J. Peterman

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Lore & Background

J. Peterman is based on the real John Peterman, an American catalog and retail entrepreneur from Lexington, Kentucky, who operates the J. Peterman Company. The real Peterman founded the company after finding a cowboy duster on a business trip. The TV character debuted in 1995 on Seinfeld, played by John O'Hurley. After the character's first appearance, the real Peterman agreed with Seinfeld's lawyers that he would approve the scripts in which his fictional part had a role. The real J. Peterman Company also sold movie replicas of the "Heart of The Ocean" necklace from the 1997 film Titanic, selling $1 million worth of necklace replicas along with other costume and prop replicas.

In Their Own Story

Elaine sat at her desk, staring at the manuscript on her typewriter. The description for a wool sweater claimed it could weather the storms of life with dignity. J. Peterman entered the room, eyes wide with inspiration, holding a sketchbook. He spoke of the fabric as if it were armor for a knight traversing ancient lands. Elaine sighed quietly, knowing another day would be spent translating his poetry into payroll.

Reader's Guide

J. Peterman serves as Elaine Benes' boss in the last three seasons of Seinfeld. He is played by John O'Hurley. The character is a fictionalized version of the real John Peterman, who is known for being fictionalized in the TV series. The real Peterman wrote a memoir, Peterman Rides Again, published November 6, 2000, which chronicles the rise and fall of the J. Peterman Company and Peterman's lessons in entrepreneurship. The real company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1999, was bought by Paul Harris Stores, and then Peterman bought back his namesake brand in 2000 after Paul Harris Stores went bankrupt.

Did You Know?

• The real John Peterman was a Minor League Baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization for two seasons as a second baseman.
• In 1963, Peterman had a one-day tryout with the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium where he played next to Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Tony Kubek, but did not sign with the team.
• The real Peterman's daughter Robyn Peterman Zahn is married to actor Steve Zahn.
• The J. Peterman Company sold $1 million worth of replicas of the 'Heart of The Ocean' necklace from the 1997 film Titanic.
• The real John Peterman presented a lecture titled 'The Painful but Essential Art of Failing' at his alma mater, College of the Holy Cross, in 2001.