According to the Daily Dot, James Calder contacted the cast through social media and successfully wrangled some birthday wishes for his Seinfeld fan father, Jim, early this month.
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They may have been hilariously self-centred jerks on the series, but the stars of Seinfeld proved they’re much sweeter people in real-life, revisiting their characters in a series of birthday tributes for a fan who was dying of cancer.
“Some of the cast members not only made videos with great birthday messages but they were creative, thoughtful and honest”, James Jnr wrote on The Huffington Post.
Remember J. Peterman, one of Elaine’s bosses?
Patrick Warburton was next, and he responded in character as David Puddy, Elaine’s frequent on-again and off-again boyfriend.
“We never dreamed we would be able to get in touch with any of the top four lead actors”, the younger Calder wrote, “let alone some of the actors who played supporting yet legendary characters”.
“My father’s condition worsened as the Seinfeld birthday project continued to develop”, James wrote on Huffington Post.
Michael Richards, who played Kramer, also offered to ring him on his birthday but chose not to record a video as he “wasn’t interested in the publicity”.
Unfortunately, James Anthony Calder passed away in hospital a short time later, but his son fondly recalled arriving home to find his father’s favourite Seinfeld episode coincidentally playing on the television.
James and other family members close to Jim began to brainstorm ideas of how they would contact the Seinfeld cast. “You have a wonderful son who clearly adores you, so, congratulations on that; you did that very well”. As the posts started rolling in, Calder says, “We thought about who we could reach out to for a birthday message that would really impress my dad”. You can also see all the videos on Calder’s YouTube page.
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“In a world where my father’s own oncologist could use a lesson in human kindness and compassion, we found a wealth of it from cast members of Seinfeld and readers”. “He really felt the love and support”, said Mr Calder.
