Comic-actor Hiram Kasten, who appeared on shows such as Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Saved By the Bell, has died at the age of 71 following a battle with prostate cancer.
An obituary for Kasten was posted Sunday afternoon on his Facebook page, noting that he died in the arms of his wife Diana Kisiel Kastenbaum ‘only hours after their 38th wedding anniversary.’
Kasten battled multiple ailments such as prostate cancer and Crohn’s disease over the past seven years, according to the obit, and died at his Batavia, New York home.
Kasten had appeared on a trio of Seinfeld episodes in 1993-1994, portraying Michael, a work colleague of Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus).
Kasten was a staple on the New York City comedy circuit, and made regular appearances at The Comic Strip, where Jerry Seinfeld once served as a master of ceremonies.
Comic-actor Hiram Kasten, who appeared on shows such as Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Saved By the Bell, has died at the age of 71 following a battle with prostate cancer. Pictured in NYC in 2013
An obituary for Kasten was posted Sunday afternoon on his Facebook page, noting that he died in the arms of his wife Diana Kisiel Kastenbaum ‘only hours after their 38th wedding anniversary’
He formed a longtime friendship with Seinfeld as well as other notable names such as Michael Richards, Paul Reiser, Larry Miller and Mark Schiff, according to the obit.
The obit noted that while Kasten ‘loved show business and lived his dream of being in show business … his most satisfying and greatest role though was as a family man’ to his spouse and daughter, Millicent Jade Kastenbaum.
‘He loved being a dad to his beautiful and brilliant daughter,’ the obit read, as ‘her many achievements in her young life and in her career as an Assistant District Attorney have made him burst with pride and love.’
Kasten’s other TV appearances came on 90s sitcoms including Saved By the Bell, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Cybill, Mad About You and Everybody Loves Raymond.
In the early 2000s, he made appearances on shows including Curb Your Enthusiasm, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, My Wife and Kids, and 7th Heaven.
Kasten was also a staple at comedy clubs in the 1970s and 1980s including The Improv, The Comedy Cellar, Caroline’s and Dangerfield’s, according to the obit.
Kasten, who was born in the Bronx Hiram Z. Kastenbaum, also had performed on cruise ships and had a Las Vegas show at the (since-closed) Desert Inn called ‘The Rat Pack is Back.’
Kasten had appeared on a trio of Seinfeld episodes in 1993-1994, portraying Michael, a work colleague of Elaine Benes ( Julia Louis-Dreyfus )
Kasten’s other TV appearances came on sitcoms including Saved By the Bell in 1991, in which he appeared opposite Mark-Paul Gosselaar
Kasten was a staple on the New York City comedy circuit, and made regular appearances at The Comic Strip, where Jerry Seinfeld once served as a master of ceremonies. The two were pictured in 2013 in NYC
Kasten’s family said that funeral services will be held at Schwartz Brothers-Jeffers Memorial Chapel in Forest Hills, New York, with a date and time to be announced; with a memorial service in Los Angeles slated for later this summer.
Kasten is survived by wife Diana, daughter Millicent Jade, brother-in-law, Kevin John Kisiel ‘and several loving nieces and nephews and their children, as well as wonderful cousins on both sides of the family,’ according to the obit.
According to the obit, Kasten’s family ‘has asked that if anyone cares to make a memorial tribute that it be made in the form of a charitable donation to’ either Crossroads House and Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund).
