Bryan Cranston played one of the best Curb Your Enthusiasm, another sitcom by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David.
Seinfeld was one of the defining comedies of the '90s, setting up the path for other great comedy shows such as Seinfeld ended after nine successful seasons, but it remains relevant to this day. Part of its everlasting appeal is its many guest appearances from well-known or now-famous actors, such as Bryan Cranston.
Bryan Cranston Plays Tim Whatley
Bryan Cranston appeared on Seinfeld as Tim Whatley, Jerry and Kramer's unorthodox dentist. He was first introduced in season 6, episode 8, "The Mom and Pop Store," when he invited Elaine to a party at his house and left Jerry questioning whether he was also invited or not. Tim was as charming as he was cocky, and his personality often mixed with his unusual dentist practices. In one episode, it's suggested that Tim had sex with his assistant while Jerry was unconscious during a tooth filling. "Is this guy a dentist of Caligula?" Jerry asked Elaine.
Bryan Cranston was a forgotten Seinfeld guest star, but he made some important appearances on the show. Jerry didn't necessarily like Tim, but he was often drawn by the dentist's unusual persona, which prompted him to get to know him better. Tim continued to appear sporadically until the final season. He was known by Jerry and his friends as a re-gifter — someone who gifts people presents that were previously gifted to them. Tim also went through a hilarious arc in Seinfeld season 8, episode 19, "Yada Yada Yada," when he suddenly decided to convert to Judaism, while Jerry believed it was just a ruse.
Tim Whatley Highlights Cranston's Talent For Comedy
Tim Whatley wasn't the role that launched Bryan Cranston to stardom, but it helped him establish himself as a talented comedic actor. Although Tim wasn't a recurring role, he was often the center of the episodes in which he appeared. Three years after his final Seinfeld appearance, Cranston ed the main cast of Malcolm in the Middle as Hal, the father of the title character. The sitcom, highly influenced by Seinfeld, finally brought Cranston the attention he deserved in the comedy scene, and following its ending, he appeared as a guest actor in many other successful shows, including How I Met Your Mother, where he played Ted's boss, Hammond Druthers.