Soup Nazi, but no soup, for Tel Aviv
Notorious ‘Seinfeld’ character in country for acting gig, not opening a basta in the Carmel Market
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Larry Thomas, rather better known as Jerry Seinfeld’s “Soup Nazi” — anti-hero of a classic seventh-series episode — was in Israel this week for an acting job.
“It’s my first time in Israel and I brought my 87-year-old mother for her birthday,” Thomas told a reporter from “Good Evening with Guy Pines.”
Thomas, who was nominated for an Emmy for his Soup Nazi role, was taped skipping down Nahalat Binyamin Street in Tel Aviv.
The American actor — who reprised the role in the “Seinfeld” finale — has appeared in many commercials worldwide, often recreating his role as the fierce, ill-tempered owner of a New York City soup stand who demanded his customers adhere to his arbitrary rules or not be served.
The Seinfeld role was based on the owner of a soup stand in midtown Manhattan.
According to several TV blogs, Thomas didn’t realize the Soup Nazi role was based on a real person, and used Omar Sharif’s accent from “Lawrence of Arabia” as his inspiration for the character’s tone.
The actor said he’s often asked to say, “No soup for you!” the line of dismissal used by the character in the show. But we’ve yet to hear it in Hebrew.
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