Comedian, Writer Carol Leifer on Farm Sanctuary and Animal Care

An in-demand comedian, writer and actress for decades, there are many projects that made you fall in love with Carol Leifer. Beyond writing for “Seinfeld,” “Saturday Night Live,” “The Larry Sanders Show” and the Academy Awards, Leifer appeared dozens of times on the talk shows of David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Conan O’Brien. She is also the author of two books, most recently 2014’s “How to Success in Business Without Really Crying.”

One of the causes that Leifer is known to be involved with is animal rights. She was on-hand for the Farm Sanctuary On The Hudson Gala, among the likes of Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett, Michael C. Hall, Loretta Swit, Emily Deschanel, Jennifer Coolidge, Colbie Caillat, “Impractical Jokers” star Joe Gatto, and the evening’s host Bellamy Young. Farm Sanctuary itself provides lifelong care for animals rescued from abuse at sanctuary locations in New York and California, while promoting compassionate vegan living, and advocating for legal and policy reforms.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Leifer as she walked down the red carpet, prior to her being honored – alongside Tracye McQuirter and Dr. Kristi Funk – at the Gala. Simply put, the New York native has lots going on at any given time.

Jewish Journal: What initially drew you to the animal rights movement?

Carol Leifer: I actually wrote about it in my first book. My wife Lori [Wolf], who’s behind you, I never had a pet of any kind, and she had two cats and a dog. When we moved in, it was like, “What’s gonna happen now?” I did it reluctantly and then fell in love with these animals. I made the bigger leap from companion animals, to farm animals and all animals. That was really the big a-ha moment for me.

JJ: Speaking of books, do you have a third book in the works?

CL: I’m working on something but I can’t talk about it right now.

JJ: Well, are there any upcoming projects that you can talk about? You’re someone who always seems to be on-staff for a television project.

CL: Yeah, I am currently working on the new season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

JJ: I’m not sure that most people know that there is a new season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” coming.

CL: Yeah, writer/producer, so look for it.

JJ: Have you thought about doing a podcast or something on that end?

CL: I have not thought about doing a podcast, but maybe I will now that you’ve mentioned it. (laughs)

JJ: As another follow up from your books, how’s your golf game?

CL: My golf game is suffering at the moment, only because we have four rescue dogs and we have a child who’s 12 1/2 who takes up a lot of our time. So I’ll be getting back into it soon.

JJ: So finally, any last words for the kids?

CL: Kids, you mean the kids at home?

JJ: The kids at home, or the kids who might be reading this.

CL: Love animals and care about that, because if you don’t care about them, who will? We’re the voice for the voiceless.

More information on Carol Leifer can be found here, while Farm Sanctuary can be visited online.