Christa Miller Says Larry David Let Her Take Unaired “Seinfeld” Tape to “Drew Carey ”Producers to Prove Herself (Exclusive)

Tereza Shkurtaj, Abby SternSat, April 18, 2026 at 11:00 PM UTC

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Christa Miller on 'Seinfeld' and 'The Drew Carey Show.'Credit: NBC; ABC -

On April 12, 2026, Christa Miller attended an Apple TV FYC special event for Shrinking

During the event, the 61-year-old was reminded that, at one point, she played two different characters on Seinfeld

Miller told PEOPLE that her second role on the show ultimately helped her land a part on The Drew Carey Show

Christa Miller has a rare claim to fame in sitcom history — one that even she didn’t initially realize.

While attending the Apple TV FYC special event for Shrinking, the 61-year-old was surprised and excited to learn she belongs to a small group of actors who appeared on Seinfeld as two entirely different characters.

That unexpected distinction, sometimes referred to as being a “double dipper,” became more than just a fun piece of trivia; it also played a meaningful part in helping her land a starring role on The Drew Carey Show, she tells PEOPLE.

Christa Miller on 'Seinfeld.'Credit: NBC

Looking back, Miller connected the dots between her time on one iconic comedy and a pivotal career breakthrough.

In 1993, she made her first brief appearance on Seinfeld as Ellen, the woman who turns down George Costanza for a job in the episode “The Sniffing Accountant.” Two years later, she returned in a much larger role as Paula in “The Doodle” episode, where her character actually dates George.

“The best part is that the second episode I did with George, I had much more to do because it was Valentine's Day,” Miller shares, noting that “it was really fun.” The expanded role gave her more screen time and comedic beats, making the experience more memorable.

While it was rare for an actor to appear as different characters in the same series, she suggested her return may have been helped by a slight change in appearance, saying, “I might have just had grown my hair out or looked different enough to come in.”

"I mean, they knew I had already done the one, but I only had a couple scenes in the first one," she notes.

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Christa Miller on 'The Drew Carey Show.'Credit: ABC

That second appearance proved far more important than she initially realized. In 1995, Miller was in the final stages of auditioning for The Drew Carey Show, but executives at ABC were hesitant, feeling she might be “too green," she explains.

Determined to strengthen her case, she took matters into her own hands and called the producers of Seinfeld, hoping to obtain footage of the freshly finished Valentine's Day episode, which she felt showed off her acting chops.

Lo and behold, the show's co-creator Larry David picked up the phone. Miller explained to the comedian, 78, that she was "getting down to the wire" for casting in The Drew Carey Show and was hoping to show them the unaired Seinfeld tape to prove she had what it takes.

"Remember in those days they wouldn't give tapes out or anything," she notes.

However, David agreed, telling her, “You can have it, but you have to return it today.” Miller immediately drove to pick up the footage and deliver it herself.

“I drove to CBS Radford. I drove all the way across the hill to where Drew Carey people were, handed them tape in broadcast news, handed the tape off, waited in the office,” Miller recalls. “They gave me back the tape and as I was driving back to return it to Seinfeld, they called me and said, ‘Welcome to the show.’ ”

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Looking back, Miller credits that moment and David’s willingness to help as the reason she got her role as Kate O’Brien on The Drew Carey Show. Still, she sums up the whirlwind experience with humor: “All I did was drive.”

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”