Goodbye "Uncle Leo": Len Lesser Dies At 88

Last night Jason Alexander returned from opening night of Gigi at the Reprise Theater Company to hear that Len Lesser, an old Seinfeld castmate, had died. Lesser portrayed the scene stealing (and book stealing) Uncle Leo on the groundbreaking sitcom. Alexander wrote the following via Twitter:

Thanks to all of you for your kind remarks re: Len Lesser. Tonight was the opening of Gigi at my beloved Reprise Theater Company and I've only returned at this late hour to hear the news.
Len was a tremendous guy. He was a smart actor/comedian who knew exactly what he was doing in the creation of Uncle Leo. I enjoyed many wonderful conversations with Len who was so openly grateful to be part of our show and so humble about his stunning contribution to it. I am so happy to have known him and my sympathies go to his family. But his was a fun life and he leaves many fans behind and many who will be enjoying his work for years to come.

"Hellooo" Uncle Leo. And goodbye. Sleep well. Much love.

Lesser was in 15 episodes of Seinfeld, playing Jerry's uncle, but he also made over 500 appearances in film, television and the stage during his long career spanning nearly six decades (they included The Outlaw Josey Wales, Get Smart, ER, thirtysomething, and even Alfred Hitchcock Presents). Lesser was 88 years old, and died from a cancer-related pneumonia; he was a New York native, but was living in California at the time of his death.

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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on February 17, 2011 8:45 AM

Comments [rss]

JacobMartin

I'm actually sad that a celebrity has died that I was old enough to actually remember, despite cultural difference from US TV. And it's not like I knew Uncle Leo from a meme that popped up either. No band-wagoning here. Just pure depressing distilled sad.

vertigone

He did me a personal favor!

pvbklyn

They said they were sending an Asian Woman . . .

robingee

"You know what his favorite animal is? The Leopard! He likes the spots!"

emgeeee

"Your cousin Jeffrey ... in tha Pahks Depahtment ..."

pvbklyn

At the Pearly Gates: "Uncle Leo. Hello!"

ByLandBySeaBaerga

Only 15 episodes? seemed like a lot more. RIP

Roger_the_Shrubber

Just watched him the other night in Kelly's Heroes, the WWII movie with Clint Eastwood.

jibbly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

RIP funny man

freddynyc

Rock on, baby...

StriketheSet

I am a very nice Uncle and grand Uncle and hope that
I don't come across like" Uncle Leo" to my family but I
am afraid that I do ,when I look into the mirror I also
seem to look a bit like Uncle Leo.
I was even walking in the hallway of NYU hospital visiting
a friend dressed up with a fedora on my head a 1950's tie given me back then & my
white button down suit with an Italian gray wool jacket when another visitor or a
staff member said ,"You look like my Uncle Leo", Yikes!.

What Uncle Leo missed (as it was not in use much when
Seinfeld was created ) are the family visits via email that
spares us the vocal language of our inherited New York emotions
which this actor recreated so effectively ,surely in this case about
the created sterotypical Uncle Leo,it takes one, to know one.

The odd thing is that I too had a real Uncle Leo who lived in Bronx
and worked as a stone mason artist ,hailing from Italy he created many
of the little angels and funny guys that adorn our older NY buildings facades.
In the 1940's Uncle Leo had a WW2 victory garden and 2 goats in the
backyard of my Aunt's house ,retired he painted dolls for the American Red Cross
that were given to war Orphaned kids in Europe.

Thanks Mr. Lesser for the laughs .

pvbklyn

Do you also have painted on eyebrows that make you look angry?

StriketheSet

No to answer your query, my real eyebrows are happy.

Don Corleone

No more "Hello!"... RIP Len.

Seth Harkavy

Take the Pen

pvbklyn

That was Jack Klompis

John_Del_Signore

ugh, come on, pvbklyn, it's spelled KLOMPUS! Hire a copy editor!

pvbklyn

Don't use exclamation points with me. I'm not one of your close friends.

John_Del_Signore

Lesser did appear in "The Pen" at the end, when Jerry arrives at the reception wearing sunglasses because of his scuba experience (Leo: What's with the sunglasses? Who are you? Van Johnson?). But I believe you're thinking of Jack "Take the Pen" Klompus, played by Sandy Baron.