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Frank Costanza Visits Astoria

By

Ben Yakas

Published Aug 23, 2010

Modified Aug 23, 2010

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"You're saying you want a piece of me?"

 

By

Ben Yakas

Published Aug 23, 2010

Modified Aug 23, 2010

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Who doesn't love a nostalgic visit to their old neighborhood? Who hasn't been curious about meeting who lives there now? A couple months ago, the New Yorker took Christopher Walken to his childhood home in Astoria for such a trip, and last week, the Daily News took actor Jerry Stiller there as well. But Stiller, who played Frank Costanza, originator of Festivus, on Seinfeld, was going to visit his TV home, the brick house on 37th St. that was used for the exterior shots of the Costanza residence. And Stiller decided to do a stop-and-chat.

Stiller had never visited the home before, and was only there to pose by the house as part of a series on historic places in Queens. There he met Jack and Bessie Lopipero, both 84, the long-time residents of the house, who were flabbergasted and delighted by his unexpected visit, greeting him at the door: "Hey, Costanza's father!" The three spent an hour talking fondly. Bessie said, "This is the happiest day of my life. You really made my day." Later on, Stiller told the News, "This is probably the best thing I ever did in my life." But what the hell does that mean??

Tagged

astoria

frank costanza

jerry stiller

queens

seinfeld

Ben Yakas

Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.

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