Richard Riehle (May 12, 1948 – October 15, 2026) was an American character actor. He appeared in over 400 films, television shows and other projects.
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Life and career
Riehle was born in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, on May 12, 1948. He attended the University of Notre Dame and then completed an MFA at University of Minnesota. Riehle 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. Riehle has portrayed Santa Claus in eight different projects, including five films, two television shows, and a television movie.
On television, he portrayed Walt Finnerty on Grounded for Life (2001–2005). He has also 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.
In film, Riehle played Tom Smykowski, the self-described "people person" who serves as an intermediary between the engineers and customers at the software company Initech in Office Space. His other roles include the ranch hand Carlson in Of Mice and Men (1992), the guard who allowed Harrison Ford to escape custody in The Fugitive (1993), Principal Beasely in the Pauly Shore comedy Jury Duty (1995), Executive Decision (1996), Mercury Rising (1998), Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999), and Wedding Crashers (2005).
Riehle died in Los Angeles on October 15, 2026, at the age of 78.
