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Richard Dawson Kiel (September 13, 1939 – September 10, 2014) was an American actor. Standing tall and often referred to as "the Gentle Giant", he was known for portraying Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979). Kiel's next-most-recognized role is the tough but eloquent Mr. Larson in Happy Gilmore (1996). Other notable films include The Longest Yard (1974), Silver Streak (1976), Force 10 from Navarone (1978), Cannonball Run II (1984), Pale Rider (1985) and Tangled (2010). On television, he portrayed the giant alien in the highly regarded 1962 Twilight Zone episode, "To Serve Man".
Due to his size, Kiel was often cast in villainous roles. He appeared as Voltaire, the towering mute-but-lethal assistant to Dr. Miguelito Loveless 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 guard in Vulcan's plant and portrayed Merry in "The Hong Kong Shilling Affair". In 1967, he played a monster in The Monkees episode "I Was a Teenage Monster".
He later appeared in an episode of The Wild Wild West, titled "The Night of the Simian Terror", as Dimas, the outcast son of a wealthy family, banished because of birth defects that distorted his body and apparently affected his mind. The episode first aired February 16, 1968. This episode is significant, because it allowed Kiel the opportunity to really act rather than just look intimidating.
In 1977, Kiel and Arnold Schwarzenegger were both considered for playing the Hulk in the American television series The Incredible Hulk. After Schwarzenegger was turned down due to his height, Kiel started filming the pilot. However, the producers quickly decided they wanted a more muscular Hulk rather than the towering Kiel, so he was dismissed. Kiel later said he did not mind losing the part, because he could only see out of one eye. He reacted badly to the contact lenses he had to wear for the role. He also found the green makeup unpleasant and difficult to remove. His scenes were then reshot with Lou Ferrigno.
Kiel has played a metal-toothed villain in a few films. First, he played Reace in the comedy-thriller film Silver Streak (1976). The James Bond film producers spotted Kiel in Barbary Coast, and thought he was ideal for the role of Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), then the next Bond film, Moonraker (1979). Jaws is one of the few Bond villains to appear in two Bond films. Kiel's scenes were often shot with his mouth closed or briefly showing his dangerous smile; Kiel explained his metal prosthetic mouthpiece was extremely painful to wear and could only be used for a few minutes at a time. The Spy Who Loved Me was the first of three films that Kiel appeared in alongside Barbara Bach in the late 1970s. The other two were Force 10 from Navarone and The Humanoid. Kiel reprised his role of Jaws in the video game , supplying his voice and likeness.
He used his size for comedic effect, as the "best-dressed giant" Mr. Eddie, in So Fine (1981) starring Ryan O'Neal. Kiel had a supporting role in the Western film Pale Rider (1985). Acting as the main antagonist's henchman, he redeems his character's status by saving the hero from a gunshot to the back.
Although earlier roles had offered him little dialogue, his role in Happy Gilmore (1996) was quite the opposite. As Mr. Larson, Happy Gilmore's former employer, Kiel exchanges several one-line joke with both Adam Sandler's Happy and Christopher McDonald's Shooter McGavin. Kiel took a quieter profile after Happy Gilmores release, becoming semi-retired, but he recorded a role for the Disney film Tangled (2010): Vlad, a surprisingly softhearted thug who collects ceramic unicorns.
In 1992, Kiel suffered a severe head injury in a car accident, which affected his balance. Consequently, he had to rely on a cane for support (as seen in his performance in Happy Gilmore). Later in life, Kiel utilized a scooter or wheelchair for mobility.
Kiel was a born-again Christian. His website states his religious conversion helped him to overcome alcoholism.
On September 10, 2014, three days before his 75th birthday, Kiel died at St. Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, California, from heart disease.
Film
Kiel broke into films in the early 1960s with Eegah (1962), which was later featured on Elvira's Movie Macabre and Mystery Science Theater 3000, as were The Phantom Planet (1961) and The Human Duplicators (1965). He also produced, co-wrote and starred in The Giant of Thunder Mountain (1991). He also had a brief non-speaking appearance leaving a gym in the Jerry Lewis movie The Nutty Professor (1963).
Other work
With Pamela Wallace, Kiel co-authored Kentucky Lion (2007), a biography of the abolitionist Cassius Marcellus Clay. (2025). 9780979494819, Morrison, McNae Publishers Group. ISBN 9780979494819 In 2002, Kiel published his autobiography, Making It Big in the Movies.
Personal life and death
Kiel's first marriage was to Faye Daniels in 1960. They divorced in 1973. One year later, he married Diane Rogers. Rogers stated that, despite being , she and her husband "saw eye to eye on so many things." their marriage lasted for 40 years, until his death. They had four children and nine grandchildren.
Filmography
Features
Uncredited Uncredited Uncredited TV short Uncredited Uncredited Uncredited Uncredited TV movie Uncredited Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor Parody of Jaws. Part of "The Minion Recovery Group" Voice (final film role)
Television
Episode: "Bare Knuckles" Episode: "Run of the Hunted"; uncredited Episode: "Well of Doom" Episode: "The Decision" Episode: "To Serve Man" Episode: "The Vulcan Affair"; uncredited Episode: "The Hong Kong Shilling Affair" Episode: "My Hero" Episodes: 1965: "The Night That Terror Stalked the Town", "The Night of the Whirring Death"
1966: "The Night the Wizard Shook the Earth"Episode: "King of the Mountain" Episode: "A Riddler on the Roof" Episode: "Ghost-a-Go-Go" Episode: "I Was a Teenage Monster" Episode: "Ghosts of Paradox" Episode: "A Few Miles West of Nowhere" Episode: "The Night of the Simian Terror" Episode: "The Galloping Skin Game" Episode: "Benvenuto...Who?" Episode: "The Boy Who Stole the Elephant: Part 1 & 2" Episode: "Bad Medicine" Episode: "I'll Fix It" Episode: "The Spanish Moss Murders" Episode: "Death Heist" Episode: "Omaha Tiger" 14 episodes, 1975–1976 Episodes: "Survival Kit", "Flying Dutchman" Episode: "The Mystery of the Haunted House" Episode: "The Game" Pilot; uncredited Five episodes Episode: "That's Right, We're Bad" Episode: "The Skeleton Who Came Out of the Closet" Episode: "Go West, Young Mayor" Episode: "Mr. and Mrs. Superboy" Episode: "Fangs for the Memories"
Video games
Uncredited use of likeness Uncredited use of likeness Archival footage Credited use of likeness Uncredited use of likeness Uncredited use of likeness
See also
Actors and celebrities of remarkable height
External links
Categories: 1939 Births, 2014 Deaths, 20th-century American Male Actors, 20th-century Evangelicals, 21st-century American Male Actors, 21st-century Evangelicals, American Evangelicals, American Male Film Actors, American Male Television Actors, American Male Video Game Actors, American Male Voice Actors, American Male Writers, American People Of German Descent, Baldwin Park High School Alumni, Male Actors From Michigan, Male Actors From Detroit, People With Acromegaly, Writers From Michigan
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