Pat Cooper, Star of ‘Seinfeld’ Dead at 93

Stand-up comedian and star of 'Seinfeld' Pat Cooper has passed away at the age of 93.

The news was confirmed by Steve Garrin, his producer and writing partner.

“There was nobody like Pat Cooper, who burned every bridge that he went over. I put out a lot of the fires.” 

“He was one man who was honest. You could depend on him. You could trust him. If he gave you his word and said he was going to do something, he did it. And he helped so many people.”

Pat first found success opening for Frank Sinatra at the Sands in Las Vegas.

He was known for his impeccable delivery and brazen take on his Italian-American background, and for being a roast master at the Friars Clubs where comedians go to throw their best jokes at each other.

He also portrayed himself in the 1996 'Seinfeld' episode 'The Friar's Club.'

“I was sitting at his table in his kitchen and the phone rings, and it’s Larry David. He picks up the phone, and he hangs it up. I go, ‘What was that?’ He says, ‘Some nut.’ The phone rings again, and he picks it up, and he hangs it up.

“I said, ‘What’s going on with you?’ and he goes, ‘Some guy says he’s Larry David,’ and I said, ‘Well, maybe if he calls again, see if it is.’”

Larry called once again and offered Pat a guest spot on 'Seinfeld,' to which his scene became completely ad-libbed.

“Pat ad libs and says — if you look at Jason Alexander’s face — he goes, ‘Are you in show business?’ Jason looks at him like he doesn’t know what’s going on, but they went with it, and he goes, ‘No,’ and he goes, ‘Well, what am I talking to you for?’ And boom — that was the take, and they kept it."

Steve remembers being at the Jerry Lewis roast with Pat, who was told to tell the audience not to take pictures of another guest, Robert De Niro.

“Ladies and gentlemen, they just told me Robert De Niro is in the audience. Get your cameras out.”

He was also a fan-favourite on 'The Howard Stern Show' and has dozens of silver screen credits to his name.

He starred alongside Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal in the 1999 film 'Analyze This' and the 2002 sequel 'Analyze That.'

He is survived by his wife Emily, two daughters and one son.