Seinfeld Wanted Rebecca De Mornay So Bad, They Named A Character After Her

Around the time Sonya Eddy auditioned for this guest star role, "Seinfeld" was well into its long run. That may be why there were around 50 other actors there trying out for the same part. However, she explained to "This Podcast is Making Me Thirsty" that she knew she did well based on the reaction of the producers. "I don't remember what I did, but I made Jerry laugh," she recalled. "And then Larry [David] laughed too." Obviously, she got the role, but her character's name didn't change until during the rehearsal process. "I remember Jerry saying to me, 'What do you think about us calling you Rebecca De Mornay?'" Eddy wasn't put off by the random name change — she was more concerned with the show getting sued.

For many viewers, the comedy of a random character having the name Rebecca De Mornay was funny enough. But Eddy also revealed that she felt Jerry had bigger intentions. "They were trying to get her [De Mornay] to come to the show," she said. "I don't know, to be on the show or to be in the audience and for it to be a little treat for the audience." Eddy went on to reveal that De Mornay never did show up, and she was kind of bummed out about that. Despite the no-show, Eddy would continue to enjoy a coveted spot in "Seinfeld" history — up until her untimely death in 2022 (via The New York Times).