Though the two comedians lost touch for a time, they rekindled their friendship in the years before Kasten's passing. Seinfeld called Kasten"the real deal."

Kasten's stand-up routines were known for their unpredictability. He never performed the same show twice and was known to break out into songs on stage. Kasten was a regular in the comedy club scene in New York in the '80s and '90s before moving to Los Angeles, where he continued to perform and work in TV and film.

In addition to his role on "Seinfeld," Kasten appeared in other popular TV shows, including "Mad About You," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Saved By the Bell," "Everybody Loves Raymond," and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."

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Kasten is survived by his wife of 38 years, Diana Kastenbaum, and their daughter, Millicent. Funeral services will be held in Forest Hills, New York, with a memorial service to follow in Los Angeles.