Read his autobiography before ragging on him, you'll understand what he has been through in life. You can't have a prolific actor and a flawless human being at the same time.
I am listening to it now Michael is the narrator. And it is very frank and a thoughtful look back at his life. I am not done but so far a good look at a complex and lovable man.
Michael Richards only ever had one shtick - the grinning confident fall down artist. His "comedy" was just that. He did a bit as an exercise expert on Carson (confident, fall down guy). He was on a hit show. His character worked. That doesn't make him a comedian or an actor or anything else. He's a one trick pony but he forgot that he was a one trick pony and tried a second trick and broke his leg.
The shaking falling down artist. He wasn't always grinning. And he developed it on "Friday's" on which he starred with Larry David. Fridays was an answer to NBC's SNL and produced several people like David and Richards. Many of Richards' skits had him in the same kind of persona as Kramer.
