" The Soup Nazi " is the 116th episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld , which was the sixth episode of the seventh season . It first aired in the United States on November 2, 1995.
38-432: The Soup Nazi is also the nickname of the eponymous character, Yev Kassem, played by Larry Thomas . The term " Nazi " is used as an exaggeration of the strict regimentation he demands of his patrons ( cf. grammar Nazi ) . Elaine in particular comes into conflict with Kassem, while Jerry and George spar with each other over Jerry's affectionate behavior with his girlfriend. Jerry , George and Elaine visit
76-735: A Saddam Hussein lookalike. An earlier joke had one character having a photo taken with the real Saddam, after mistaking him for Thomas. Thomas also played the role of Osama bin Laden in Uwe Boll 's 2008 shock comedy film Postal . In 2009, Thomas appeared in the independent feature Untitled Horror Comedy playing the role of "Dwayne." In February 2012, Thomas again appeared as the Soup Nazi in an Acura NSX commercial featuring comedians Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno . In February 2013, he began filming for Tesla Effect: A Tex Murphy Adventure ,
114-571: A Saddam Hussein lookalike. An earlier joke had one character having a photo taken with the real Saddam, after mistaking him for Thomas. Thomas also played the role of Osama bin Laden in Uwe Boll 's 2008 shock comedy film Postal . In 2009, Thomas appeared in the independent feature Untitled Horror Comedy playing the role of "Dwayne." In February 2012, Thomas again appeared as the Soup Nazi in an Acura NSX commercial featuring comedians Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno . In February 2013, he began filming for Tesla Effect: A Tex Murphy Adventure ,
152-411: A Comedy Series in 1996 . Like Jackie Chiles , the Soup Nazi character (played by Thomas) has appeared in commercials after the end of the series. Larry Thomas (actor) Laurence Tomashoff (born 1956 or 1957 (age 67–68)), known professionally as Larry Thomas , is an American actor, best known for his guest role as Yev Kassem/the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld , for which he
190-408: A letter to Marc Hirschfield , casting director of The Larry Sanders Show (which starred Tambor) as well as Seinfeld . Thomas, who was a huge fan of the series, got a call from Hirschfield for the character and attended his audition in character in a military uniform, and won the role by improvising his now-famous line, "No soup for you!" His widely acclaimed performance earned him a nomination for
228-408: A letter to Marc Hirschfield , casting director of The Larry Sanders Show (which starred Tambor) as well as Seinfeld . Thomas, who was a huge fan of the series, got a call from Hirschfield for the character and attended his audition in character in a military uniform, and won the role by improvising his now-famous line, "No soup for you!" His widely acclaimed performance earned him a nomination for
266-497: A new soup stand. Jerry explains that the owner, Yev Kassem, is known as the "Soup Nazi" due to his insistence on a strict manner of behavior while placing an order, but his soups are so outstandingly delicious that the stand is constantly busy. En route, Elaine notices a man on the sidewalk with an armoire for sale. She forgoes the soup in favor of buying it. However, her building superintendent informs her that furniture move-ins are not allowed on Sundays, so she asks Kramer to watch
304-558: A variation of the catchphrase). This was the start of a working relationship with Boomstick Films which includes co-starring roles in Not Another B Movie , Dr. Spine , and the award-winning Paranormal Activity spoof Paranormal Calamity . In other later roles of note, Larry has portrayed each of the two most iconic Middle Eastern villains of American history. In 2006, he guest-starred in Arrested Development as
342-430: A variation of the catchphrase). This was the start of a working relationship with Boomstick Films which includes co-starring roles in Not Another B Movie , Dr. Spine , and the award-winning Paranormal Activity spoof Paranormal Calamity . In other later roles of note, Larry has portrayed each of the two most iconic Middle Eastern villains of American history. In 2006, he guest-starred in Arrested Development as
