John O'Hurley is most well-known for his role as "J. Peterman" in Seinfeld (1989), which was modeled on the real-life personality strongly associated with a sales catalog of exotic goods. He played the role so convincingly, he was offered the opportunity to become an investor and co-owner of the J. Peterman Company. He helped bring it back from the verge of bankruptcy and it turned a profit the very first year that O'Hurley was part of the company.
"Weigh, Hey and up She Rises", the lyrics sung by John O'Hurley (Rear Admiral Ted Gordon) is part of a traditional Sea Shanty song called "Drunken Sailor".