Jackie Chiles

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Jackie Chiles
Seinfeld character
Jackie Chiles in The Maestro Seinfeld.JPG
Jackie Chiles in "The Maestro".
First appearance "The Maestro" (1995)
Last appearance"The Finale Part II" (1998)
Created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David
Based on Johnnie Cochran
Portrayed by Phil Morris
In-universe information
GenderMale
Occupation Attorney at law

Jackie Chiles is a fictional character portrayed by American actor Phil Morris in the NBC sitcom Seinfeld . A parody of Johnnie Cochran, he appears in the series' seventh through ninth seasons as Cosmo Kramer's lawyer.

Contents

Character

Chiles is a parody of famed attorney Johnnie Cochran; both are bespectacled, mustachioed, well-dressed, African American lawyers with the same initials and penchants for grandiose vocabulary. According to the diplomas in his office, Chiles attended Dartmouth College and Stanford Law School. Morris also emulates Cochran's distinctive enunciation and delivery. After appearing in several episodes during the series' later years, Chiles, along with many other minor characters from the show's past, appeared again in the program's finale and was crucial in failing to achieve acquittal of the characters on charges of violating a duty to rescue law. Jackie's catchphrase is saying several adjectives in succession for added emphasis, such as "lewd, lascivious, salacious, outrageous!" [1]

Morris also planned to star as Chiles in a spin-off, but the pilot never came to fruition. NBC executives have claimed that a pilot was never discussed with them. [2]

According to Morris, the real-life Cochran told him he enjoyed his appearances as Chiles on Seinfeld. [3] However, after appearing in character as Chiles in advertisements for the Honda Odyssey [4] and Diet Dr Pepper in 2000, [5] Morris received a cease and desist letter from Cochran's law office due to the impact his unflattering mimicry of Cochran might have on his legal career. [3] Following Cochran's death, Morris reprised the character again in 2010 for Will Ferrell's Funny or Die website [6] and in 2022 for a Snyder's of Hanover commercial. [7]

Appearances

See also

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References

  1. Written by Gregg Kavet & Andy Robin; directed by Andy Ackerman (Jan 25, 1996). "The Caddy". Seinfeld. Season 5. NBC.
  2. Carman, John (1999-07-16). "'Seinfeld' Actor Says a Spin-Off Is in the Works - But NBC denies knowledge of proposal for new comedy". San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved 2008-05-01.
  3. 1 2 Seinfeld Season 8: Inside Look - "The Abstinence" (DVD). Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. 2007.
  4. Elliott, Stuart (2000-04-17). "Advertising: 'Seinfeld' second bananas are enjoying second careers". The New York Times . Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  5. "Abnormal Interviews: Actor Phil Morris a/k/a Jackie Chiles from 'Seinfeld'". 6 December 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  6. "Jackie Chiles on Funny or Die". Archived from the original on 2010-12-06. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
  7. "Seinfeld's 'Jackie Chiles' revived for Snyder's pretzel ad". AdAge. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.