Larry Thomas on how he became "The Soup Nazi" on

Larry Thomas, aka "The Soup Nazi," tells the amazing story of how he got the role, and how Jerry originally didn't want him to be so mean. We spoke for 90 minutes, but I've edited it down to under 30! NO MORE FOR YOU! More of our interview at janewells.substack.com/p/its-....

[@pchinnIII]

Larry Thomas has an amazing memory. Recalls details that add so much to the story he is telling. A real talent.

[@gmyersgilmer9470]

When you make that much money from one short job it's not surprising.

[@johnpaulmarkes]

I would relive it in my head a lot too

[@TheGodisgodis]

Any SEINFELD nut like myself would love all these little details about that episode

[@stevenbauer4799]

I met larry twice at comic cons. A real nice and friendly guy. Didn't mind talking to folks or wasn't stuck on himself like a lot of celebs at comic con can be. He'd let you take a pic with him without a $$$ charge. I got my pic with him. I saw him and the first thing i said to him was 'I know you get asked this a lot...but can you say it?' He smiled and said 'NO SOUP FOR YOU'. Said he loves to say it for the fans.

[@redwingfan9393]

This episode is gold Jerry gold!

[@whiskers78753]

....soup nazi episode was the best Seinfeld episode ever.

[@radicalrick9587]

*_Wow!_* _28 minutes of pure enjoyment._

[@groupeone23]

Thank you for interviewing Larry. I worked with him at the bail insurance company. I was thrilled to see him doing well at last, knowing that despite his fame, the financial rewards weren’t commensurate. He’s a great guy. It shows that being an actor is no picnic. Thanks again!

[@peterzang]

Jane: You’re so great. And one reason is you listen. Xx

[@caminski5050]

“The Soup Nazi” is definitely Seinfeld’s most iconic episode and it’s all because of how great Larry Thomas played that character plus the writing of the script of course. Also the fact that Larry Thomas got picked to be in the episode just proves how superb Seinfeld’s casting was and knew talent when they saw it during auditions. There were so many smalltime actors on the show that eventually made it to the big leagues like Bryan Cranston, Courtney Cox, Jon Favreau, the list goes on & on.

[@brianxbradley]

One of the best, most original interviews I’ve heard in a long time.

[@guzzijack9714]

Larry is just great and so genuine. And now I finally know the name of the cashier, well, first name.

[@michaelroblesvoiceactor4719]

What a great interview!!!

[@ryanmclark82]

My favorite part of that episode is when Elaine bangs on the counter. His reaction was priceless! The fact that it was his favorite part, also is amazing!

[@TheCream14]

These were my favorite episodes. Larry is such a great guy. Very humble, talented and easy-going.

[@gerrytaylor5137]

One of the best interviews I’ve ever seen!

[@marshallross3373]

What a great story. Seems like there's a real art to casting, and when you get it right something magical happens.

[@davida4771]

I lack the words to describe just how much I appreciate that interview. Loved every second and wanted more! Thank you for bringing it to the millions of us who lived for those Thursday nights on NBC.

[@anjenue4894]

He is a tangent king….but I really enjoyed the interview too!

[@BrianQueen]

OMG, what a wonderful interview! Gold!

[@janewells]

Thank you!

[@mikekillagreen9432]

He's still spot on with the voice!

[@oneworldfamily]

I just spent 28 minutes totally engaged in listening to this. It's the most attention I've given to a KZbin video (and I watch waaay too much KZbin)!

[@VictoryStudios2012]

This man is the most wholesome person on this platform too.

[@richrumbaugh7235]

The Soup Nazi ........ One of the TOP 3 Seinfeld Shows

[@blueskye6372]

Very informative interview. Thank you. ✌️👌🤘

[@rodmact6548]

I'm in happy land and my cheeks ache from the nonstop smiling and laughing. Thomas is a bona fide genius. All the insider tidbits were great fun. What a great raconteur. Thanks for this.

