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Top 10 Best Seinfeld Supporting Characters

Top 10 Best Seinfeld Supporting Characters
VOICE OVER: Ryan Wild WRITTEN BY: Zachary Siechen
Hello Newman...For this list, we'll be ranking the funniest and most memorable faces to appear on the legendary sitcom. Our countdown includes Morty Seinfeld, Babu Bhatt, Uncle Leo and more!

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Best Seinfeld Supporting Characters. For this list, we’ll be ranking the funniest and most memorable faces to appear on the legendary sitcom. We’re only counting characters who appear in multiple episodes. The menagerie of the show’s one-off appearances will be covered on another day. What’s the deal with the characters we missed? Shout out your favorites in the comments below.

#10: Morty Seinfeld


The strange apples in this sitcom tend to fall from even stranger trees. Helen Seinfeld is certainly an odd duck at times. (xref) However, we have to highlight Jerry’s father Morty. As Jerry’s unwaveringly opinionated father, Morty is never shy to voice his stubborn outlook on anything. He’ll go off on anything from design flaws of velcro to the appropriate hours for dinnertime. Morty’s also the brainchild behind the beltless trench coat and will probably insist that his lost wallet was stolen until the end of his days. Every time he appears, we know we’re in for a wild and entertaining ride. And we’ll never forget his failed presidency at the Del Boca Vista retirement home. At least we know you weren’t really a crook, Morty.

#9: Susan Ross


It takes a special soul to love George Costanza, and that soul was Susan Ross. Originally she was an NBC executive partially behind George and Jerry’s ill-fated pilot. However, Susan became George’s paramour, fiancé, and almost wife. She endured much grief from the main four. But Susan still stood by Geroge and provided an outside perspective to the group’s snow blind lack of morals. Sadly, we lost Susan to accidental poisoning thanks to George getting cheap and questionable wedding invitations for her to lick. If anyone could have made George an honest member of society, it would have been Susan. Her memory lives on through the Ross foundation and her surviving parents…who themselves are quirky enough to deserve a shout out too.

#8: Babu Bhatt


While he may have fewer appearances than others on our countdown, “Seinfeld” fans are familiar with that wagging finger. After the Pakistani restaurateur remodeled his struggling diner per Jerry’s suggestion, that only made the business fail faster. Babu somehow looked past this and eventually became a friendly neighbor. That was until a mishap involving Jerry and a mistakenly delivered visa application resulted in the businessman’s deportation. Right when we thought we’d seen the last of Babu, he vowed revenge on the comedian. It was fun to see this jovially polite man become an explosive character. We’re glad that Babu also got to tell Jerry exactly what kind of man he thinks he is in the finale.

#7: George Steinbrenner


George Steinbrenner isn’t the only real-world baseball staple to appear on the show. (*xref ”Keith Hernandez” clip) However, he’s the one who’s left the most lasting impression without ever showing his face. During George’s employ in the pinstripes’ clubhouse, team owner Steinbrenner serves as his boisterous boss. Besides hiring and firing on whim like his true-life counterpart, this Steinbrenner displays an unintentionally goofy side. This includes his love of calzones, a love for fine hot tubs and an affection for a certain Pat Benatar tune. (“Heartbreaker” clip) Voiced by series co-creator Larry David, Steinbrenner’s staccato speech laughably seems to hail from an alien planet. “The Big Stein” even makes a final appearance on the finale, still invested in the fate of the former hired hand that he once suspected of communism.

#6: Tim Whatley


Before he tried earning money with a blue product, Bryan Cranston worked as a dentist. As Dr. Tim Whatley, Cranston’s comedic chops were on point. He constantly commented with Shakespearean gusto about the plight of his profession. Before you feel too bad for him, just know that this dentist is occasionally guilty of “re-gifting”. Jerry discovered this the hard way when he’s given a label-maker that actually originated from Elaine. His use of charity donations for Christmas gifts inspired George’s “Human Fund” fake organization. While Tim often seems to bend society’s rules to his personal advantage, he never quite breaks them. We commend that ingenuity and Cranston for making this character so fun. Just be sure to quell your anti-dentite tendencies before seeing him.

