Phil Bruns
A versatile character actor whose face became familiar to millions as the original, more cantankerous father of Jerry Seinfeld.
1931–2012 (age 81)·American actor·Birthday: May 2·The Silent Generation
Biography
Phil Bruns built a long and steady career as a reliable 'that guy' in American television and film, often playing authority figures with a touch of weary humor. A stage-trained actor from South Dakota, he moved to New York and became a fixture in off-Broadway productions and the early days of live television drama. His breakout role came as the perpetually befuddled and morally rigid George Shumway on the surreal soap satire 'Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.' But he is perhaps most famously remembered for a role he barely kept: he originated the part of Morty Seinfeld in the pilot of the iconic sitcom 'Seinfeld,' playing Jerry's father with a more overtly irritable edge. After the pilot was re-shot, he was replaced by Barney Martin. Unfazed, Bruns continued working for decades, appearing in everything from 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' to 'Law & Order,' always bringing a grounded, authentic presence to every part, no matter the size.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Phil was born in 1931, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Phil Was Born
The biggest hits of 1931
#1 Movie
Frankenstein
Best Picture
Cimarron
Phil's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1931Born
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1936Started school
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1944Became a teenager
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1947Could drive
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1949Could vote
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1952Turned 21
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1961Turned 30
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 40
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 50
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 60
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 70
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 80
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2012Died at 81
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
Key Achievements
- Portrayed George Shumway, the father on the cult classic television series 'Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.'
- Originated the role of Morty Seinfeld in the initial pilot episode of 'Seinfeld.'
- Appeared in over 50 film and television roles, including in 'The Great Gatsby' (1974) and 'The Sting.'
Did You Know?
He was a member of the famed Actors Studio in New York.
He served in the United States Army during the Korean War.
He also worked as a playwright; his play 'The Time of the Barracudas' was produced in 1963.
“I've played more sheriffs and doctors than I can count.”