[@brendanfarthing]

Jane, how do you have only 210 subscribers? I have no idea how i got here but this is one of the best interviews I have ever seen. I have never seen the Soup Nazi interviewed before. This was brilliant, great job! Thanks so much.

[@janewells]

Gosh, thank you!

[@paulwatson4189]

Mr Thomas glad to see this still makes soup for you. Well done sir.

[@thatkid386]

Mr.Thomas sounds down to earth!

[@brianselt291]

What a great interview

[@CourtofRecord]

R.I.P.😔

[@leonardweber2976]

Glad to see Larry is doing great.

[@angelmatos9143]

Great interview. Never hurts when Jane Wells looks like Christine Baranski.

[@BrianQueen]

Watched it again tonight. Never gets old, Jane!

[@joelluongo7419]

Everyone has a similar description of Larry David. He takes the scene.. then he starts to slice & dice.. what to pull.. what to add.. when to pause.. say this.. instead of saying that.. its probably called comic timing and pace. Its just genius.

[@eddietucker3334]

It is a genius that seems to be disappearing in America. I hope that there are geniuses out there ready to perpetuate high-end comedy. Smart stuff, not smarmy. Human. Deeply funny.

[@MrPnew1]

Fabulous interview

[@cam_DA_Hawkdriver]

Sir, you provided my generation many hours of replay that has become a meme in life, when life is pissing you off - “No soup for you!”

[@wingandhog]

This just popped up and I watched it. This was great!

[@MaverickGrabber71]

What an amazing interview! Thank you! I never would have imagined him being so relatable and personable, because his character was just so convincing.

[@n.s.3410]

Such a great interview! So much fun listening to this story of one of Seinfeld’s most iconic characters.

[@liev3057]

Now this is a masterclass in interviewing.

[@easyboy1950]

What a lovely, lovely man. Thank you Jane Wells.

[@onceuponatimeintoronto891]

Love how he has a framed picture of James Cagney and Bing on the wall.

[@danl4222]

I have to say most actors & actresses become attached to their best work. This is likely dangerously close to being type cast but could there ever be a better line item on your resume than that? Larry .. your performances of the Soup Nazi will never be usurped or improved upon. You were perfect. 15-20 years later ... here I am still watching the soup Nazi segments regularly .. and still nearly laugh out a kidney out when I watch !!!! I'm not worthy Larry, But thanks for the interview & thank you Jane for putting this together.

[@janewells]

Thank you, Dan! I had so much fun. What a great guy, and what a backstory.

[@garyedwards3269]

Wowzers! What a great interview with Larry! Such wonderful storytelling. It's like I was there.

[@Lumber_Jack]

Awesome interview, thank you! I have always loved this character and that episode.

[@Scottie_S]

Amazing that Jane's chat with Larry has 33,045 views and she only has 865 subs. Ok...I'm committed to your content, Jane. Bring it on.

[@starcode89]

Thank you, Ms. Wells! I really enjoyed this interview. You allowed it to unfold organically and because Mr. Thomas was so comfortable, he was able to transport us years into the past to feel as though we were in the room with him. You really nailed it. Subscribed!

[@janewells]

Thank you!

[@henryj.8528]

Interesting story and great interviewer who doesn't get in the way and lets the guest actually tell the story.

[@kentclark5594]

Hard to believe the $$$'s weren't more for Larry T. My favorite part of that episode was when Wayne Knight (Newman) got his soup & did a military about face. I died laughing!!!

[@DougHanchard]

Great interview!

[@janewells]

Thank you, Doug. What a story!

[@shinigami146]

It is great to hear Larry's process of how he built such an iconic TV character!

[@tonytone5856]

Wow what a great interview Jane.love the soup nazi. Greetings from Australia 🇦🇺

[@dsugimoto313]

What a great interview. Larry Thomas is a great raconteur.

