The season two episode of Seinfeld, “The Jacket,” featured Lawrence Tierney as Elaine’s father; sadly, that was the last time Lawrence was seen on the show due to the concerning impression he left behind. Michael Richards recalled how Lawrence swiped butcher knives from Jerry Seinfeld’s kitchen, which led to his ban from the set.
Lawrence was known for playing controversial roles that may or may not reflect his personal encounters. He started out in the early ‘40s, starring in Gildersleeve on Broadway and Government Girl until his breakthrough role as bank thief John Dillinger in 1945’s Dillinger, which opened him up to playing similar niche characters in subsequent movies.
Lawrence Tierney was banned from the ‘Seinfeld’ set
It’s the 25th anniversary of Marge Be Not Proud, one of my favorite episodes
Here’s a timeline of Laurence Tierney (Don Brodka) terrorizing the Simpsons staff:
Noon: Car arrives at Fox. Tierney steps out, driver says he refuses to take him back & speeds off. It’s raining.
1/6 pic.twitter.com/Y2VkGBytbG— Josh Weinstein (@Joshstrangehill) December 18, 2020
The former showrunner of The Simpsons, Josh Weinstein, proved Lawrence’s concerning behavior by posting clips of him “terrorizing” staff on set while playing Don Brodka in season 7’s “Marge Not Be Proud.” He called it the most “nerve-racking record ever” as he narrated in detail how they convinced Lawrence to play his part accordingly.
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Fans on social media reacted to Josh’s post on X. A user called Lawrence a “pain in the ass” but admitted to the episode being the most “emotionally affecting” in the show’s history. “Did you ever compare experiences with the Seinfeld people about Tierney? I hear they were all terrified of him,” another comment read.
What happened to Lawrence Tierney?
Beyond his act on screen, Lawrence was one tough guy in real life who often got into trouble with the law. He was arrested multiple times for being dangerously drunk and getting violent while at it. Lawrence reportedly got into multiple fistfights, vandalized property, and even broke a college student’s jaw in 1951, which led to him spending months in jail.
Even worse, Lawrence was allegedly connected to the death of a young woman in New York City who jumped from her apartment window. That said, he was never convicted and said he had just arrived at the scene when she committed suicide. While filming 1991’s Reservoir Dogs, Lawrence shot at his nephew, prompting director Quentin Tarantino to keep him at arm’s length ever since. The infamous menace died from pneumonia in February 2002 while in a nursing home in Los Angeles.