Why ‘Seinfeld’ actor Patrick Warburton tried to avoid Jerry Seinfeld on set

THE actor who played David Puddy on Seinfeld has revealed why he tried to avoid Jerry Seinfeld on the show’s set.

THE actor who played Puddy on Seinfeld has revealed why he deliberately tried to avoid Jerry Seinfeld on the set of the ‘show about nothing’.

Patrick Warburton, who played Elaine’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, sat down with news.com.au to discuss what it was like to appear in one of the most successful TV shows ever.

The 51-year-old is currently getting ready to star in new show called Crowded which starts in the US next month.

The NBC show is about an empty nest couple who find out that their adult daughters want to move back home with them.

Here are the highlights from our chat with Patrick aka Puddy:

What was it like to be on one of the biggest TV shows of all time?

“It wasn’t lost on me at the time because I came on to do a guest spot during the sixth season so my wife and I watched it religiously, it was our favourite show.

“Two weeks before I actually got to do an episode, I remember looking at her and saying, ‘God I wish I could be on this show’, and then I got a chance to go in and audition and read for Jerry (Seinfeld) and Larry David. It was just for a single episode but they liked the character and brought him back.

“I could have done a lot more but I was already signed on another show called Dave’s World ... and so for two years I was getting calls every now and then about my availability for Seinfeld and I couldn’t do it. Then they cancelled Dave’s World and I crossed paths with Jerry and he said, ‘Do you want to come back on the show during the ninth season?’ That was a great opportunity.”

“High five!”. Picture: Supplied

What was it like working with the main cast?

“Everybody in that cast, they were all so remarkably down to earth. I’m still friends with Jason Alexander to this day. I got to know Jerry better when I did Bee Movie because I didn’t work with him that much on set.

“I actually tried to avoid him (Jerry) when we did Seinfeld. The reason being I just didn’t want to stick my foot in mouth or say something stupid. I wanted to hit my marks, I wanted to get the laughs and I wanted him to say, ‘I like that Puddy character, let’s bring him back’.

“As social and as generous as he is and as good a guy as he is, I think he probably likes to not be bothered so I didn’t want to ask him any dumb questions ... I just wanted to stay out of his way. I haven’t seen him in years but I miss him.”

You had so many great catchphrases on Seinfeld. Which ones are repeated back to you most often?

“He (Puddy) used to say, ‘Yeah that’s right,’ ‘Gotta support the team,’ ‘You’re the one going to hell’. Oh, ‘high five.’ I was so glad when Borat came around ... there’s a different ‘high five’ now.”

You appeared in the Seinfeld finale. Did you receive a parting gift from Jerry?

“We all got a lovely Cartier watch that said Seinfeld underneath.”

In the Seinfeld finale with the one and only Keith Hernandez in the background.

You’re a devout Catholic but you’ve appeared in some very politically incorrect shows, such as Family Guy (he voices Joe Swanson), Ted 2 and Inside Amy Schumer. How do you reconcile that?

“I believe that you certainly can have your beliefs and be spiritual and at the same time, still have a sense of humour about things, including religion.

“But still, even on Family Guy, there are times when we’ll turn it off in our house. I don’t like when it gets sacrilege.”

You got more than 150 movie and TV credits to your name, but is there a role you’ve auditioned for that you missed out on, that you wish you got?

“I had a terrible audition for the role that Thomas Haden Church played in Sideways. It just didn’t go well.

“As I recall, I went back in, gave a knock and said, ‘I’ve got to try this again’. While I’m in the midst of reading ... I realised that I was doing the exact same reading that I was doing before. I could not get out of that room fast enough.

“I’ve never been good at auditions. There are certain psychological aspects of the audition that ... it’s been a struggle for me.”

Tell me about your new show, Crowded, which also stars Carrie Preston?

“It’s really fun and it’s such a wonderful cast. It’s hard to keep multi-camera shows current, but this one is fun!”

Patrick Warburton in bed with Carrie Preston on Crowded. Picture: NBC

Crowded premieres on Sunday, March 20th in the US on NBC