Earl Schuman obit

Earl Schuman, Actor on a Memorable 'Seinfeld' Episode, Dies at 100

He was not on the list.

He received his first credit, at age 81, for playing Izzy Mandelbaum Sr., the father of Lloyd Bridges' character, on the sitcom.

Earl Schuman, who got his first acting credit at age 81 when he portrayed the father of Lloyd Bridges' character on an episode of Seinfeld, has died. He was 100.

Schuman died Thursday at an assisted living facility in Santa Clarita, Calif., his son, Micky, said.

In the Seinfeld episode "The English Patient," which first aired on NBC in March 1997, Schuman plays Izzy Mandelbaum Sr., whose son is an ultra-competitive 80-year-old (Bridges) who throws out his back after challenging Jerry to a weightlifting competition.

It turns out Izzy Sr. also hates to lose; he winds up in a hospital bed next to his son and grandson after he tries to lift a heavy TV set that his grandson couldn't.

Schuman also played "Uncle Alfred Carey" on The Drew Carey Show, was "Great-Grandpa Saul" on Just Shoot Me! and appeared as an "Elderly S&M Enthusiast" in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004).

He also was in Beautiful (2000), Taxi (2004) and Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm and most recently had a role on a 2011 episode of Raising Hope.

A native of Oklahoma, Schuman's acting career began at age 77 when, while waiting for his wife at an audition, someone suggested that maybe he should read for a job, and he got it. He wound up appearing in commercials for Coca-Cola, Doritos, Mercedes-Benz and Maxwell House.

Survivors include his other children Richard, Deborah and Henri and grandchildren Greta, Esther, Rachel, Shara, Eric, Andrew and Ari..

Actor (27 credits)

2011 Raising Hope (TV Series)

Old Man

- Cheaters (2011) ... Old Man

2010 Stacy's Mom

History Teacher

2008 Little Britain USA (TV Series)

Peter Beal

- Episode #1.6 (2008) ... Peter Beal

2007-2008 Carpoolers (TV Series)

Geezer Carpooler / Geezer #2

- Wheels of Fortune (2008) ... Geezer Carpooler

- Down for the Count (2007) ... Geezer #2

2007 ER (TV Series)

Leonard

- The War Comes Home (2007) ... Leonard

2006 Drake and Josh Go Hollywood (TV Movie)

2005 Rodney (TV Series)

Merle

- The Ring (2005) ... Merle

2004 Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie (Video)

Anthony Caltrans

2004/I Taxi

Old Janitor

2004 Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

Elderly S&M Enthusiast

2004 Curb Your Enthusiasm (TV Series)

Man at House

- The Blind Date (2004) ... Man at House

2003 Rent Control (TV Movie)

Iggy

2003 Becker (TV Series)

Mr. Klein

- A Little Ho-mance (2003) ... Mr. Klein (as Earl B. Schuman)

1999-2003 Will & Grace (TV Series)

Driver / Karen's Driver

- 24 (2003) ... Driver

- Yours, Mine or Ours (1999) ... Karen's Driver

2002 MDs (TV Series)

Old Man

- Reversal of Fortune (2002) ... Old Man

2002 Mr. Deeds

Blake's Valet

2001 Scrubs (TV Series)

Patient

- My Bad (2001) ... Patient

2001 Just Shoot Me! (TV Series)

Great-Grandpa Saul

- Sid & Nina (2001) ... Great-Grandpa Saul

2000 How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale (TV Movie)

Dimitri

2000 Beautiful

Elderly Couple in Restaurant (as Earl B. Schuman)

1999 The Drew Carey Show (TV Series)

Uncle Alfred Carey

- Steve and Mimi Get Married (1999) ... Uncle Alfred Carey

1999 Action (TV Series)

Grandfather

- Twelfth Step to Hell (1999) ... Grandfather

1999 Foreign Correspondents

Sam

1998 Martial Law (TV Series)

Old Man

- Trackdown (1998) ... Old Man (as Earl B. Schuman)

1998 Working (TV Series)

Old Employee

- Home-O-Apathy (1998) ... Old Employee

1997 Zork: Grand Inquisitor (Video Game)

Old Inquisition Guard / Bartender

1997 Seinfeld (TV Series)

Izzy Sr.

- The English Patient (1997) ... Izzy Sr.