The New York comedy scene mourns the loss of Hiram Kasten, a legendary comedian and actor who recently passed away at the age of 71. Kasten succumbed after years of battling prostate cancer and Crohn’s disease in his Batavia, New York home on Sunday, June 16, 2024.
Born Hiram Z. Kastenbaum on October 30, 1952, in the Bronx, New York City, Kasten had aspirations of acting from a young age and tirelessly pursued his dreams. His career began in the late 1970s when he performed at renowned New York comedy clubs such as The Comic Strip. It was here that he met and developed a longstanding friendship with Jerry Seinfeld, which became a significant part of Kasten’s career.
Kasten was a frequent performer at comedy establishments like Catch a Rising Star, The Improv, The Comedy Cellar, and Caroline’s. He hosted his own show at Dangerfield’s on Sunday nights for many years, becoming an integral part of the New York comedy scene. His comedy was influenced by vaudeville and often drew on the styles of legends such as Alan King and Jackie Gleason.
Seeking to broaden his career, Kasten relocated to Los Angeles in the late 1980s and quickly found success. He was cast in popular TV shows including “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “L.A. Law,” “Cybill,” “Mad About You,” “My Wife and Kids,” “Brooklyn Bridge,” “7th Heaven,” “Men of a Certain Age,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” One of his most notable roles was as Michael, a co-worker of Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ character Elaine on “Seinfeld.”
Kasten also played a significant role in the Las Vegas show “The Rat Pack is Back” at the Desert Inn, portraying a character similar to Joey Bishop. His comedy extended beyond land as he performed on luxury cruise lines such as Seabourn, Royal Viking, and Princess.
In his later years, Kasten’s health deteriorated, and he ceased performing in 2017. Despite this, he remained connected with the comedy community. According to his wife’s Facebook post, the comedy and artistic community showed their support for Kasten, with late-night Zoom meetings with friends providing him comfort during his last months.
Reflecting on his career, Kasten stated, “I always wanted to make people laugh. It’s the greatest feeling in the world.” His comedic legacy persists through his body of work and the memories he left behind.
Kasten is survived by his wife, Diana Kisiel Kastenbaum, his daughter, Millicent Jade, and a large extended family. His death occurred just hours after the couple celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary.
A funeral service for Kasten will take place in Forest Hills, New York, with a memorial service scheduled in Los Angeles later this summer. The family has requested that donations in memory of Kasten be made to Crossroads House or the Entertainment Community Fund, in line with Kasten’s ongoing support for fellow performers.
