Image via HBO
Throughout its deliciously awkward past eight seasons, Curb Your Enthusiasm has chronicled the misadventures of Larry David as the comedy icon navigates life as.... well, a rich dude who shouldn’t have a care in the world. Unfortunately for the easily perturbed David, there’s a lot to complain about, from those minor annoyances to huge blowups. Along with David and his incredible cast, including Cheryl Hines as his hapless wife and Jeff Garlin as his lovable manger, what’s truly powered Curb for the past decade is its never-ending parade of cameo stars, some of whom play themselves, all of which wind up in David’s crosshairs. In honor of the HBO hit’s upcoming ninth season, these are ten of the very best cameos Curb has churned out over the years, ranging from Hollywood superstars to comedy vets.
Ben Stiller
Season Four: Various Episodes
Why it’s great: Stiller Vs. David. Need we say more?
The saga of Curb’s fourth season centered around David scoring a plum role in the then-red hot Broadway production of The Producers after Mel Brooks was impressed with his karaoke skills. What followed is a long line of cameos related to putting on the show, with Ben Stiller making a memorable string of appearances as David’s original Producer co-star before dropping out of the production. Both had countless awkward run-ins that usually resulted anger, whether Stiller sneezing into his hand had David dodging a handshake, to Stiller screaming at David, calling him a “man baby.” How sweet, and cringe worthy, it is.
Michael Richards
Season Seven, Episode 10: “Seinfeld”
Why it’s great: Richards lampoons his darkest moment.
After video of Richards going on a racist tirade at a comedy club in 2006 went viral, the Seinfeld vet kept a low profile for years. That is, until, the seventh season of Curb in 2009 which revolved around David concocting a faux reunion show featuring the famed Seinfeld quartet, Richards included. The season finale, which focused on the taping of the special, ended with a sort-of mea culpa from Richards who parodied his 2006 outburst. Both shocking and hilarious, it was a classic Curb moment that nobody saw coming. As for whether audiences have since forgiven Richards is another matter.
Julia Louis Dreyfus
Seasons 1-8: Various Episodes
Why it’s great: Two Seinfeld vets team-up in a pitch-perfect way.
Along with Richards, David made a habit of casting his fellow Seinfeld co-hosts on Curb and Julia Louis Dreyfus, years before Veep further cemented her TV legend. Whether it was in the season one episode “The Wire” when Larry’s neighbors ask to meet Dreyfus as a favor, or a story through arc through Curb’s sophomore season which saw Larry and Julia pitching a show around, the comedienne was always spot-on, pitch-perfect, and welcome addition to the Curb universe.
Shaquille O’Neal
Season Two, Episode Eight: “Shaq”
Why it’s great: A perfect episode is centered around a brief moment of hilarity.
One of the most interesting aspects of Curb’s many cameos is the fact that the show doesn’t just recruit comedians, but a random array of personalities. Case in point: Shaq’s memorable turn during the eighth episode of the second season, aptly dubbed “Shaq.” While attending a Lakers game, David accidently trips the famed basketball player during one of show’s most intricate scenes at that point, filmed on location at the Staples Center. What follows is a melee with LA fans freaking out, leading David’s friend Richard Lewis to gripe, “It wasn’t an assassination attempt!” Regardless, the trip is one of the funniest moments in Curb history.
Bob Odenkirk
Season One, Episode Three: “Porno Gil”
Why it’s great: Raunchy improv at its prime.
Long before Odenkirk achieved mainstream stardom by being a part of the Breaking Bad phenomena and starring in Better Call Saul, he delivered one of the most laugh-out-loud moments in the entire series as porn star Gil Bangs during the third episode of the show’s inaugural season. Through a series of comic errors, Larry and Cheryl wind up at a dinner party hosted by Bangs who goes into some dirty details about his on-set antics. It was a classic case of TMI times a billion. We’ll never think of Tabasco sauce the same way again.
Bill Buckner
Season Eight, Episode Nine: “Mister Softee”
Why it’s great: An incredibly random cameo & parody that exeplimifies Curb’s humor.
Legendary baseball player Bill Buckner had an esteemed career in the majors, but will unfortunately never live down a landmark game playing for the Red Sox when he lost the World Series after a runaway ball rolled between his legs. For some reason, this episode during Curb’s eighth season parodied the mishap in a memorable scene with saw Bucker poking fun at the singular baseball moment he’ll never live down. It was Curb at its most wonderfully random.
Catherine O'Hara
Season Seven, Episode One: “Funkhouser’s Crazy Sister”
Why it’s great: A comedy icon in a perfect role.
Proving Curb knows no bounds, O’Hara’s role during the seventh season opener as Marty Funkhouser’s sister pushed every boundary considering she was playing a mentally challenged person named Bam Bam who may or may not have slept with Jeff. The resulting blow-up during an otherwise innocent dinner party gets everyone pissed off at Larry and Jeff (of course), with O’Hara’s incredible turn both tender and laugh-out-loud funny, with the butt of the jokes all on David.
Stephen Colbert
Season Four, Episode Ten: “Opening Night”
Why It's Great: A brief glimpse at a future comedy superstar.
Long before Colbert was the comedy superstar we regard him as today, the now-talk show host delivered a cameo playing a hapless fan during a 2004 episode of Curb. Just as David is about to hit the stage on opening night of The Producers, he shoots down Colbert’s character’s request for a picture. As a result, Colbert successfully puts a hex on David who totally throws him off his game during the show. It’s oh-so-brief yet oh-so-hilarious.
Dustin Hoffman, Sacha Baron Cohen, Bea Arthur
Season Five, Episode Ten: “The End”
Why it’s great: A peek at what comedy heaven is really like.
What happens when you die? According to the finale of Curb’s fifth season, you’re greeted by angels Hoffman and Baron Cohen. After Larry decides to become a Christian, he passes away only to find heaven is full of comedy legends, along with his own deceased mother played by Bea Arthur. Naturally, because this is Curb, Larry gets into an argument with the angels and is sent back to earth as punishment. (Also, in heaven, Larry has a full head of hair.)
Martin Scorsese
Season Three, Episode Six: “The Special Section”
Why It's Great: The Hollywood legend blesses Curb with his presence.
When it comes to appearances by bona fide superstars, no name has been bigger throughout the show’s past eight seasons than Martin Scorsese, who, against his better judgment, casts Larry in his latest film. Of course that involves a lot of New York accents and copious amount of curses, with Scorsese in on the joke all the way through. It’s a testament to Curb’s status that the acclaimed director agreed to join in on the fun.