Actor Hiram Kasten — known for his roles on Seinfeld, Sour Grapes, 7th Heaven and many more — has died, aged 71.
Kasten was a close friend of Jerry Seinfeld, after the pair met at The Comic Strip comedy club when Seinfeld was working as MC.
They would go on to remain friends for more than four decades.
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His death came after “seven years fighting a multitude of illnesses,” an obituary in his local paper The Batavian said.
Born in the Bronx, Kasten was “predestined to be a performer, an entertainer, an actor and a comedian”, an obituary shared on his official Facebook page said.
The Comic Strip was Kasten’s “home base”, the post said.
“For many years he was the resident MC.
“He also became a regular at Catch a Rising Star and occasionally The Improv, The Comedy Cellar and Caroline’s.
“He added to his club roster, Dangerfield’s, where he ran his own show every Sunday night for years.”
Kasten married his wife Diana in 1986 after a five-year courtship.
A year later, they moved from New York to LA, where Kasten began working in TV.
He landed a recurring role in a pilot for CBS with Frank Langella and Sally Kellerman, called Dr. Paradise.
Other roles followed in many sitcoms, including his turn as Michael, a co-worker to Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s Elaine in Seinfeld.
He also had guest starring roles in Mad About You, Everybody Loves Raymond and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Some of his other TV credits included 7th Heaven, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Brooklyn Bridge, Without a Trace, Saved by the Bell, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Dirty Sexy Money, Fat Actress, It’s Like, You Know…, Cybill, L.A. Law and many others.
Kasten also worked as a comic in Las Vegas and on cruise ships.
He and Diana eventually moved back to New York, with their daughter Millicent attending college nearby.
“Kasten loved show business and lived his dream of being in show business (but) his most satisfying and greatest role though was as a family man,” his obituary said.
“He loved being a dad to his beautiful and brilliant daughter who survives him, Millicent Jade Kastenbaum of Manhattan.
“Her many achievements in her young life and in her career as an assistant district attorney have made him burst with pride and love.
“He is survived by his beloved wife, Diana Kisiel Kastenbaum of Batavia, New York, who loved and tenderly cared for him until the end.
“They were married on June 15, 1986 and he died in her arms on June 16, 2024, only hours after their 38th wedding anniversary.
“He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Kevin John Kisiel of Rochester, New York and several loving nieces and nephews and their children, as well as wonderful cousins on both sides of the family.”
