Larry David Satirizes RFK Jr. in HBO’s “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness”

In episode 4 of HBO Max’s mock-history comedy series “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness,” Larry David appears in drag as Dora Salk, mother of polio-vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk. While bragging about her son’s work, Dora is interrupted by a tan-skinned, gravel-voiced neighbor named Bobby—a thinly veiled stand-in for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. secretary of health. Bobby declares, “That vaccine’s gonna kill people. It’s gonna give them heart attacks!” and adds, “If I was in charge, I’d make sure that no kids took that vaccine. That goes for measles, too.” Dora fires back with a string of insults, culminating in, “If you were in charge, God help us all! If some idiot, some moron, ever put you in charge, that would be a dark day for humanity.” The sketch ends with Bobby being escorted away by men in white suits, implying a psychiatric commitment.

Variety Magazine

David and Kennedy were once close through Kennedy’s marriage to Cheryl Hines, who played David’s on-screen wife Cheryl on twelve seasons of *Curb Your Enthusiasm*. David introduced the couple, and they appeared together at the 2024 red-carpet premiere of *Curb*’s final season. Their friendship frayed after Kennedy endorsed Donald Trump, joined Trump’s cabinet as secretary of health, and intensified his anti-vaccine activism. David, a vocal critic of Trump, has repeatedly mocked the former president in both *Curb* and the new series. Hines has said she stopped speaking to David after *Curb* ended, attributing the silence to “I think he’s mad [that] Bobby’s in the administration.”

Variety Magazine

• Larry David – Co-creator of *Seinfeld* and *Curb Your Enthusiasm*; creator and star of *Life, Larry*.

TMZ

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – Independent presidential candidate turned U.S. secretary of health; prominent anti-vaccine activist.

TMZ

• Cheryl Hines – Actress, former *Curb* cast member, Kennedy’s wife; has publicly noted the cooling of her friendship with David.

Deadline Hollywood

• Jeff Schaffer – Co-creator and director of *Life, Larry*; provides context for the show’s historical-lens approach.

Variety Magazine

• Gregg Perrie – Actor portraying the Bobby character.

TMZ

Jeff Schaffer explained the creative intent: “One of the things we attempted to do with the show was talk about things that are happening right now, but through a historical lens. Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.” He added that the sketch was meant to comment on “the stupidity that’s going on right now,” referencing Kennedy’s anti-vaccine rhetoric. Cheryl Hines told *Variety* that she has not spoken to David since the *Curb* finale because she believes his anger stems from Kennedy’s cabinet role. Schaffer declined to comment on whether Hines was aware of the specific sketch, saying, “No idea.”

Variety Magazine

Kennedy’s tenure as health secretary has drawn criticism for reducing recommended childhood vaccines and reshaping the CDC’s advisory panel, actions described by the show’s creators as “falsely linking” vaccines to autism. Public health experts have repeatedly warned that such positions fuel vaccine hesitancy, a concern echoed in the sketch’s portrayal of Bobby’s extremist claims.

Variety Magazine

• “Drop dead, Bobby. You should die a dog’s death. You don’t know anything about science, you’re not a doctor.” — Larry David (as Dora Salk)

TMZ

• “That vaccine’s gonna kill people. It’s gonna give them heart attacks!” — Bobby (character representing RFK Jr.)

TMZ

• “If I was in charge, I’d make sure that no kids took that vaccine. That goes for measles, too.” — Bobby

Variety Magazine

• “If you were in charge, God help us all! If some idiot, some moron, ever put you in charge, that would be a dark day for humanity.” — Dora Salk

TMZ

• “One of the things we attempted to do with the show was talk about things that are happening right now, but through a historical lens. Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. We’re talking about vaccinations, and there’s incredible ignorance about vaccinations going on right now.” — Jeff Schaffer

Variety Magazine

• “I think he’s mad [that] Bobby’s in the administration.” — Cheryl Hines

Variety Magazine

Sources differ on whether Hines was informed about the sketch before its release; Schaffer claims no knowledge, while Hines’ interview suggests she was unaware of the specific content. No public response from Kennedy himself has been documented.

Variety Magazine

The episode illustrates how contemporary political disputes—particularly over vaccine policy—are being reframed through historical satire on a major streaming platform. By targeting a sitting health secretary, the show amplifies ongoing debates about public-health authority, misinformation, and the role of comedy in political discourse.

Variety Magazine