Armin Shimerman seems to have hated guest-starring on Seinfeld. Numerous celebrities made an appearance on the hit comedy show during the nine seasons it was on the air. While some had a great time guest-starring or making an appearance in a recurring role on "the show about nothing", other celebrities didn't seem to enjoy their experience on the show.
There can be plenty of reasons for problems behind the scenes of a show or film. Sometimes fights can break out between people working closely together for long hours, or celebrities might have creative differences over certain projects they are working on. Other times it seems certain people just don't work well together. Why did Armin Shimerman say he hated guest-starring on Seinfeld?
Why Did Armin Shimerman Hate Guest-Starring On 'Seinfeld'
Armin Shimerman found fame with the role of fan-favorite Quark on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He played the role for seven seasons. The Better Call Saul actor is also an author.
Sometimes when celebrities are working on their own shows or films, they will make an appearance on something else, or even help another celebrity out on another project.
Sometimes actors make an appearance on a beloved show, only to find that they don't really like the cast as much as the fans.
According to redshirtsalwaysdie, after Armin Shimerman made a guest appearance on Seinfeld in the seventh season's 12th episode, "The Caddy." Shimerman said "he hated" working with the main cast. On the show, Shimerman played Stan, Cosmo Kramer's caddy.
Armin Shimerman has said he hated working with the cast members on the comedy show Seinfeld. When asked during a Florida Supercon Q&A "about what it was like to work with the Seinfeld cast", Shimerman gave a candid answer.
"I hated them. - hated them. They were non-communicative, ugly, non-responsive, what's the word? Insular." If Shimerman's claims are true, it seems the main cast of Seinfeld didn't try to make their guest star feel welcome in any way.
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor added that "except cues, "no one spoke to him. "I was on that show six days, five days. Nobody said a word to me except cues. Nobody, nobody came up and started a conversation."
The Cast Members Wouldn't Speak To Him
Several established celebrities appeared on Seinfeld, and many celebrities starting out also made guest appearances. However, not every celebrity who appeared on Seinfeld enjoyed working on the show.
According to Ned Hardy, during a Florida Supercon Q&A Armin Shimerman said he "hated" working with the cast. He also mentioned they didn't speak to him.
Shimerman also recalled a time when he was sitting between cast members Jerry Seinfeld and Julia Louis-Freyfus, and the two carried on a conversation with each other without saying a word to him.
The Imbalance of Power author said, "The three of us are sitting there, it's Christmastime. The two of them are talking about their Christmas plans and what they're going to do for their vacation and all this stuff and they talk for half an hour."
"I'm between them, right here, never once, not once did they say what are you going to do? Never once did they say a pardon us for talking around you. Never once. It was as though I wasn't there. So I'm not very fond of them."
Shimerman added, "That's not acceptable. If you have a guest star, if you have a day player, if you have an extra, you do not avoid them. You speak to them. We're all human beings together."
According to the Q&A, he stated, "Those four people never said 'boo' to me."
If true, it could be that the main cast members were more focused on work instead. However, they could have made Shimerman's time working on Seinfeld a better experience, and included him in conversations.
What Armin Shimerman Has Said About Acting
Other than appearing on Star Trek and Seinfeld, Armin Shimerman has had a lengthy career, playing characters in numerous popular shows.
While some celebrities might offer unwanted advice from time to time, Shimerman's advice to other actors seems to be helpful. He encourages those seeking a career in acting to always "be prepared."
According to the Daily Actor, Armin Shimerman discussed acting and how he approaches a role. "Well, the first thing I suppose I do is read it and try to find out what the arc of the character is. You know all actors look at theater pieces though the eyes of their characters because that's the character they're going to play hopefully."
When he was told, "I've never seen you do the same thing twice I don't think," Shimerman replied that it's necessary to play a variety of characters. "You have to play different characters. You can't get by with playing just one character."
He also offered some advice for those who might be considering a career in acting. "Each person's path is different. And I can only say that luck is a huge factor in every career. When a door opens, you have to be ready and prepared to go through that door if it opens."
"There are wonderful actors who have never succeeded. There are horrible actors who have succeeded incredibly well. It's just a matter of luck. And taking advantage. And being prepared."
He added, "I guess if I'm going to give any advice, be prepared as an actor. Work on your craft. Do what you can to make yourself a better actor and more importantly a better human being."