Movie fans suffered an iconic loss today as iconic character actor Richard Kiel has passed away at the age of 74. The cause of death has not been determined. Kiel is best known for his performance as Jaws in the films THE SPY WHO LOVED ME and MOONRAKER, but he is also recognizable from cameos in movies like HAPPY GILMORE and the Gene Wilder comedy SILVER STREAK.
The 7’2″ Kiel was also a writer and director. Other memorable performances of his include the classic TWILIGHT ZONE episode “To Serve Man”. Kiel was also, along with Arnold Schwarzenegger, one of the first choices to star in the INCREDIBLE HULK television series. Despite a head injury in the 1990s, Kiel continued to act as recently as 2010’s TANGLED to which he lent his voice.
Our thoughts are with his family as we remember a memorable actor from the annals of film history.