[@filmandsong05]

what a great story

[@murraywestenskow2896]

What an appreciative guy. I hope the part brought him extra work and some security.

[@joepalooka2145]

Great video. It's pretty incredible to think that after all the years Seinfeld was on TV, with so many memorable episodes and characters--- just about everybody remembers and loves the "Soup Nazi". It's constantly being re-run and people never get tired of it. On the other hand, that kind of fame also comes with a bit of a curse for a serious actor, like being William Shatner in "Star Trek" forever.

[@jbflores01]

One of the very best Seinfeld episodes! great video of the background1

[@ppumpkin3282]

Interesting interview Jane, something that the big shops do. Amazing what an impact one small role can have. He made a lot out of his five minutes on the show.

[@ksharpe10]

When he starts talking about his image of the Soup Nazi, that discription could have been a Part 2 later episode it would have been perfect him in an army uniform pushing a soup Cart, just the idea made me laugh. LOL.

[@moimeme6533]

$2610 per episode = top of show

[@walkitoff117]

I don't want to correct the "Soup Nazi"....but here we go :-) He incorrectly quotes his lines during this interview as: "very good, very good, you know what?.....no soup for you!" when actually, the line was: "very good, very good, you know SOMETHING?....no soup for you!" But any who.....such a classic series and such a classic episode congratulations Larry on the success.

[@escott1981]

That was a great interview. I enjoyed it very much.

[@dfa3366]

It's interesting that this episode was not well liked when the writers created it. They thought it was a weak episode. Little did they know how people responded.

[@robertrenaud958]

Jane Wells is gorgeous!

[@edwardthetwentyfifth6462]

Really cool interview. I don’t think he realizes how funny he is every time he says, “No soup for you!!” Lol

[@primeministerofredneckistan]

To be a fly on the wall in that alley before the audition!!

[@MoonlitMedows]

He has such an interesting way of narrating stories... Loved it!

[@pauln8913]

i loved hearing this

[@zeroman614]

You want bread? THREE DOLLARS!!!

[@Mathin3D]

George complains he got no bread. Soup Nazi tells him $2. Then George retorts that the previous person got it free. Then $3 but then soon after, NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!

[@B-kl8vj]

Excellent interview!

[@willswalkingwest7267]

Enjoyed. I wonder if anyone tells Jane she looks like Leonard's mom on Big Bang Theory? Thanks for posting this awesome insightful interview.

[@bert50]

One of top 5 Seinfeld's episdodes! The soup nazi was amazingly played.

[@tedjohnson7485]

What a great interview. One of the best characters ever. But the video has one dislike. Someone must hate Nazis.

[@williamstoutenburgh2116]

The character was based on a real person. I remember his picture in the paper, they looked pretty much alike. The real soup nazi reacted exactly the way you'd think with all the publicity.

[@bunpeishiratori5849]

Wow, that was fantastic!

[@jorged06]

This is gold!

[@southernbreeze3278]

never got to hear what the "conceptual disagreement" he found out about 11 years later was

[@walterdudedonny]

My guess is it had to do with the meanness Jerry talked about to Larry.

[@Mr_Rob_otto]

I was waiting for them to come back to that and disappointed they never did. I assumed that the disagreement stemmed from the direction during the second reading that the character be less mean. But I was curious as to who wanted to make the character less mean, Jerry Seinfeld or Larry David? Who won that battle?

[@solomr287]

I cannot believe she didn’t get back to that!

[@LarryThomasrealsoupnazi]

I guess we got so into it I forgot that one. It was that I was unknown and they didn't know if they could trust me with the role. They gave the decision to writer Spike Feresten and he chose me.

[@walterdudedonny]

@@LarryThomasrealsoupnazi Thanks Larry! I'm so glad they trusted you with it! Your performance has been a great gift for us all to enjoy all these years and more to come.

[@techdadnyc]

Thanks for posting. This was great!

