The beloved actor and comedian Hiram Kasten, famous for his role on the hit show “Seinfeld,” has passed away at the age of 71. Kasten, who hailed from Upstate New York, will be deeply missed by his fans and colleagues in the entertainment industry.
According to an obituary in The Batavian, Hiram Z. Kastenbaum, who was born in Batavia, N.Y., passed away on Sunday at the Crossroads House in his hometown. Kastenbaum had been fighting with numerous illnesses, including prostate cancer for the past seven years, and Crohn’s disease throughout his life.
Michael Kasten, who appeared in three episodes of the hit sitcom “Seinfeld” as Elaine Benes’ co-worker, was a close friend of Jerry Seinfeld for over four decades. As per his obituary, Kasten and Seinfeld first crossed paths at The Comic Strip in the late 1970s, where Seinfeld was performing as an emcee and Kasten was attending his first audition.
According to his obituary, Hiram was focused on delivering a memorable performance and entertaining his audience. He drew inspiration from legendary performers and exuded their charm on stage. His attire was always appropriate for the occasion, sporting open-collared shirts and stylish sports jackets paired with a flamboyant pocket hanky. Among his peers, Hiram stood out with his impeccable style. He admired Alan King, Jackie Gleason, and Jerry Lewis and emulated their approach to comedy. Hiram relished the opportunity to dress up in his tailored suits or tuxedos and take the stage for a show or a benefit. His comedic style and persona were not a contrived act to put on a show. In fact, he was the embodiment of his unique persona and genuinely loved entertaining the audience.
During the 80s and 90s, Kasten made a name for himself as a stand-up comedian who was known for his unique approach to each show. His performances were never the same, and he often surprised his audience by breaking into song. Initially performing in New York City, Kasten eventually moved to Los Angeles with the rest of the comics.
In addition to his role on “Seinfeld,” he graced the screens of many other popular shows such as “Mad About You,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Saved By the Bell,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Without a Trace,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” and “7th Heaven.” David also portrayed a Joey Bishop-like character in a Rat Pack-inspired Las Vegas show, produced by David Cassidy.
According to the Lockport Journal, Hiram and his wife, Diana Kastenbaum, returned to Batavia in 2012. Diana Kastenbaum ran for a position on the Batavia city council in 2013 and later ran for Congress on the Democratic ticket in the NY-27 race in 2016, unfortunately without success.
Diana, Hiram’s wife of 38 years, and their daughter, Millicent, are the surviving family members. Funeral services for Hiram will take place in Forest Hills, N.Y., with a subsequent memorial service to be held in L.A.
The family has requested that those who wish to pay tribute in memory of their loved one make a charitable donation to either Crossroads House or the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly known as The Actors Fund).
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