Richard Herd, Who Played Seinfeld’s Mr. Wilhelm, Dies At 87

Actor Richard Herd died on Tuesday morning form cancer-related causes. He was in his home in Los Angeles and was at age 87.

Herd was well know for his part on Seinfeld where he played Mr. Wilhelm, George Costanza’s, played by Jason Alexander, boss at the New York Yankees. Herd was a Boston Red Sox fan in real life. 

In 2019, Herd commented on his time spent on Seinfeld to the St. Charles Herald Guide. He said, “Seinfeld was one of the best jobs I ever had. There were no ‘stars’ on that show, they were all genuinely nice people to work with. It got me a tremendous amount of recognition and still does because it plays all the time.”

Herald also liked to paint and make his own jewelry. “All my lamps and jewelry are made from scratch – they’re one of a kind,” he told a local paper. “I work with chrome, brass, bone, copper, steel, aluminum, tin, old wood and most anything rusted. I find it in junkyards, on the streets, motorcycle shops, old school band rooms, and people also give me stuff. I create it for myself and if others like it, bravo!”

SAG-AFTRA made a statement honoring Herd on Twitter. It read, “Mourning the loss of #sagaftramember Richard Herd, who entertained us in roles from ‘All the President’s Men’ to ‘Seinfeld.’ Herd was a national board member for almost 10 years and served a 2-year term as SAG’s 3rd national vice president in 1999.”

Herd has appeared on many other memorable television and film productions such as Get Out, All the President’s Men and Star Trek: Voyager. He is survived by his wife of 40 years Patricia Crowder and his children Erica Herd and Richard Herd Junior.

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