Seinfeld character guide
Who is David Puddy in Seinfeld?
Elaine's deadpan, on-and-off boyfriend, a square-jawed mechanic turned car salesman who paints his face for the New Jersey Devils and answers almost everything with "Yeah, that's right."
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David Puddy's Sitcomdle clue card
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- Show
- Seinfeld
- Played by
- Patrick Warburton
- First episode
- “The Fusilli Jerry”Season 6, Episode 21, aired April 27, 1995
- Role
- Side character
- Network
- NBC
- Occupation
- Auto mechanic, then car salesman
- Show run
- 1989 to 1998
- Also known as
- Puddy
David Puddy is the stone-faced boyfriend Elaine can never quite quit. Patrick Warburton plays him with a flat, unbothered calm that makes every one of his strange habits funnier.
On Seinfeld, David Puddy's story runs through Elaine Benes (Girlfriend), Jerry Seinfeld (Mechanic), Cosmo Kramer (Acquaintance), George Costanza, and Frank Costanza.
Who is David Puddy?
Puddy first appears as Jerry's mechanic, the one Jerry considers the only honest mechanic in New York, and quickly becomes Elaine's boyfriend. He later moves from the garage to the sales floor of a car dealership, where his sales tactics are as blunt as his conversation.
He and Elaine break up and get back together so often that it becomes a running joke. Puddy is her longest relationship on the show apart from Jerry, mostly because he does not seem to care much either way.
Personality and comedy
Puddy's humor comes from his total lack of reaction. He is a man of few words, most of them delivered in the same monotone, and his signature answer is a flat "Yeah, that's right." He loves high fives, loves eating at Arby's, stares into space, and treats all of it as perfectly normal.
Then there are the surprises. He is a fanatical New Jersey Devils fan who paints his face for games, and he turns out to be a devout Christian who listens to Christian rock and calmly informs Elaine that he is not the one going to hell.
Key storylines
In "The Fusilli Jerry," Puddy starts dating Elaine and steals Jerry's signature move in the bedroom, which Jerry takes personally. Soon after, in "The Face Painter," he paints his face like a devil for a playoff game against the Rangers and screams at a priest on the way out, which horrifies Elaine.
In season nine, Elaine and Puddy break up and reunite repeatedly, including over the course of a single long flight home from Europe. As a car salesman, he offers Jerry an insider deal on a Saab, and Jerry loses it by refusing one of Puddy's high fives. In the finale, Elaine tells him not to wait for her while she is in jail, and he casually agrees.
Behind the scenes and legacy
Patrick Warburton appeared as Puddy in ten episodes, and the role helped make his deep, deadpan voice famous. He went on to voice Joe Swanson on Family Guy and Kronk in The Emperor's New Groove.
Puddy is a favorite of Seinfeld fans because he gets huge laughs with almost no effort, a character whose calm makes everyone around him look unhinged.
Key David Puddy episodes
- “The Fusilli Jerry”Season 6, Episode 21Puddy debuts as Jerry's honest mechanic and Elaine's new boyfriend, and borrows Jerry's signature move.
- “The Face Painter”Season 6, Episode 23Puddy paints his face as a devil for a Devils playoff game against the Rangers, to Elaine's dismay.
- “The Butter Shave”Season 9, Episode 1Puddy and Elaine break up and get back together on a long flight home from Europe.
- “The Dealership”Season 9, Episode 11Now a car salesman, Puddy offers Jerry a deal that sours over extras and a refused high five.
- “The Burning”Season 9, Episode 16Elaine learns Puddy is religious when she finds Christian rock stations on his car radio.
- “The Finale”Season 9, Episode 23Elaine tells Puddy not to wait for her, and he agrees.
Season and episode numbers follow the original broadcast order.
David Puddy's catchphrase
- “Yeah, that's right.”
More lines fans still quote: famous sitcom catchphrases and who said them.
David Puddy: frequently asked questions
Who plays Puddy on Seinfeld?
Patrick Warburton plays David Puddy, first appearing in "The Fusilli Jerry" in 1995.
What does Puddy do for a living?
He starts as an auto mechanic and later becomes a car salesman at a dealership.
Do Elaine and Puddy end up together?
Sort of. They break up and reunite many times, and in the finale Elaine tells him not to wait for her while she is in jail. He agrees without much fuss.
What is Puddy's catchphrase?
Puddy's trademark line is a flat, monotone "Yeah, that's right."
Test yourself: David Puddy quiz
5 questions about David Puddy. Think of your answer, then open the reveal to check it.
- Question 1
Which hockey team does David Puddy paint his face for in "The Face Painter"?
- New York Rangers
- New York Islanders
- Philadelphia Flyers
- New Jersey Devils
Show the answer
Answer: D. New Jersey Devils
Puddy shows up to a Rangers and Devils playoff game painted as a red devil, and Patrick Warburton later appeared at real Devils games in the same look.
- Question 2
Who plays David Puddy in Seinfeld?
- David Hyde Pierce
- Patrick Warburton
- Michael Richards
- John Stamos
Show the answer
Answer: B. Patrick Warburton
Patrick Warburton plays David Puddy.
- Question 3
In what year did David Puddy first appear on Seinfeld?
- 1998
- 1995
- 1991
- 1999
Show the answer
Answer: B. 1995
David Puddy debuted in 1995, in "The Fusilli Jerry" (Season 6, Episode 21). That year is the Debut clue in the game.
- Question 4
Which episode was David Puddy's first?
- "The Lunar Excitation"
- "Diversity Day"
- "The Fusilli Jerry"
- "My First Day"
Show the answer
Answer: C. "The Fusilli Jerry"
David Puddy first appeared in "The Fusilli Jerry," Season 6, Episode 21.
- Question 5
Which best describes David Puddy?
- Teacher and professor, Banks family matriarch
- Cab driver, then limo driver and owner
- No steady job, endless business schemes
- Auto mechanic, then car salesman
Show the answer
Answer: D. Auto mechanic, then car salesman
David Puddy: Auto mechanic, then car salesman.
Sources and corrections
Reference pages used for this guide, including character, cast, and episode details.
Could David Puddy be today's mystery character? Name them in eight guesses.
Play today's SitcomdlePeople in David Puddy's life
- Elaine BenesGirlfriendPlayed by Julia Louis-DreyfusJerry's ex-girlfriend turned best friend, a sharp, confident, and famously blunt New Yorker who works her way through publishing jobs, bad bosses…
- Jerry SeinfeldMechanicPlayed by Jerry SeinfeldThe fictional version of comedian Jerry Seinfeld, a neat, observational stand-up living on the Upper West Side who serves as the calm…
- Cosmo KramerAcquaintancePlayed by Michael RichardsJerry's wild-haired neighbor across the hall, who bursts through the door without knocking, eats Jerry's food…
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