Earl Schuman

Earl Schuman was an actor best known for his role on Seinfeld as Izzy Mandelbaum Sr., the father of Lloyd Bridges' character. The part was also his first acting credit, which Schuman earned when he was 81 years old.

The memorable episode, titled “The English Patient,” aired on NBC in March of 1997. Schuman played the father of an ultra-competitive 80-year-old (Bridges) who throws out his back after challenging Jerry to a weightlifting competition. In real life, Bridges was actually three years older than Schuman.

The actor also appeared on the television series Working, Martial Law, The Drew Carey Show, Just Shoot Me!, Scrubs, MDs, Will & Grace, Becker, Curb Your Enthusiasm, ER and Raising Hope.

Additionally, he had small roles in the movies Foreign Correspondents, with Melanie Lynskey; Beautiful, starring Minnie Driver; Mr. Deeds, with Adam Sandler, Winona Ryder, and John Turturro; Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, starring Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn; and Taxi, with Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon.

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

Schuman died March 24, 2016, in Santa Clarita, California. He was 100.