'Seinfeld' star Michael Richards has lifted the lid on his personal and professional struggles including his health issue in his upcoming memoir 'Entrances and Exits'.
- May 23, 2024
AceShowbiz - Michael Richards, best known for his role as Cosmo Kramer on the iconic sitcom "Seinfeld," is sharing a deeply personal journey in his new memoir "Entrances and Exits," set to be released on June 4. The 74-year-old actor reveals his battle with stage 1 prostate cancer, a diagnosis he received in 2018 following a routine checkup that showed elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels.
Richards recounts the moment he received the shocking news, saying, "I thought, 'well, this is my time. I'm ready to go.' " However, his perspective shifted when he considered his young son, Antonio, whom he shares with his wife, Beth Skipp. "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? he recalls asking his doctor.
Given the seriousness of his condition, his doctor recommended immediate surgery to remove the entire prostate. "It had to be contained quickly,"Richards explains. "If I hadn't, I probably would have been dead in about eight months." This life-altering experience prompted Richards to delve deeply into his past, resulting in the memoir that draws from over 40 journals he has kept throughout his life.
Richards also confronts a dark chapter from 2006 when a racist tirade at the Laugh Factory significantly impacted his career. During the incident, Richards used the N-word while berating a heckler, an action he deeply regrets.
"I was immediately sorry the moment I said it onstage," he admits. Despite a public apology on "David Letterman," Richards chose to step away from the limelight to focus on self-reflection and healing.
In his memoir, Richards candidly discusses how fame magnified his insecurities and led to a period of introspection. He states, "Fame magnified my insecurities. I said no to the offer of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I didn't feel deserving." Richards spends his time studying religion and philosophy and maintains a close circle of friends, including Jerry Seinfeld, who wrote the foreword to his book.
Richards, who has largely kept a low profile over the past 17 years, recently made a rare public appearance at the Los Angeles premiere of Seinfeld's "Unfrosted" movie. As he continues to heal and learn, Richards emphasizes that he isn't seeking a comeback.
"I'm not looking for a comeback," he says. "The damage was inside of me. So I completely stepped away from show business. It was time to disappear and finally pay attention to where all of my anger was coming from."
