Seinfeld's Frank Costanza was the perfect example of how Jerry Stiller could transform even a stock character into someone unforgettable

The Atlantic

"Every time Stiller appeared in a production, no matter how small his part was, he stuck out," says David Sims. "Before Seinfeld, the actor was best known for his comedic double-act Stiller and Meara with his wife of 60 years, Anne Meara; their improv stylings were a fixture on variety TV in the ’60s and ’70s. His Broadway career included Shakespeare and the acidic 1984 comedy Hurlyburly, and he channeled gritty humanity in his occasional film roles, including the steadfast Lieutenant Rico Patrone in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three and the sweetly encouraging father figure in John Waters’s Hairspray."

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• Stiller's Frank Costanza first appeared halfway through the series and in 26 of 180 episodes, yet he was an indelible part of Seinfeld
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• Stiller's King of Queens character Arthur Spooner also was beloved