Veteran actor Richard Riehle, best known for his role in the 1999 cult classic Office Space, is dead at 78.
According to TMZ, Riehle died of natural causes last Thursday in Los Angeles.
Riehle appeared in over 400 projects throughout the course of his career.
While he’s best known for playing Tom Smykowski in Office Space, his resume includes many iconic television shows and classic films.Â
Some of his notable roles include playing the guard who allowed Harrison Ford to escape custody in 1993’s The Fugitive, and Rob Schneider‘s father in the 1999 comedy Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo.
While he never landed any major leading roles, Riehle was easily one of Hollywood’s most prolific character actors.
Veteran character actor Richard Riehle is dead at age 78
While he’s best known for playing Tom Smykowski in Office Space, his resume includes many iconic television shows and classic films
Fans of arthouse cinema will remember Riehle from his parts in Gregg Araki’s Mysterious Skin, Todd Solondz’s Palindromes, and the cult stoner comedy Smiley Face with Anna Faris.Â
When it comes to the horror genre, Riehle had memorable appearances in the 2006 cult slasher Hatchet, Rob Zombie’s Halloween II, and Texas Chainsaw 3D.
His resume in comedy is vast, with Riehle starring in Joe Dirt, Bridesmaids, Pauly Shore’s Jury Duty, and Pee-wee’s Big Holiday.
He also appeared in action flicks like Executive Decision with Kurt Russell, Mercury Rising with Bruce Willis, and Lethal Weapon 4 with Mel Gibson.Â
His television work is expansive and includes roles in Murder, She Wrote, Roseanne, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Ally McBeal, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 7th Heaven, Two and a Half Men, Black-ish, and Drunk History.
Fan tributes have already poured in on social media, with one writing, ‘That man was in everything without you realizing it.’
‘Richard Riehle is one of the most famous “that guy” actors who’s in everything,’ added another.
A third commented, ‘I met him on a flight a few years ago. Very nice guy, and was happy to talk to and take photos with anyone.’
Riehle played Principal Ed Rooney in the Ferris Bueller television series
The prolific actor starred in a number of iconic horror movies, including the 2007 cult slasher flick Hatchet
Riehle even had a role in the 1993 family film Free Willy, which grossed over $150million at the box office
Riehle is pictured at the Beverly Hills Film Festival back in 2019
Another wrote, ‘I thought he was a wonderful character actor, and always enjoyed his contributions to any film he was in.’
Daily Mail has contacted Riehle’s reps for comment.
Riehle was born in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin in 1948.
He got his Master of Fine Arts at the University of Minnesota and then started his acting career at the Meadow Brook Theatre before eventually making his way to Los Angeles.
According to IMDB, he married Jane Latham in 1970 and they had four children together.
In a 2012 interview, Riehle said that his breakout part in 1989’s war drama Glory was one of his most cherished roles.Â
‘It was the most touching screenplay I’d ever read,’ he told Notre Dame magazine.Â
‘I didn’t have many scenes with Denzel Washington or Morgan Freeman… but to be a part of that cast was a highlight of my career.’
He also said that being an in demand character actor helped him to have longevity in Hollywood.
‘I was older when I really got started, and it did limit things,’ he said.
‘But a character actor, you come in to make a little diversion, be the comic relief or add a little bit of intensity to what’s going on. You’re also liable to have a longer career.’