380-518: A video game using live-action cut-scenes. In 2016, he appeared in a short comedy film The Love Suckers , playing a marriage therapist giving bad advice to a couple along with Eddie Deezen and Caryn Richman . His latest project is Dads! , a television sitcom pilot that is written, directed, and produced by Thomas and David Everhart Castro. It is currently in post-production. In 2006, Thomas began selling autographed photographs of himself through catalogs such as Wall Street Creations Inc., glaring at
418-518: A video game using live-action cut-scenes. In 2016, he appeared in a short comedy film The Love Suckers , playing a marriage therapist giving bad advice to a couple along with Eddie Deezen and Caryn Richman . His latest project is Dads! , a television sitcom pilot that is written, directed, and produced by Thomas and David Everhart Castro. It is currently in post-production. In 2006, Thomas began selling autographed photographs of himself through catalogs such as Wall Street Creations Inc., glaring at
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#1732772012167456-476: Is banned for a year. Jerry and his girlfriend Sheila visit the soup stand. Kassem is repulsed by their kissing, so Jerry disavows Sheila to stay on Kassem's good side. Jerry talks about the breakup with George, who expresses disgust at Jerry and Sheila's baby talk and public displays of affection. Undeterred, Jerry makes up with Sheila at Monk's. George tries to teach him a lesson by behaving similarly with Susan , but this only leads to escalating affection between
494-413: Is elated and goes to Kassem to thank him. When Kassem learns the armoire was for Elaine, he says he would rather have destroyed it than give it to her. Vowing revenge, Elaine returns to her apartment with Jerry, where they discover Kassem's soup recipes in the armoire. Elaine returns to the soup stand and confronts Kassem with the recipes, stating her intent to publicize them. Jerry encounters Newman , who
532-453: Is running to get a pot from his apartment. Newman tells him that because of what Elaine said to Kassem, he is giving away whatever soup he has left, closing down his stand, and moving to Argentina . Jerry runs towards the soup stand. "The Soup Nazi" was Spike Feresten 's first credited Seinfeld episode as a writer. The idea for the episode arose when Feresten told Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David about New York soup vendor Al Yeganeh , who
570-652: The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 1996, which he lost to Tim Conway for Coach . He reprised the role in the series' final episode. In 1997, he made a cameo appearance as the blackjack dealer in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery , sharing the scene with Mike Myers and Robert Wagner . In 2004, he guest-starred as himself in the Scrubs episode " My Self-Examination ", where
608-444: The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 1996, which he lost to Tim Conway for Coach . He reprised the role in the series' final episode. In 1997, he made a cameo appearance as the blackjack dealer in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery , sharing the scene with Mike Myers and Robert Wagner . In 2004, he guest-starred as himself in the Scrubs episode " My Self-Examination ", where
646-666: The Ratlines used by the real Nazis). Elaine angers him by smugly claiming, "His soup wasn't all that good anyway." The character was inspired by Ali " Al " Yeganeh ( Persian : علی یگانه ), an Iranian American soup vendor who ran Soup Kitchen International in New York City , eventually turning it into the chain The Original Soup Man . Yeganeh was originally offended by the portrayal. According to writer Spike Feresten, Jerry Seinfeld and several members of
684-465: The Soup Nazi to celebrate Salute to Seinfeld Night , and threw out the first pitch. In 2015, he reprised his role as the Soup Nazi when Hulu opened "Seinfeld: The Apartment" in New York City, creating a real-world version of Jerry Seinfeld's Upper West Side apartment, complete with a show memorabilia gallery and interactive Seinfeld fan experience to mark the streaming debut of all episodes of
722-402: The Soup Nazi to celebrate Salute to Seinfeld Night , and threw out the first pitch. In 2015, he reprised his role as the Soup Nazi when Hulu opened "Seinfeld: The Apartment" in New York City, creating a real-world version of Jerry Seinfeld's Upper West Side apartment, complete with a show memorabilia gallery and interactive Seinfeld fan experience to mark the streaming debut of all episodes of
