Carol Leifer (born July 27, 1956 in Long Island, New York) is an American comedian best known as Jerry Seinfeld's ex-girlfriend, as well as part of the basis for the character Elaine Benes on the television show, Seinfeld.
Leifer is an accomplished stand-up comedian, writer, producer and actor and has been involved in such television shows as Seinfeld, It's Like, You Know..., Alright Already, and The Larry Sanders Show. With Mitchell Hurwitz, she is the creator of the short-lived The Ellen Show (2001). In 1988, she had her own special on Cinemax titled Carol Doesn't Leifer Anymore, which was produced by David Letterman. This was shortly followed several more specials, tiled Carol Leifer Comedy Cruise (1989), Really Big Show (1990), and Gaudy, Baudy, and Blue (1992).
No stranger to the late-night TV circuit, she has performed on Late Night With David Letterman 25 times. Carol has also appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Dr. Katz, Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, Hollywood Squares, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Her hosting duties have included four seasons of A&E's Caroline's Comedy Hour, as well as guest stints on Talk Soup and Later.
Her stand-up merits include opening for Jerry Seinfeld and Frank Sinatra. Sinatra was later heard praising Leifer, saying "That Carol Leifer is ... one funny broad!" and "I wish my mother had been that funny - I wouldn't have had to work so hard."
She is still currently working the stand-up circuit and is supposedly writing an original picture for Dreamworks. Additionally Leifer is a writer and co-executive producer on the CBS sitcom Rules of Engagement.
In September 2007, Leifer won an auction for the handwritten notes used by Michael Vick during his apology for his role in dogfighting.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/14/AR2007091401996.html
Attended Binghamton University
In 1993, she became a story-editor and, eventually, a co-producer on the "Seinfeld" (1990) show.
Is still performing stand-up comedy, as of 2005.
Is the basis for the "Seinfeld" (1990) character Elaine Marie Benes.
