Jason Alexander (born September 23, 1959) is an
American
actor,
comedian and
singer. He is best known for his role as
George Costanza on the
television series
Seinfeld, appearing in the sitcom from 1989 to 1998. He also has had an active career on the stage, appearing in several
Broadway musicals including
Jerome Robbins' Broadway in 1989, for which he won the
Tony Award as Best Actor in a Musical. He appeared in the Los Angeles production of
The Producers with
Martin Short. He is the Artistic Director of "Reprise! Broadway's Best in Los Angeles", where he has directed several musicals. Alexander is also an avid poker player.
Biography
Early life
Alexander was born
Jay Scott Greenspan in
Newark, New Jersey, the son of Jewish parents Ruth Minnie (
née Simon), a nurse and
health care administrator, and Alexander B. Greenspan, an accounting manager.
He has a half-sister, Karen Van Horn, and a half-brother, Andrew Richter (who teaches at the University of Windsor). Alexander is a 1977 graduate of
Livingston High School in
Livingston, New Jersey. Alexander had a very wheezy voice growing up, primarily because of his asthma. He attended
Boston University but left the summer before his senior year, after getting work in New York City. He was later given an honorary degree in 1995. He is a talented magician, and only switched to acting as a career when he realized that he was unlikely to succeed as a magician.