8 Behind-The-Scenes Stories About Sitcom Dads (3 of 5)

4. Frank Costanza was intended to be as meek as George, but Jerry Stiller had better ideas

When it comes to brilliant ensemble acting, few American sitcoms compare to Seinfeld. Nearly 30 years after one of the most successful shows of all time came to an end, it still remains popular in reruns and on streaming. Although Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer were the main characters, Frank Costanza was arguably the most notable secondary character. But this is only because the actor who played George’s blustering father, the legendary Jerry Stiller, recognized that the meek personality originally assigned to the character wasn’t going to work. Indeed, this is precisely why the first actor who played Frank got fired. Instead, he matched the dramatic energy of his wife and George’s mom, Estelle, who was intended to be the boss lady of the Costanza family. Jerry Seinfeld and co-creator Larry David thought the new spin on the character was solid gold, and it left an indelible impact on the show’s legacy.

5. Michael Gross was fine with young Michael J. Fox’s star ellipsing him

Throughout the 1980s and 90s, Michael J. Fox was one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood due in large part to his authenticity. His first major role was as Alex P. Keaton in Family Ties, a young conservative whose politics clashed with his parents’ liberal attitudes. But in spite of this, Steven Keaton (Michael Gross) never allowed these differences to come between their father-son relationship. Although the smashing success of Back to the Future shot Fox to fame, it wasn’t something Gross resented. As he once explained in an interview, he was classmates with legendary actress Meryl Streep, after all.