Richard Riehle, the veteran character actor whose credits included Office Space, Bridesmaids, The Fugitive and Casino, died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Oct. 15, multiple news outlets reported today. He was 78.
With more than 400 acting credits listed on IMDb, Riehle built a career spanning film, television and theater without becoming a conventional leading man. His longevity offers entrepreneurs a lesson in persistence, adaptability and the value of consistently delivering results.
Success, after all, is not always about being the most visible person in an industry. It is about becoming good at what you do, earning trust and making yourself valuable to the people who depend on you.
Consistency builds a career
Born in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, in 1948, Riehle studied at the University of Notre Dame before earning a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. He developed his craft in regional theater before moving into film and television, appearing in the 1975 western Rooster Cogburn, starring John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn.
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His subsequent endless list of credits included Glory, Fried Green Tomatoes, The West Wing, ER, Murder, She Wrote, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Grounded for Life, NCIS and Modern Family.
Rather than relying on one breakthrough performance, Riehle continued working across genres, formats and generations of filmmakers. His career demonstrates how a succession of opportunities can add up to something substantial.
Entrepreneurs face a similar challenge. Markets change, technologies evolve and business models become outdated. A company that depends on one successful product or a single major customer can find itself vulnerable when circumstances shift.