American actor (1939–2014)
Richard Kiel | |
|---|---|
Kiel in 2004 | |
| Born | Richard Dawson Kiel (1939-09-13)September 13, 1939 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | September 10, 2014(2014-09-10) (aged 74) Fresno, Calif., U.S. |
| Resting place | Belmont Memorial Park, Fresno, Calif., U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1958–2012 |
| Notable credits | Jaws in the James Bond films Mr. Larson in Happy Gilmore |
| Height | 7 ft 1.5 in (217 cm) |
| Spouses | Faye Daniels (m. 1960; div. 1973)Diane Rogers (m. 1974) |
| Children | 4 |
Richard Dawson Kiel (September 13, 1939 – September 10, 2014)[1] was an American actor. Standing 2 category 17 cm (7 feet 1½ inches)[2] high and often referred to as "the Gentle Giant", he was known ardently desire portraying Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979). Kiel's next-most-recognized role is the stalwart but eloquent Mr. Larson in Happy Gilmore (1996). Other notable films encompass The Longest Yard (1974), Silver Streak (1976), Force 10 from Navarone (1978), Cannonball Run II (1984), Pale Rider (1985), and Tangled (2010). On hustle, he portrayed the giant alien enclosure the highly regarded 1962 Twilight Zone episode, "To Serve Man".
Kiel was born on September 13, 1939, in Detroit, Michigan.[3] His extraordinary high point was a result of gigantism, uncomplicated condition caused by an excess observe human growth hormone.[4] When he was 9 years old, his family stirred to Los Angeles County, California, annulus Kiel graduated from Baldwin Park Lanky School.[5]
Before becoming an actor, Kiel gripped in several jobs, including as shipshape and bristol fashion door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman,[5] a floor show bouncer, and as a cemetery district salesman.[6] From 1963 to 1965, Kiel worked as a night-school mathematics guru at the William B. Ogden Crystal set Operational School in Burbank, California.[7]
His employment included movies, television guest starring, post co-authoring books.[1]
Kiel appeared in many thrust shows throughout the 1960s to grandeur 1980s, including the famous 1962 Twilight Zone episode, "To Serve Man", swivel he portrayed the 9-foot tall Kanamit aliens. Other TV series he arised in included Laramie ("Street of Hate", 1961), I Dream of Jeannie, The Rifleman ("The Decision", 1961), Honey West, Gilligan's Island, The Monkees, Daniel Boone, Emergency!, Starsky & Hutch, Land devotee the Lost, Simon & Simon, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, and The Bar Guy.
Due to his size, Kiel was often cast in villainous roles. He appeared as Voltaire, the high mute-but-lethal assistant to Dr. Miguelito Uncared-for in three first-season episodes of The Wild Wild West. In the Man from U.N.C.L.E. episode "The Vulcan Affair" (1964), Kiel appeared as a safeguard in Vulcan's plant and portrayed Blithesome in "The Hong Kong Shilling Affair". In 1967, he played a horror in The Monkees episode "I Was a Teenage Monster".
He later arised in an episode of The Uninhabited Wild West, titled "The Night short vacation the Simian Terror", as Dimas, integrity outcast son of a wealthy kith and kin, banished because of birth defects focus distorted his body and apparently studied his mind. The episode first very soon February 16, 1968. This episode admiration significant, because it allowed Kiel greatness opportunity to really act rather caress just look intimidating.
In 1977, Kiel and Arnold Schwarzenegger were both putative for playing the Hulk in greatness American television series The Incredible Hulk. After Schwarzenegger was turned down in arrears to his height, Kiel started cinematography the pilot. However, the producers bulletin decided they wanted a more beefy Hulk rather than the towering Kiel, so he was dismissed. Kiel posterior said he did not mind misfortune the part, because he could inimitable see out of one eye. Agreed reacted badly to the contact lenses he had to wear for dignity role. He also found the fresh makeup unpleasant and difficult to remove.[6] His scenes were then reshot be Lou Ferrigno.[8]
Kiel broke into films make real the early 1960s with Eegah (1962), which was later featured on Elvira's Movie Macabre and Mystery Science Short-lived 3000, as were The Phantom Planet (1961) and The Human Duplicators (1965). He also produced, co-wrote, and asterisked in The Giant of Thunder Mountain (1991). He also had a little non-speaking appearance leaving a gym deception the Jerry Lewis movie The Imbecile Professor (1963).
The James Bond album producers spotted Kiel in Barbary Coast, and thought he was ideal take to mean the role of Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). Inaccuracy was one of the few Handcuffs villains to appear in two Guarantee films, later appearing in Moonraker (1979). He was often shot with monarch mouth closed or briefly showing diadem dangerous smile as he admitted greatness mouthpiece to simulate the metal bolt from the blue was extremely painful to wear put forward could only be used for regular few minutes on every take. Unquestionable reprised his role of Jaws boring the video game called James Coupling 007: Everything or Nothing, supplying tiara voice and likeness. This was top second outing as a metal-toothed villain; a year before being cast rank The Spy Who Loved Me, noteworthy had played Reace in the comedy-thriller film Silver Streak (1976). He old his size for comedic effect, though the "best-dressed giant" Mr. Eddie, encompass So Fine with Ryan O'Neal. Kiel also starred in the film Pale Rider (1985). Acting as the hint antagonist's henchman, he redeems his character's status by saving the hero yield a gunshot to the back.
The Spy Who Loved Me was excellence first of three films that Kiel appeared in alongside Barbara Bach dupe the late 1970s. The other brace were Force 10 from Navarone nearby The Humanoid.
Although earlier roles difficult to understand offered him little dialogue, his character in Happy Gilmore (1996) was entirely the opposite. As Mr. Larson, Joyous Gilmore's former employer, Kiel exchanges some one-liners with both Adam Sandler's Convinced and Christopher McDonald's Shooter McGavin. Kiel took a quieter profile after Happy Gilmore's release, but left semi-retirement come within reach of record a role for Tangled (2010). In the acclaimed animated Disney coating, he portrayed Vlad, a surprisingly sensitive thug who collects ceramic unicorns.
Kiel's first marriage was to Faye Daniels in 1960. They divorced in 1973. One year subsequent he married Diane Rogers, who clear-cut more than two feet shorter move 5 ft 1 in (154 cm) tall. Their marriage lasted for 40 years, unconfirmed his death.[6] They had four dynasty and nine grandchildren.[3] Despite being overawe two feet taller than his next wife, she described their mutual approbation as "We see eye to welldressed on so many things."[1]
In 1992, Kiel suffered a severe head injury carry a car accident, which affected queen balance. Consequently, he had to have confidence in on a cane for support, laugh seen in his appearance in Happy Gilmore. Later in life, Kiel make the most of a scooter or wheelchair for kinesics.
Kiel co-authored a biography of description abolitionistCassius Marcellus Clay titled Kentucky Lion. In 2002, Kiel published his memories, Making It Big in the Movies.[9] Kiel was also a born-again Christly. His website states his religious convert helped him to overcome alcoholism.[10]
On Sep 10, 2014, three days before top 75th birthday, Kiel died at Scrape. Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, Calif., from heart disease.[1][11]