Larry David has turned his latest television project into another opportunity for political satire, taking direct aim at U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a new episode of HBO’s Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness.
The comedy sketch places David in the role of Dora Salk, the mother of polio vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk. During the scene, she clashes with a character named “Bobby,” whose comments and views clearly resemble those of Kennedy. The confrontation escalates as David’s character dismisses the man with a cutting “Drop dead, Bobby” before questioning his scientific credibility and warning about the dangers of putting uninformed people in positions of influence.
The moment carries added significance because of David’s real-life history with Kennedy. The comedian reportedly introduced Kennedy to actress Cheryl Hines years before the pair married in 2014. Hines also spent more than two decades portraying David’s wife on Curb Your Enthusiasm.
While several familiar faces from Curb Your Enthusiasm have reunited for David’s latest series, Hines is missing from the cast. The absence has fueled speculation about a personal and political divide that has become increasingly public in recent years.
Hines has previously acknowledged that politics may have strained her relationship with David, saying she believes his dissatisfaction stems from Kennedy’s role in the presidential administration. Even so, she has maintained that the two were never especially close outside of their years working together and believes they could still be cordial if they crossed paths.
David has not publicly addressed the relationship in detail, but the latest episode leaves little doubt about his willingness to use comedy to express his views on Kennedy and the controversies surrounding his public health policies.
