Patrick Warburton Reflects on Past Roles and Family Views

Patrick Warburton, widely recognized for his role as David Puddy on ‘Seinfeld,’ once found himself in a surprising performance alongside Carol Burnett. On ‘Nostalgia Tonight with Joe Sibilia,’ Warburton reminisced about playing Burnett’s young lover in a sketch.

‘I made out with her,’ Warburton shared with Sibilia. At 27, he portrayed a toy boy dating both the good and evil twin sisters, roles played by Burnett.

Aged in her late 50s at the time, Burnett added a humorous touch during rehearsals. Warburton recalled, ‘Carol was adorable. She joked with the director about needing more rehearsal time.’

Warburton described the experience as reminiscent of his upbringing with ‘The Carol Burnett Show.’ ‘It felt like kissing mom,’ he noted.

Beyond Burnett, Warburton recounted encounters with other iconic stars. ‘Golden Girls’ legend Betty White once shared a comedic scene with him, ‘rubbing my naked chest down in bed,’ he humorously recalled. Bea Arthur challenged his comfort levels by inviting him for sushi. ‘Bea was imposing, very lovely,’ he remembered.

Warburton gained popularity on ‘Seinfeld’ and has voiced Joe Swanson on ‘Family Guy’ since 1999. However, his parents disapproved of ‘Family Guy,’ labeling it blasphemy due to their religious beliefs.

His father, John, nearly became a monk, guided by spiritual advisor Thomas Merton. His mother, Barbara, shared a strong Catholic faith and aimed to influence Warburton’s work. She even attempted to convert Jerry Seinfeld by sending religious tapes.

Warburton shared a story about his mother leaving a DVD for Seinfeld, prompting a humorous reaction upon their follow-up conversation. ‘She said, “I answer to the Lord above,”‘ Warburton recounted.

Despite describing himself as a ‘bad Catholic,’ Warburton admitted moments of discomfort with his work, revealing, ‘Catholic guilt runs deep.’ Yet, he believes, ‘God has a sense of humor.’