Newman (Wayne Knight)

Newman plays a villain in the series. Often described as Jerry's "sworn enemy" ("The Andrea Doria"), his character is cunning and occasionally acts like a weasel. The two generally greet each other this way:
Jerry (sarcastic): "Hello, Newman".
Newman (exaggeratedly cheerful): "Hello, Jerry".

Jerry's mother also greets Newman the same way. The origin of the Seinfeld/Newman feud is never revealed.

Newman's character is a frequent source of annoyance to Jerry, such as in attracting fleas to the apartment ("The Doodle"), and generally making Jerry's life more difficult. The depth of their enmity seems to vary between episodes, however - or even within the same episode ("The Soul Mate") - and Jerry sometimes seems to consider him merely an annoying neighbor, much like Kramer, rather than an outright enemy. At times they even work together on some scheme, though with some reluctance on Jerry's part (and usually with mutual friend Kramer as a buffer). In the final scene of "The Soup Nazi" their interaction is such that they could almost be taken for friends, although this may be based more on their shared love of the Soup Nazi's soup than on anything else. In any event, Newman often seems quite amused at how effectively he irritates Jerry (which of course only irritates Jerry all the more), although any battle of wits between them rarely leaves Newman the victor.

Newman is good friends with Kramer, and the pair are forever participating in various get-rich-quick schemes. In "The Soul Mate," Newman and Kramer parody Cyrano de Bergerac, with Newman voicing his own poetry (for Kramer so he may woo Jerry's girlfriend):
Her bouquet cleaved his hardened shell
And fondled his muscled heart.
He imbibed her glistening spell
Just before the other shoe fell.

His poetry along with his angry rants directed against Jerry and the United States Postal Service in various episodes demonstrate Newman's impressive and dramatic command of the English language. Newman also takes his job as a mailman very seriously (as long as it is not raining); he ends up impulsively protesting the idea of any mail being considered "junk." However, he is known to use his job for corrupt purposes, such as purposely withholding mail for blackmail revenge, or using the Union to get himself out of jail. Despite his girth, Newman is an expert climber (which he learned in the Pacific Northwest) and tennis player. Jerry also once agreed with George that, "...he is merry."