‘Seinfeld’ Star Looks Nearly Unrecognizable in Rare TV Interview

An iconic Seinfeld star appeared on an Australian morning show sporting some notable new facial hair.

Patrick Warburton, who played David Puddy on nine episodes of Jerry Seinfeld ’s classic sitcom, sat with Melbourne’s Today Extra for an interview earlier this week during which he debuted a bushy mustache.

Warburton is best known for his signature squint and unaffected speaking tone, but he's now added facial hair to the mix. As one might expect of Warburton, his mustache is strong, full, and secure. Or, in Seinfeld ’s parlance, it’s real and it’s spectacular.

Warburton has shown off his ‘stache before, but it appeared notably bushier and darker on his Australian tour. In previous red carpet photos, Warburton wore his facial hair noticeably clipped and in its natural gray hue. It’s unclear if the mustache is for an upcoming role.

David Puddy is perhaps the best-remembered boyfriend of the many Elaine Benes (Julia Louis Dreyfuss) had on NBC’s legendary sitcom . Warburton’s dim-witted hockey fan often butted heads with Dreyfuss’ hard-driving career woman, culminating in his immediate abandonment of her when she’s sentenced to a year in prison in the series finale.

Warburton told Today Extra that he was an ardent fan of the show long before being cast near the end of its nine-season run.

“I remember sitting on the couch watching it with my wife, we would watch it religiously on Thursdays, and I remember looking at her and saying, ‘Why can't I get on this show?’” Warburton recalled. “Two weeks later I went in to read for [creators] Jerry [Seinfeld] and Larry David, and it went well and they brought me on.”

Initially, Warburton was only contracted for a single episode. But Seinfeld and David loved his interpretation of the character and brought him back for a second outing. They wanted to bring him back more often, but Warburton’s commitment to the CBS sitcom Dave’s World precluded his involvement.

“[ Seinfeld ] asked me about availability, and I couldn't do it because I was on a CBS show at the time,” Warburton explained, adding that CBS “wouldn't let me do a show on another network.”

“That was frustrating,” he admitted, “but then they canceled [ Dave’s World ] and I came back on [ Seinfeld ’s] ninth and final season.”

Warburton has had a spectacularly successful career, amassing 194 credits (and counting) since 1986. In addition to his iconic role on Seinfeld , he’s had equally legendary parts in Family Guy , The Tick , and Archer . In May, he appeared in a small role in Seinfeld ’s directorial debut, Unfrosted .