Who was Elaine based on?

[Festivus1223]

I know the character of Elaine was based on somebody who was relatively well known, but I can't remember her name. Any help?

[Maestro]

According to TBS and their little trivia snips, character "Elaine" was named after Tery Benes, a woman Larry David once dated...
but...
I think who your thinking, and who I've always heard she was based on is comic Carol Leifer (http://www.delafont.com/comedians/Carol-Leifer.htm). <= some pics & info

[Elaine Benes]

Wow, I didn't know that.

[Brian Damage]

Wasn't she a secretary in an episode?

[Maestro]

It looks like Carol was credited as a writer in these eps (she is funny):

70 The Lip Reader
85 The Hamptons
95 The Secretary
102 The Beard
110 The Understudy
121 The Rye

...and she had parts in:

103 The Kiss Hello: played the receptionist.
134 The Invitations: uncredited, played a bank employee.


& also a snipet from TheNewsGuy's(Mike) site:
>>>Other aspects are composite of both lives. For example, Elaine's character is half based on Jerry's ex-girlfriend Carol Leifer. Carol joined the production staff in the 5th season. An ex-girlfriend of Larry David's, named Monica Yates, whose father was a noted writer in the other half of the Elaine equation. Larry David once wore a suede jacket that got wet while meeting her father.<<<

[Brian Damage]

It's funny to think alot of the episodes were based on actual occurences.

[sinatrastar]

Jerry dated her? He wouldnt give her the time of day now. Must have been back in his Benson days. I tried grabbing her pic for Who Am I? but it said it was copyrighted and it wouldnt let me download it. :lol:

[Brian Damage]

She looks older than him.