In all the years of working on "Seinfeld," Jerry Stiller was never given "a note" about his performances from the show's headliner.
While speaking to SiriusXM's "Netflix is a Joke" channel this week, Jerry Seinfeld dished on what it was like working with the late comedy legend.
"We never gave Jerry Stiller a note," Seinfeld said. "I never adjusted his performance once. Whatever he did, that's it. We're putting that out there."
Stiller played George Costanza's father on the sitcom. His performances were very memorable, particularly because of his bombastic delivery.
"I don't know why he did it like that. I don't know why he screamed on that line. It doesn't matter. It's funny. So funny," Seinfeld said. "I am such a dedicated believer in if it's funny, don't touch it. I don't care why it's funny. I don't care what the line was supposed to be. He said it that way, we're doing it that way."
Seinfeld said writer and comedian Larry Charles first recommended Stiller for the role. While Seinfeld certainly knew of Stiller and liked him for the part, he worried that Stiller's hair would be problematic — George Costanza, who was played by Jason Alexander, was bald. Eventually, of course, that didn't matter.
"Larry just kept mentioning him and finally we brought him in and he was so perfect," Seinfeld said.
Stiller died of natural causes on May 11 at the age of 92.
After his death, Seinfeld tweeted, "Jerry Stiller's comedy will live forever."
Jason Alexander wrote, "Such sad news that my beloved friend, Jerry Stiller, has passed. He was perhaps the kindest man I ever had the honor to work beside. He made me laugh when I was a child and every day I was with him. A great actor, a great man, a lovely friend. #RIPJerry Stiller I Love you."
He later posted a photo of himself and his on-screen father, writing, "Yeah I adored this man."