Hiram Kasten, a beloved American actor and comedian renowned for his roles in numerous popular sitcoms, passed away at the age of 71.
Kasten, who had memorable roles in "Seinfeld," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and "Saved By the Bell," was a close friend of Jerry Seinfeld.
His wife, Diana Kisiel Kastenbaum, shared the news of his passing on Facebook on Sunday, revealing that Kasten had been battling prostate cancer. According to her post, Kasten died in her arms just hours after they celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary, as reported by the New York Post.
In addition to prostate cancer, Kasten had been fighting Crohn’s disease for the past seven years. He passed away at his home in Batavia, a town in upstate New York near Buffalo.
Born Hiram Z. Kastenbaum on October 30, 1952, Kasten is best remembered for his role as Michael, a colleague of Elaine Benes in "Seinfeld." He met Jerry Seinfeld during his early stand-up days at Comic Strip Live in New York City, where Seinfeld was the emcee. This encounter sparked a lifelong friendship of 45 years, according to his obituary.
Kasten's extensive career in the New York comedy circuit included performances at iconic venues such as The Improv, The Comedy Cellar, Caroline’s, and Dangerfield’s.
Besides his work on "Seinfeld," Kasten appeared in various other TV shows, including "Mad About You," "Everybody Loves Raymond," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Saved by the Bell," and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."
Seinfeld “passed Hiram on his first audition and he became a regular,” Diana Kastenbaum wrote in her post, highlighting their enduring friendship.
Kasten retired from the entertainment industry in 2017 as his health declined, though he only disclosed the full extent of his illness to friends in the last six months. His obituary noted the strong support from his comedy and artistic community, with friends visiting him in Batavia and participating in late-night Zoom calls from both coasts, extending their companionship into the early hours.
Kasten's legacy lives on through his significant contributions to the world of comedy and the enduring relationships he fostered throughout his life.
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