Mortimer "Morty" Seinfeld, portrayed in all but one episode by Barney Martin, is a fictional character on the US television sitcom Seinfeld. He is Jerry Seinfeld's father. His wife—Jerry's mother—is Helen Seinfeld.

Fictional background

Morty made a living selling raincoats under a man named Harry Fleming for 38 years, and considers his greatest accomplishment to be the invention of "the beltless trenchcoat" (also called "the Executive"). Morty refuses to let Jerry pay for a meal any time 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 "that tearing sound" it makes when separated and refused to use it on any of the raincoats he sold. Morty is somewhat of a cheapskate, as noted in the episode "The Raincoats", where he refuses to let Kramer get more than 25% of the money they get from the raincoat deal. He hates the idea of appointments not being kept, and complains about having to have filled out forms and wait over 20 minutes while at the doctor's office "The Wallet". He is also shown to be technologically ignorant, as when he believes the Wizard Jerry buys him in "The Wizard" is just a tip calculator.

He and Helen are retired and have lived in a series of condo in Florida, the most memorable of which was Del Boca Vista. He was the president of the tenant's board at Phase Two of the Pines of Mar Gables for many years, until Jerry bought him a Cadillac Fleetwood, arousing suspicion among his neighbors that he was embezzling from the board coffers. He was impeached and resigned when the tie-breaking voter turned against him upon remembering that Jerry had stolen a loaf of Marble Rye bread from her (in a previous episode). His impeachment scene included a parody of Richard Nixon's famous wave.

Actors

Morty was originally played by Phil Bruns, who appeared in only one episode, "The Stake Out", which was the second episode of the first season. 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 "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 his life.

Appearances

• Season One:
  • The Stake Out (Phil Bruns appearance)

• Season Two:
  • The Pony Remark
• Season Three:
  • The Pen
• Season Four:
  • The Wallet
  • The Watch
  • The Outing
  • The Pilot, Part 2
• Season Five:
  • The Wife
  • The Raincoats (Parts 1 and 2)
• Season Six:
  • The Kiss Hello
  • The Doodle
• Season Seven:
  • The Cadillac (Parts 1 and 2)
  • The Shower Head
• Season Eight:
  • The Little Jerry
  • The Money
  • The Van Buren Boys
  • The English Patient
• Season Nine:
  • The Blood
  • The Wizard
  • The Bookstore
  • The Finale, Part 1
  • The Finale, Part 2

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 center for thirty-eight years."
• "Cheap fabric, and dim lighting. That's how you move merchandise."
• "My wallet's gone! My wallet's gone!"
• "Tell him to eat a plum!"
• "He didn't have a coke! Ho ho ho."

Trivia

Morty's favorite TV show is Xena: Warrior Princess.

External links

• Morty Seinfeld discussion board