Peter Crombie, Actor Identified for ‘Seinfeld’ Appearances, Dies at 71

Peter Crombie, the actor who was in all probability finest recognized for taking part in the position of “Crazy” Joe Davola on 5 episodes of the hit tv sitcom “Seinfeld,” died on Wednesday in a well being care facility in Palm Springs, Calif. He was 71.

Crombie had been recovering from unspecified surgical procedure, mentioned his ex-wife, Nadine Kijner, who confirmed his demise.

In his position as Davola, Crombie performed a temperamental character who stalks Jerry — a semi-fictionalized model of the comic Jerry Seinfeld — and develops a deep hatred of him.

Tall and lanky, Crombie’s character had a flat, borderline menacing affect and an unblinking 1,000-yard stare. Within the sequence, he additionally stalked the robust New Yorker Elaine, in a single case plastering a wall of his condominium with black-and-white surveillance pictures of her.

Other than his half in “Seinfeld,” Crombie additionally had roles within the motion pictures “Seven” (1995), “Rising Sun” (1993) and “Born on the Fourth of July” (1989), amongst different performing tv and film credit.

Crombie was born on June 26, 1952, and grew up in a neighborhood outdoors of Chicago.

His father was an artwork trainer, and his mom taught house economics, Ms. Kijner mentioned. Crombie educated on the Yale College of Drama earlier than transferring to New York.

Crombie and Kijner met in Boston within the late Nineteen Eighties earlier than marrying in 1991. Although they divorced after about six years of marriage, the 2 remained mates.

“He was like a rock,” she mentioned. “He was someone you could always call and lean on.”

Kijner mentioned Crombie is survived by a brother, Jim. She mentioned Crombie stepped again from performing round 2000, and labored on his different ardour, certainly one of which was writing.

The comic Lewis Black commemorated Crombie on social media, calling him a “wonderful actor” and an “immensely talented writer.”

“More importantly he was as sweet as he was intelligent and I am a better person for knowing him,” Mr. Black wrote.

Larry Charles, a “Seinfeld” author, additionally mourned Mr. Crombie.

“His portrayal of Joe Davola managed to feel real and grounded and psychopathic and absurd and hilarious all at the same time,” Mr. Charles wrote on social media. “This was a juxtaposition I was always seeking on my Seinfeld episodes and reached a climax of sorts with ‘The Opera.’ Seinfeld was a sitcom that could make you uncomfortable and no guest actor walked that line better than Peter.”