Richard Riehle, known for playing Tom Smykowski in “Office Space” and many other character actor roles, died of natural causes Oct. 15 in Los Angeles, Variety has confirmed. He was 78.
Riehle was born in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, on May 12, 1948. He attended the University of Notre Dame before receiving a masters from University of Minnesota. He began acting at the Meadow Brook Theatre in Rochester, Michigan, and was doing regional theatre in the Pacific Northwest when he appeared in the John Wayne film “Rooster Cogburn.”
As Tom in “Office Space,” Riehle played the product manager who was laid off from Initech, survived a hit-and-run accident and landed a massive financial settlement that allowed him to follow his dreams and build his prototype “Jump to Conclusions” mat.
On TV, he portrayed Walt Finnerty on “Grounded for Life.” He had multiple appearances across the “Star Trek” franchise, including the role of Batai in “The Next Generation” episode “The Inner Light.” He also had guest roles in shows like “NCIS,” “The Middle” and “The West Wing.”
Riehle appeared in over 400 films, television shows and other projects. His other roles include the ranch hand Carlson in “Of Mice and Men,” the guard who allowed Harrison Ford to escape custody in “The Fugitive,” Principal Beasely in the Pauly Shore comedy “Jury Duty,” and parts in “Executive Decision,” “Mercury Rising,” “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo,” “Wedding Crashers,” “Bridesmaids” and many more. Across his career and many roles, Riehle has portrayed Santa Claus in eight different projects, including five films, two television shows, and a television movie.
He is survived by his wife, Jane Latham, and their four children.