#5: Uncle Leo


Just like an owl is known for its “hoot,” Uncle Leo is known for his greeting. (“Hello!” insert) Like any classic obnoxious neighbor, he seems to wait for Jerry around every corner while armed with painfully mundane chit-chat. Leo also provides hilariously dull and unwanted updates on Jerry’s unseen cousin Jeffrey. Even if you’ve got an important meeting with NBC, it’s a cardinal sin to break away from him too early. Talking a lot isn’t Leo's only crime. He holds a criminal record for bookstore shoplifting and an undisclosed “crime of passion.” While irritating to his nephew, Uncle Leo still remains a favorite of us fans. Maybe that’s due to his charming disregard for what the rest of the world thinks about him.

#4: Jacopo “J” Peterman


Brought to life by the magnificent John O’Hurley, Elaine’s boss and magazine mogul commands every scene that he’s in. Likely inspired by actual catalog entrepreneur John Peterman, this businessman has traveled the world and uses his supposed global experiences as inspiration for product advertisements. He operates on a level that’s several football fields away from sensible. Peterman’s known for lavishly purchasing JFK’s golf clubs and a sixty-year-old royal wedding cake. For his autobiography, he ludicrously offers to buy Kramer's life stories as his own. Peterman’s easily one of the biggest drama kings on this show. His over-the-top personality often pushes a regular scene into fully ridiculous territory.

#3: David Puddy

In his own words, “yeah, that’s right.” Elaines on-and-off-again paramour displays the loveable dimwittedness that actor Patrick Warburton specializes in. At times, he seems almost too passive. Just look at how okay Puddy during breakups or when he learns that he’s damned to hell. However, he sheds his cool demeanor once he starts rooting for his hockey team. While Puddy might not seem like he’s got much going on upstairs, there do seem to be many layers to this ogre’s onion. Did you know he’s a recovering germaphobe? Like Susan, he’s able to consistently care for one of the show’s four lead characters, despite her selfishness. Besides, that dopey stare and distinctive comical delivery make Puddy a “Seinfeld” MVP.

#2: Frank Costanza


He’s the grandfather of Festivus and the patriarch of the fabled Costanza clan. Additionally, he’s married to the wonderful and often unfiltered Estelle. (xref) But something about Frank’s thick skull and melting pot of personality make him our favorite supporting Costanza. Introduced as George’s ornery father, the dad becomes more captivating as we learn about him. He used to be an expert cook serving in the army. While traveling abroad as a salesman, he became fluent in Korean and got his heart broken from an ill-fated love affair. This fascinating man also has a legendarily short temper. His spats with George, Kramer, and Jack Klompus have spawned moments of comedy legend. Plus he’s responsible for one of the series’ greatest catchphrases.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Mr. Wilhelm

We Always Found this Boss’s Bad Luck Around George Wildly Entertaining to Watch

Jackie Chiles

This Walking Johnnie Cochran Parody Was a Lawyer We’d Love to Have

Mickey Abbott

We Don’t Know Why He Keeps Going Along With Kramer’s Plans, But We’re Happy He Does

“Crazy” Joe Davola

His Instability Made Him a Wild Card That Kept the Main Gang On Their Toes

Lloyd Braun

George’s Childhood Foe & Norman Bates Lookalike

#1: Newman

Who else could conquer the list besides Jerry’s nefarious rival? We actually don’t know what started their rivalry. However, we do know that he’s an unfriendly neighborhood mailman who’s devious, smart as a whip, and detests broccoli. Newman also investigated Jerry for mail fraud and ratting him out for making out during a dramatic movie. Sidekick to Kramer and admirer of Elaine, Newman fits alongside the “Seinfeld” fab four so well that you could almost call him a main character. He’s even had enough iconic moments to warrant a whole WatchMojo list devoted just to him. Mischievous, maniacal, and always hysterical, Newman will always inspire an unforgettable passive aggressive-greeting.
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