‘Soup Nazi’ actor dips ladle for victims of Vancouver festival attack
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VANCOUVER – “Soup Nazi” actor Larry Thomas, best known for his guest role as a strict soup seller on the sitcom “Seinfeld,” will be picking up his ladle again to raise money for victims of last month’s attack on Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Day festival.
The Los Angeles-based actor said he will be serving at the Greens And Beans Deli in New Westminster, B.C., on Sunday as part of the restaurant’s fundraising efforts.
Thomas said the April 26 attack that killed 11 people was a “terrible thing,” prompting him to reprise his fundraising relationship with the deli that stretches back 20 years.
Leona Green, owner of the deli, first reached out to Thomas to ask him to serve soup at a fundraiser for the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.
The pair ended up serving 800 bowls of soup and raising more than $7,000 for tsunami victims.
Since then, Thomas has repeatedly returned to the deli for other causes, including Canadian wildfire relief.
Green said the attack on the Lapu Lapu festival, a celebration of Filipino culture, hit hard. One of her staff members has a Filipino background, as do many customers.
Green said it will be the eighth time Thomas has come to her deli to raise money, and Sunday’s visit comes on the 20th anniversary of his first fundraiser there. This year is also the 30th anniversary of the “Soup Nazi” episode on “Seinfeld”.
Thomas said that when Green first reached out to him 20 years ago, it was “perfect timing.”
Members of his acting class had just challenged each other to use their fame to help more people.
“Any chance you could get to help out and do some good, using something that you’re known for, that you could raise more money than you could donate, is just a good idea,” said Thomas.
Money raised on Sunday will support families of victims of the festival attack, with soup being served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Thomas said he’ll be using his famous “no soup for you” line but will do so “sparingly” — at a previous Greens And Beans fundraiser, he alarmed a customer who was unfamiliar with his “Seinfeld” character.
He said that after he shouted the line, the elderly woman looked like she was about cry and backed out of the door.
Thomas said staff at the deli ran to explain to the woman, who couldn’t figure out what she had done wrong.
“I felt so terrible, and I said to everyone there, I’ve got to be careful from now on,” said Thomas, adding that he now makes sure customers know the episode “so I don’t yell at some innocent person.”
Eleven people died and dozens were injured in the festival attack when an SUV drove through a crowded street. Adam Kai-Ji-Lo faces eight murder charges and police have said more are expected.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2025.