Prett-ay, Prett-ay, Prett-ay, Pretty Good: Our Favorite ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ Guest Stars
Ted Danson
Although he is billed as a guest star, this former Cheers star and current star of The Good Place has appeared so regularly that he seems to be a permanent fixture in the Curb universe. Playing himself, Danson, along with his wife, actress Mary Steenburgen, often find themselves at events alongside Larry, and continue to do so with the show’s recent return.
Susie Essman
Known best as the wife of Larry’s manager Jeff Greene (Jeff Garlin), Susie Essman plays Susie Greene. Unlike Jeff, who does his best to get along with Larry, Susie is anything but accommodating, serving as one of Larry’s primary antagonists in the episodes in which she appears. Much like other guest stars, Susie appears so regularly she can almost be considered a regular cast member.
Shaquille O’Neal
In the 2001 episode titled “Shaq,” Larry gets courtside seats to a Lakers game and ends up accidentally tripping the popular basketball star. For any fan, Larry’s everyday life is known to have struggles, but after this event, life for Larry seems to get easier—that is, until he meets Shaq after the incident.
Ben Stiller
Appearing in four episodes, Ben Stiller appears as himself, and is tapped to costar with Larry in Mel Brooks’ production of The Producers. Needless to say, their introduction doesn’t go smoothly, especially after Larry unintentionally injures Stiller. The collaboration also carries some irony, as Larry David had once worked with Stiller’s father, Jerry, who played the recurring role of Frank Costanza on Seinfeld.
The Seinfeld Gang (Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander & Michael Richards)
In the show’s seventh season, Larry brings the Seinfeld gang back together for a reunion. What should be a smooth culmination of a celebratory project turns out to be the typical Curb-esque scenario. Besides appearing together, these onetime costars have popped up in other episodes throughout the series.
Wanda Sykes
Guest starring as herself, Wanda Sykes made her first Curb appearance in a 2001 episode titled, “Thor.” Making reccurring appearances over the years, Sykes made audiences laugh over her and Larry’s hilarious conflicts. Just as Larry calls people out, Sykes knows how to give it right back to him.
Bob Odenkirk
Known for his contribution to comedic writing, it is no surprise to see this Better Call Saul star pop up in the third episode of the series. Odenkirk played a man named Gil in an episode aptly titled “Porno Gil,” and as the title suggests, his character is a porno star. As in any of the Curb episodes, Larry’s interactions with Gil and the events following their meeting lead to some downright hilarious moments.
Michael J. Fox
Everyone has a problem with their neighbor at some point in their life, and of course, Larry is no different. The conflict is a little different for Larry though, because his neighbor happens to be Michael J. Fox. In the Season 8 finale, Larry accuses Fox of harassment and hilarity ensues, as is to be expected.
Vivica A. Fox
Fox plays the character known as Loretta Black, who also happens to be the sister of Larry’s friend Leon (J.B. Smoove). When she and her children are displaced by a hurricane, Larry and his then wife, Cheryl (Cheryl Hines), take the Black family in. Eventually, Loretta becomes Larry’s love interest in later seasons and recurs as a character over the course of later seasons.
Martin Scorsese
If you ever wondered what it would look like to see Larry David in a Scorsese movie, then the two episodes where the Oscar-winning director guest stars as himself is your big chance. In Season 3, Larry is seen working on set with Scorsese, playing a mob boss, and of course things go awry.
Stephen Colbert
Long before Colbert held his own stage in New York City, he bumped into Larry David on Broadway in the 2004 episode titled “Opening Night.” Playing a tourist, Colbert asks Larry to take a photo of him and his wife, and since Larry always seems to know best, the men get into a scuffle over the best way to take the photo. The exchange is ultimately a hilarious and somewhat important plot point for the episode.
John Legend
In one of the better-known episodes from the sixth season entitled “Bat Mitzvah,” this Grammy winning artist plays himself. As the cast of characters are dealing with their own problems, Legend is serving as the entertainment for Jeff and Susie’s daughter’s bat mitzvah.
Over Curb Your Enthusiasm‘s initial eight-season run, many famous faces stopped by to join in on Larry David’s fun. Whether they were there to torment Larry, play themselves or both, there was never a dull moment when it came to Curb‘s guest stars. The impressive list of celebrities who make an appearance on the HBO hit seems never-ending.
For some of these guests, long-term recurring appearances were not unusual, while others made single-episode cameos. If the show’s new ninth season—following its long awaited return—follows this trend, then the list is sure to grow.
Among the prestigious list of our favorite Curb Your Enthusiasm guest stars to date are some of the show’s most memorable appearances, including a former Cheers star as well as a Grammy- and Academy Award-winning musician.
Click through the gallery to see who made our list.
Curb Your Enthusiasm, Sundays, 10/9c, HBO
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