‘Seinfeld’ Star Michael Richards Discusses Shocking Health Update In Rare Interview

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Michael Richards, best known for his role on hit 90s sitcom Seinfeld, has revealed a major health issue he struggled with in 2018.

The comedian, now 74, opened up about his battle with prostate cancer in an interview with People that was published on Thursday, May 23. Richards revealed how he was shocked to learn about his elevated PSA levels during a routine checkup. He recalls telling his doctor, “I’ve got a 9-year-old, and I’d like to be around for him. Is there any way I can get a little more life going?”

The severity of his condition required an immediate and aggressive treatment, leading to the removal of his entire prostate. “If I hadn’t, I probably would have been dead in about eight months,” Richards said.

This health scare prompted the actor to reflect deeply on his life, resulting in his upcoming memoir, Entrances and Exits, which draws from over 40 journals. The book, set to be released on Tuesday, June 4, also addresses the 2006 incident at the Laugh Factory, where Richards infamously responded to a heckler with a racist tirade. Reflecting on the incident, he wrote, “He went low and I went even lower. We both ended up at the bottom of the barrel.”

Richards further explained, “My anger was all over the place and it came through hard and fast. Anger is quite a force. But it happened. Rather than run from it, I dove into the deep end and tried to learn from it. It hasn’t been easy. Crisis managers wanted me to do damage control. But as far as I was concerned, the damage was inside of me.” He has spent nearly two decades since the meltdown doing a “deep analysis” of himself to understand his insecurities and anger.

Reflecting on his career, Richards revealed he often turned down opportunities due to feelings of inadequacy. “I said no to the offer of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I didn’t feel deserving,” he shared. His insecurities also led him to decline hosting Saturday Night Live and to feel dissatisfied with his performance on Seinfeld. “Fame magnified my insecurities,” he admitted.

Following the 2006 incident, Richards retreated from the spotlight, with few acting roles since. He voiced a character in Seinfeld’s 2007 animated film Bee Movie and had a role in the 2019 film Faith, Hope & Love. Recently, Richards made his first red carpet appearance in eight years at the Los Angeles premiere of Seinfeld’s Unfrosted movie. The actor shared a warm embrace with Seinfeld before posing for photos and greeting fans.