Carol Leifer (born on July 27, 1956, in New York) is a writer and producer, known for Seinfeld (1989), Alright Already (1997), and Modern Family (2009).
Early life[]
Leifer was born in East Williston, New York, to an Ashkenazi Jewish family, the daughter of Anna Leifer, a psychologist, and Seymour Leifer, an optometrist. As a child, Leifer would frequently put on performances for her family and friends in her family’s basement. Leifer recalls her family being a significant part of her fondest memories, including her father’s well-known jokes amongst family and friends, as well as her brother taking her to see The Beatles in concert at Shea Stadium. She frequently credits her father for the reason she became a comic.
Career[]
Rise to fame and early career[]
While studying for a theater degree at Harpur College (now Binghamton University), Leifer accompanied her then boyfriend Paul Reiser to a comedy club to see him perform at the open mic night at Catch A Rising Star. In 1977, she began performing stand-up comedy and transferred to Queens College to be closer to the club scene. Later she tried performing at New York's Comic Strip and was introduced by emcee Jerry Seinfeld.
Stand-up comedy[]
Leifer's stand-up comedy career has been well-perceived. Early in her career, a critic from Variety Magazine wrote a review on one of Leifer's sets, saying "She still has much to absorb in operating in the comedic area, but, with further experience, has a good chance at the brass ring." The critic was correct: with experience and skill, she became a successful comic. She has gotten tremendously positive feedback over the years, known for her infectious laugh, witty observational comedy, and clean-cut humor. Leifer credits mentor and lifelong friend, David Letterman, with her rise to fame, having performed stand-up comedy on Late Night with David Letterman 25 times. Leifer also appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Dr. Katz, Politically Incorrect, Hollywood Squares, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Her stand-up experience also includes opening for Jerry Seinfeld and Frank Sinatra.
Leifer has also performed and released several hilarious stand-up specials. her stand-up specials, listed chronologically, are:
- The 8th Annual Young Comedians Show (1983)
- Rodney Dangerfield: Nothin' Goes Right (1987)
- Carol Doesn't Leifer Anymore (1988)
- Carol Leifer Comedy Cruise (1989)
- Carol Leifer: Really Big Shoo! (1990)
- Caroline's Comedy Hour (1990)
- London Underground (1991)
- Comedy Central Presents Carol Leifer (2003)
- Carol Leifer headshot More Funny Women of a Certain Age (2020)
Writing[]
Leifer's writing career spans several well-known shows, including Seinfeld, Saturday Night Live, It's Like, You Know..., and The Larry Sanders Show. She has written for the Academy Awards for most of the 21st century, as well as the 69th Annual Tony Awards.
Leifer started her comedy writing career at Saturday Night Live. Leifer was hired by Al Franken and Jim Downey to work as a writer for the popular sketch comedy show. Executive producer, Lorne Michaels did not hire Leifer directly, and that became clear. Leifer recalls her time at SNL being a great opportunity to grow and learn as a writer, but the division caused by Michaels' indifference impacted her time working there, as she recalls "it felt like being asked to play on a Beatles album by Ringo." Leifer was not asked to return to the staff for a second season.
Leifer starred in, created, and executive-produced the 1997 WB sitcom Alright Already, which only ran one season. Alright, Already focused on single optometrist Carol Lerner (played by Leifer). Lerner runs her own practice in Miami, Florida while dealing with family, friends, and romance. The show received mixed reviews, saying it lacked an endearing plot and Leifer "squeezed uncomfortably into an uncomfortable sitcom."
With Mitchell Hurwitz, Leifer created and was a writer for The Ellen Show (2001). The series was negatively received and only ran one season. Leifer has also written for several television shows, such as Devious Maids, Modern Family, and Rules of Engagement.
Seinfeld[]
Carol Leifer joined the Seinfeld writing staff during its fifth season (1993–94), and wrote six episodes for the show between then and its seventh season (1995–96). Alongside being a writer on the show, Leifer was a story editor for 16 episodes from 1993-1994 and an executive story editor for 23 episodes from 1994-1995. She has been dubbed "the real Elaine", as the series' character, Elaine Benes, was partially based on her.
Her work on Seinfeld garnered her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. Leifer recalls when looking for writers for the show, Larry David, co-creator of Seinfeld, specifically wanted writers who had never written for sitcoms before. Working as a writer for Seinfeld is one of Leifer's favorite credits because of the incredible experiences it gave her as well as the opportunity to work alongside incredible comedians. Leifer speaks highly of her coworkers while working on the show, remembering Jerry Seinfeld as "the hardest working of all the comedians I came up with."One of the most important things she learned as a writer from working on Seinfeld was to "mine your own life for comedy ideas." Leifer's comedy frequently stems from herself and her family, proving what she learned from working on Seinfeld has had a lasting impact on her work.
Acting and appearances[]
Leifer appeared as a contestant on the third season of Celebrity Apprentice. Leifer chose North Shore Animal League as her charity because of her and her wife's work for animal advocacy. She was the first to be eliminated, on the premiere episode, which aired on March 14, 2010.
She has also hosted for all four seasons of A&E's Caroline's Comedy Hour, as well as guest appearances on Talk Soup and Later. She was also a guest on Inside Comedy where she was interviewed by David Steinberg.
Leifer wrote and starred in the 1992 Showtime TV film Carol Leifer: Gaudy, Bawdy & Blue, a mockumentary about fictional aged comedian Rusty Berman (played by Leifer), told through interviews and flashbacks. The film had a similar concept to the film Mr. Saturday Night, which had come out several months earlier. She was also part of Superman's 50th Anniversary: A Celebration of the Man of Steel as Beth Lewis, Lois Lane's best friend.
Leifer has also had minor acting and voice-over roles in movies such as Bee Movie, Rules of Engagement, Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist, Medusa: Dare to be Truthful, and Desperately Seeking Susan.
Books[]
Carol Leifer has written two books. Her first book of humorous essays, entitled When You Lie About Your Age, The Terrorists Win, was released on March 10, 2009. Leifer discusses her early life and family, the daunting idea of getting older, outlooks on life, and the moment she discovered she might be gay and how her life changed for the better. Her second book, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Crying was published in 2014. Considered a “part memoir, part guide to life”, Leifer tells the public her journey as a comic and entertainer. She gives tips and guides for working in the entertainment industry. Leifer also talks about her personal work experiences, such as her time writing for Saturday Night Live, working with Jerry Seinfeld, and her career as a stand-up comic.
Accolades[]
- Frank Sinatra praised Leifer as "one funny broad!" and "I wish my mother had been that funny – I wouldn't have had to work so hard."
- In 1998, Leifer was named by the New York Times as "the only comic among six ‘fast-rising artists…to watch’ this season"
- Leifer was nominated for the second annual American Comedy Awards as “Funniest Female Comedy Club Stand-Up Comic.”