After his self-imposed hiatus from Hollywood following a racist rant in 2006, "Seinfeld" star Michael Richards embarked on a spiritual journey that led him to find faith. In his new memoir, Richards shares how this experience transformed his life and the lessons he learned about forgiveness and self-improvement.
Michael Richards, best known for his iconic role as Kramer in "Seinfeld," stepped out of the spotlight after a highly publicized incident where he went on a racist rant at a comedy club. In the aftermath of this incident, Richards chose to "cancel himself," taking a hiatus from the entertainment industry to work on himself and understand what had led him to that angry moment.
During his time away from Hollywood, Richards delved into self-reflection and personal growth. He embraced spirituality, which played a pivotal role in his transformation. "I found faith along the way," Richards told Fox News Digital. "Faith in creation and how marvelous this system is set up to — well, it's rather merciful in that it allows us to reflect upon our wrongs and move on to get to a better place in oneself, to improve. The state of improvement. I'm fascinated by that. We as human beings can learn from our mistakes."
Michael Richards' Spiritual Journey: Finding Faith After Hollywood Exile
Richards' new memoir, "Entrances and Exits," chronicles his life and the struggles he faced both personally and professionally. In the book, he writes about his journey towards finding meaning and purpose after the racist rant. Richards admits that he was "swept up by the rage" he felt when heckled by the audience members, but in retrospect, he wishes he had handled the situation differently.
"I would have probably tried to say something like, 'I'm so sorry you don't find me funny. Is there anything I can do? Do you need a back rub? Can I buy you some chips and more liquor?'" Richards said. "Ultimately, I probably would have just simply buttoned it up and gone home and just returned the next night and keep working at it," he said. "I should have left the stage when it got really nasty."
Michael Richards' Spiritual Journey: Finding Faith After Hollywood Exile
Richards' time away from the entertainment industry allowed him to focus on his personal growth. He delved into philosophy and religion, exploring the meaning of his life. "I was missing myself all along," he explained. "I don't think I was paying enough attention to myself, this person behind Hollywood and the part you play, the quest to entertain a public."
Despite his absence from Hollywood, Richards' friends and colleagues supported his potential return. "Friendship is natural for us," he said about his relationship with Jerry Seinfeld. "Jerry supported me in that he felt, 'Come back. You know, we want you back. Come back. Join us. Come on. Let's get into entertainment.'"
Michael Richards' Spiritual Journey: Finding Faith After Hollywood Exile
However, Richards was hesitant to return to the spotlight. "I don't have an agent. I don't have reps. You got to be set up for all this," he explained. "That's just part of the business of having an acting career. I didn't write this book as, 'Oh I got a comeback, and I'm going to get on another TV show, or I'm going to do some costarring work in films, or I'm going to be on the stage.'"
As he approaches 75, Richards says he would only consider returning to acting if the part "resonated" with him as an artist. "If a part were offered to me, and certainly if it resonated, and I knew I could do a good job and be a part of the story that's being told through whatever project it is that we're doing. I'd probably give it serious consideration, but I better be on the ball," he said. "It's not about a career as much as it's got to resonate, and it's got to activate my life as an artist, so I can really bring it through for everyone to see."
Michael Richards' Spiritual Journey: Finding Faith After Hollywood Exile