[@jamesclendon4811]

This is fascinating on several levels. It's a "backstage" view that we seldom get. But it's also an insight into the life of a journeyman actor. When I see a scene in a sitcom with a supporting actor I don't know I never think "That guy really sweated getting that part. That was the highlight of his career." I always assume that even if I don't know that guy he's got a thriving career; he makes his living doing parts like this, or playing Broadway, or he's on other shows or in movies I've just never happened to see. I never would have thought that the Soup Nazi was utterly unknown, that he had a day job, and he was overjoyed to get the part. There's so much more to show business as a business than the average viewer ever realizes.

[@RSTI191]

What a great story..

[@Burgmannn]

He really doesn't need to be this deferential towards the Seinfeld cast but it's nice to see such a humble guy make a big mark.

[@exyx]

Jane, thanks for posting this. Lots of fun! (from Bob Males)

[@michaelvaladez6570]

Great interview. 👍 Thank you.

[@bobsakamano2906]

Great interview!! ❤😉

[@oldmanbanksia]

What a nice guy.

[@MrElliotc02]

Great interview...thanks

[@bobcarter6483]

What a wonderful story

[@also3254]

Just came across you and this is so absolutely great!! Wow. Amazing interview and smiled throughout. Thanks!!

[@paulcashshow1]

I am so diggin' this insight! Love it!

[@danbarrale5457]

Great interview.....

[@LloydAntonyLB]

Comedy 🎭 gold!

[@fee6153]

Wow! Great!

[@southernbreeze3278]

great story, feel like I've got an idea now for what it's like being a struggling actor who gets a real break

[@bajofry13]

great interview!

[@tommartinez62]

I loved The Soup Nazi!

[@Mathin3D]

NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!

[@smarsville]

Fantastic.

[@rocknrollermann]

This is sooo coool

[@manco828]

No soup for you!

[@jetcitysinatra7300]

I wonder what a musical Comedy would be like based on the Soup Nazi called "No Soup For You" and there would be some of the Seinfeld characters in the play but there would also be singing. Sort of like the music Guys and Dolls.

[@d.bcooper7819]

Haha! I swear I can almost hear the music.

[@jetcitysinatra7300]

@@d.bcooper7819 As the Soup Nazi yells at Elaine "NO SOUP FOR YOU" the people in line sing "YES NO SOUP NO SOUP NO SOUP FOR YOU" It would be sort of like the Producers.

[@d.bcooper7819]

@@jetcitysinatra7300 hee hee perfect!

[@Ac0ustics0ul]

They should have let him go off on a high note after the first audition

[@dinning4256]

Nice content! that’s why day trading is forever important, Trading used to be a bit hard, making profits on crypto coins or the forex market was almost impossible for me until I met the guru trader, Ms. Cathelyn and her skill is exceptional.

[@daytradingaddict5632]

I’ve seen first hand that it is important to have multiple streams of income especially during this post Covid era. Unfortunately, having a job doesn't mean financial freedom or security.

[@harriswealthers1579]

If you are thinking about the future, you should definitely go to her.with the current mood of the market trading has never been in such highs. A wise person once said risk is looking for opportunity in the opposite direction of the crowd

[@lucyweilbel6681]

@@harriswealthers1579 There are lots of wannabe traders today, so how do you tell also I hate to admit to being a victim of these people. Is it all a lie out there??

[@sarah-lp2oc]

@@lucyweilbel6681 I just researched her accreditations online and she seems really solid and I am convinced already. Crypto is as real as any fiat currency, real experts are actually out there, but there’s too many noise makers and doubters… saw somewhere someone said good things about this woman and here again is another. How do I reach her??

[@kushnir456]

@@sarah-lp2oc Please how can I get to her? I don’t have much in my portfolio right now but I have been saving up and I feel guidance would be ground breaking for me.

[@195511SM]

She reminds me of Leonard's Mom ( 'The Big Bang Theory' )....

[@virgilcain]

It sounds like he's got Pulmonary Fibrosis