760-481: The armoire and promises to get soup from Kassem for him in return. While she is away, Bob and Cedric bully Kramer and steal the armoire. At the soup stand, George complains about not receiving bread with his meal. When he presses the issue after being expected to pay for it, George's order is taken away ("No soup for you!"), and his money returned. On a subsequent visit, George buys soup, but Elaine, having scoffed at Jerry's advice on how to order, draws Kassem's ire and
798-498: The camera in chef's garb, with the handwritten notation "No soup for you!" In 2011, Thomas appeared dressed as the Soup Nazi at a New York Mets game. He gave DVDs to fans who correctly answered trivia questions. In 2012, he again appeared as the Soup Nazi while touring the United States with a Seinfeld food truck, allowing fans to pose with him and signing autographs. On July 5, 2014, he appeared at Brooklyn Cyclones as
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#1732772012167836-435: The camera in chef's garb, with the handwritten notation "No soup for you!" In 2011, Thomas appeared dressed as the Soup Nazi at a New York Mets game. He gave DVDs to fans who correctly answered trivia questions. In 2012, he again appeared as the Soup Nazi while touring the United States with a Seinfeld food truck, allowing fans to pose with him and signing autographs. On July 5, 2014, he appeared at Brooklyn Cyclones as
874-412: The couples as Jerry and George struggle to out-disgust each other. Susan is charmed by George's public show of affection and continues to mirror this behavior. Sensing George's discomfort at this, Jerry gloats by informing him that he and Sheila have broken up again. Kramer, who has befriended Kassem, tells him about the armoire theft. Kassem offers him an armoire he has in storage as a replacement. Elaine
912-536: The episode's encounters in the soup line, such as Elaine slapping her hands on the counter and telling the Soup Nazi he looks like Al Pacino, were based on scenes he witnessed at Yeganeh's real-life soup outlet. According to Nora Ephron 's DVD commentary, the first pop culture reference to Yeganeh (though not by name) seems to have come years before the Seinfeld episode, in the 1993 movie Sleepless in Seattle . In
950-566: The episode, both he and Seinfeld were dating women who would use affectionate baby talk with them, which led to the Jerry/Sheila story. The first cast table reading for "The Soup Nazi" was held on September 28, 1995, and it was filmed before a studio audience on October 3. In the episode, Elaine ( Julia Louis-Dreyfus ) references Scent of a Woman . Louis-Dreyfus had never seen the film, but Seinfeld suggested she do an impersonation of Al Pacino 's character and showed her how. The Soup Nazi
988-464: The film, a character playing a writer pitches a story for the lifestyle section of The Baltimore Sun to their editor: "This man sells the greatest soup you have ever eaten, and he is the meanest man in America. I feel very strongly about this, Becky; it's not just about the soup." Thomas's portrayal of the Soup Nazi earned him a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in
1026-552: The main character tried to trick him into saying the Soup Nazi's catchphrase, "No Soup for You!" He also played a Soup Nazi-like "food cop" in a commercial for the Center for Consumer Freedom . That same year he guest-starred in the television series Drake & Josh as Bob Galloway in the episode "2 Idiots and a Baby." In 2006, Thomas made an appearance in Scott Grenke's independent comedy feature Spaced Out (which includes
1064-439: The main character tried to trick him into saying the Soup Nazi's catchphrase, "No Soup for You!" He also played a Soup Nazi-like "food cop" in a commercial for the Center for Consumer Freedom . That same year he guest-starred in the television series Drake & Josh as Bob Galloway in the episode "2 Idiots and a Baby." In 2006, Thomas made an appearance in Scott Grenke's independent comedy feature Spaced Out (which includes
1102-404: The production team went to Soup Kitchen International for lunch weeks after "The Soup Nazi" aired. Upon recognizing Seinfeld, Yeganeh "did a triple take" and went into a profanity-filled rant about how the show had "ruined" his business, demanding an apology. Seinfeld allegedly gave what Feresten describes as "the most sarcastic apology I've ever seen anyone give." Feresten has also said that some of
