Morty Seinfeld, played by Barney Martin, is a fictional character on Seinfeld (1989-1998). He is Jerry Seinfeld's father. His wife, Jerry's mother, is Helen Seinfeld.
History
Morty made a living selling raincoats under a man named Harry Fleming for 38 years, and considers his invention of 'the beltless trenchcoat' (also called 'the executive') his greatest accomplishment. Morty refuses to let Jerry pay for a meal anytime they go out to eat, even if he has no money to pay the bill. He always sticks up for Jerry when he feels like his son is being slighted, even when Jerry himself isn't bothered at all (The most notable instance of this was in "The Pen"). He hates velcro because he can't stand the tearing sound it makes when separated.
He and Helen are retired and have lived in a series of condos in Florida, the longest-lasting of which has been Del Boca Vista. He was the president of the tenant's board of The Pines of Mar Gables Phase II for many years, until Jerry bought him a Cadillac (in "The Cadillac"), arousing suspicion among his neighbors that he was stealing from the board coffers. He was impeached and resigned when the tie-breaking voter Mabel Choate turned against him upon remembering that Jerry had stolen a loaf of Marble Rye bread from her (as seen in "The Rye"). His impeachment scene included a parody of Richard Nixon's famous wave.
In "The Shower Head," Morty and Helen stay with Jerry for a while. They managed to get a new house in the Phase III part of Del Boca Vista when Frank Costanza and Estelle Costanza (who originally plotted to move there) didn't want to leave George Costanza.
In "The Money," Elaine Benes later gets Morty a job at J. Peterman Catalog. Upon returning to his company, Jacopo Peterman fires Morty when he complains that they are working to late into the night....as it was only 5:30 PM.
In "The Wizard," Jerry gives his father the Wizard during his visit which Jerry claims he got from a deal at only $50. Morty is only impressed by it being a "tip calculator", although Jerry claims it does other things. Later he discovers that Cosmo Kramer has moved down there, to join the other retirees. Elaine laughs when Susan's parents ask her about George's house in the Hamptons, revealing the lies. Morty, who can't run for president of the condo association because he was impeached from their previous condo, decides that Kramer should be elected condo board president of Del Boca Vista phase III, so Morty will run things from behind the scenes, like a "puppet regime". After Kramer received bad press by going barefoot to a club when he couldn't find his shoes, Kramer suggests to Morty that they buy each member of the board one of those Wizard "tip calculators" by making contact with Bob Sacamano's father to help them. Sacamano's father comes through with knock-off "tip calculators" called "the Willard", which can't calculate tips properly and in some cases lack a full complement of numerals, costing Morty and Kramer the election, causing everyone to vote for the candidate in the wheelchair Kramer to move back to New York upon coming out of retirement. When Morty makes a comment about the Wizard to Jerry, he tells Morty that it has other features.
In "The Finale, Part 2," Morty and Helen attend the trial of Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer in Latham County.
Notes About Nothing
Phil Bruns as Morty Seinfeld in "The Stake Out"
- Morty was originally played by Phil Bruns, who appeared in only the second episode. After that episode, Larry David decided that the character as played by Bruns was too laid back, and felt Jerry should have a more crotchety dad. By the time Morty made his second appearance (in Season Two's "The Pony Remark"), the role had been recast with Martin. When the show went into syndication, Larry David wanted to reshoot Bruns's scenes with Martin (as he had done with the two actors playing Frank Costanza), but decided against the idea because the Bruns episode was too far in the past, and the differences in the other actors' ages would be noticeable.
- Larry David's father, Mortimer David of Sunrise, Florida, recently claimed that the character Morty was based on him.
Critical Analysis
A blog dedicated to the legality of the issues that arise in Seinfeld episodes, Seinfeld Law, has analyzed many of the classic Morty Seinfeld moments as they might have played out in a court of law.
Famous quotes
- "Look, I got a few good years left. If I want a Chip Ahoy, I'm having it."
- "I sold raincoats in the garment district for thirty-eight years."
- "Cheap fabric, and dim lighting. That's how you move merchandise."
- “You know, Jack? Do me a favor, will you? Take the pen and the scotch tape and get the hell out of here!”
- "Low flow? I don't like the sound of that."
- "My wallet's gone! My wallet's gone!"
Appearances
Season 1
Season 2
Season 3
Season 4
Season 5
Season 6
Season 7
Season 8
Season 9
Gallery
The gallery page for Morty Seinfeld can be found here.