Jerry's transition from stand-up comedian to comic television actor has been a great success, earning him the 1992 and 1993 American Comedy Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. However, his demanding production schedule has not prevented him from remaining one of the busiest and most popular stand-up comedians in the country.

Born in Brooklyn, Seinfeld became fascinated by comedians at the age of eight while watching them on television. "I remember my parents telling me, 'This man's job is to come out and be funny for people.' I could not believe it. 'That's his whole job?' I asked. 'Are you kidding me?' And they said, 'No, he's kidding us.'"

Even with the success of Seinfeld, Jerry will always be most passionate about performing in front of a live audience. "I knew I was going to be a comedian at a very young age," he recalls. "I remember one time I made a friend laugh so hard that he sprayed a mouthful of cookies and milk all over me. And I liked it. That was the beginning."

Through his honour-roll years at Queens College and brief working stints as a telephone light bulb salesman and a jewellery street vendor, Jerry never lost sight of his dream. "My whole life, I was just trying to laugh - I'm obsessed with that moment," he says. "When you're laughing, you've left your body, you've left the planet...it's an incredible experience."

As he honed his craft with a steady slate of standup throughout the '80s, Seinfeld's reputation for keen observation humour spread. "Everyone's looking for good sex, good food, and a good laugh," Jerry asserts. "They're little islands of relief in what's often a painful existence."

His first TV special, Jerry Seinfeld's Stand-up Confidential, was seen on HBO in 1987-88.

Seinfeld's broad appeal has earned him regular appearances on a host of talk shows, most notably The Tonight Show and Late Night With David Letterman. In all, Jerry has made a combined total of over 50 appearances on the two shows. To figure out why, one need only ask Seinfeld fan David Letterman. "He is easily one of the best stand-up comedians working today."

Jerry Seinfeld - Did you know?

Also known as; Sein, The Sein, Jerry Jerry Dingleberry, Seinsmelled, Diggity Dog, Jerry 1, The Once and Future King of Comedy, Comedian of the United States, and the 'Didja Ever Notice This/Didja Ever Notice That?' Guy.

Jerry graduated from JFK High School with George in 1971.

He estimates he had sex with Elaine 25 times while they were dating.

He gargles six times a day – very quietly – according to Elaine.

Jerry says he talks on the phone with George six times a day.

The comedian thinks he can tell, just by looking at people, if they wear slippers.

He proclaims proudly that he has never watched a single episode of I Love Lucy.

He says he could read the sports section of the newspaper if his hair was on fire.

Jerry claims to be lactose intolerant: "I have no patience for lactose".

He jokes that he can't eat sugar because it "makes my ankles swell up, and I can't dance."

He won't allow any soft cheese in his refrigerator.

He's never eaten a "really good pickle".