1140-676: The series on Hulu. Larry has written and recorded songs: "Nico's Song (With Out You)" written for Dads! , "It's Angela (The Wife I Choose)", "Running, Running, Running (Ben's Song), and "Ma! (Ode to Dorine)". In 2013, Serbu Firearms refused to sell their model BFG-50A semi-automatic .50 rifles to the New York City Police Department after the passage of the NY SAFE Act that classified their weapon as an assault rifle. Accompanying this, Serbu then had T-shirts printed with an image of Thomas as The Soup Nazi and
1178-531: The series on Hulu. Larry has written and recorded songs: "Nico's Song (With Out You)" written for Dads! , "It's Angela (The Wife I Choose)", "Running, Running, Running (Ben's Song), and "Ma! (Ode to Dorine)". In 2013, Serbu Firearms refused to sell their model BFG-50A semi-automatic .50 rifles to the New York City Police Department after the passage of the NY SAFE Act that classified their weapon as an assault rifle. Accompanying this, Serbu then had T-shirts printed with an image of Thomas as The Soup Nazi and
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1216-547: The words "No Serbu For You". Thomas, a gun control advocate, contacted Facebook and the T-shirt printers to have the shirts removed. Serbu later removed the image of Thomas and replaced it with one of their founder Mark Serbu. Larry Thomas (actor) Laurence Tomashoff (born 1956 or 1957 (age 67–68)), known professionally as Larry Thomas , is an American actor, best known for his guest role as Yev Kassem/the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld , for which he
1254-404: Was 11. He attended Hebrew school after school hours. Prior to acting, Thomas had jobs as a bail bondsman and court investigator. He is best known for his role as Yev Kassem in the "Soup Nazi" episode of the television sitcom Seinfeld . Thomas took an acting workshop taught by Jeffrey Tambor . Tambor was fascinated by Thomas’ acting in a workshop and his classmates convinced Tambor to write
1292-404: Was 11. He attended Hebrew school after school hours. Prior to acting, Thomas had jobs as a bail bondsman and court investigator. He is best known for his role as Yev Kassem in the "Soup Nazi" episode of the television sitcom Seinfeld . Thomas took an acting workshop taught by Jeffrey Tambor . Tambor was fascinated by Thomas’ acting in a workshop and his classmates convinced Tambor to write
1330-408: Was nicknamed "The Soup Nazi". Seinfeld and David laughed and said, "That's a show. Do that as your first show". Feresten's inspiration for the armoire subplot was a New York apartment building where he had lived, which forbade moving furniture on certain days. The armoire thieves were written as homosexual because Larry David decided that "Only gay guys would steal an armoire". At the time Feresten wrote
1368-442: Was nominated for an Emmy Award . In addition to making personal appearances as the Soup Nazi, Thomas has appeared in a number of films, TV shows, and commercials, and appears at autograph-signing shows across the country. Thomas was born in the New York City borough of Brooklyn to an observant Jewish family of Russian and Romanian background. His parents divorced and he moved to California alongside his mother and sister when he
1406-442: Was nominated for an Emmy Award . In addition to making personal appearances as the Soup Nazi, Thomas has appeared in a number of films, TV shows, and commercials, and appears at autograph-signing shows across the country. Thomas was born in the New York City borough of Brooklyn to an observant Jewish family of Russian and Romanian background. His parents divorced and he moved to California alongside his mother and sister when he
1444-544: Was portrayed by Larry Thomas . Thomas, who did not realize that the character was based on a real person, received the inspiration for his portrayal from watching Lawrence of Arabia and studying Omar Sharif 's accent. The Soup Nazi has a cameo in the Seinfeld series finale , in which his true name is revealed. He is a witness in the case against Seinfeld, Elaine, George and Kramer. He tells Hoyt about how he banned Elaine from his shop, only for her to return and ruin his business, forcing him to move to Argentina (paralleling
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