Richard Riehle

Last updated

Richard Riehle
Richard Riehle 2016.jpg
Riehle in 2016
Born (1948-05-12) May 12, 1948 (age 77)
Education University of Notre Dame (BA)
University of Minnesota (MFA)
OccupationActor
Years active1977–present

Richard Riehle (born May 12, 1948) is an American character actor. He has appeared in over four hundred films, television shows and other projects.

Contents

Life and career

Riehle was born on May 12, 1948, in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, the son of Mary Margaret (née Walsh), a nurse, and Herbert John Riehle (1921–1961), an assistant postmaster. [1] He attended the University of Notre Dame and then went on to complete an MFA at University of Minnesota. [2] Riehle began acting at the Meadow Brook Theatre in Rochester, Michigan and was doing regional theatre in the Pacific Northwest when he got his very first film role in the John Wayne film Rooster Cogburn . [2] Riehle has portrayed the role of 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 acclaimed 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 initially 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).

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1977 Joyride The Bartender
1987 Rachel River Mervyn "Merv"
1989 Black Rain Internal Affairs Detective Crown
Glory Kendric, The Quartermaster
1991 Shadows and Fog Roustabout
Fried Green Tomatoes Reverend Scroggins
1992 Prelude to a Kiss Jerry Blier
The Public Eye Officer O'Brien
Of Mice and Men Carlson
Hero Robinson
1993 Body of Evidence Detective Griffin
Free Willy Wade
The Fugitive Old Guard
A Dangerous Woman John, Drycleaner Owner
1994 Iron Will Burton
Lightning Jack Marcus
Holy Matrimony Greeson
1995 Casino Charlie Clark
Stuart Saves His Family Judge
Jury Duty Principal Beasley
DominionLarry
Killer: A Journal of Murder Warden Quince
Lone Justice 2The Mayor
1996 Executive Decision Air Marshal George Edwards
Too Fast Too YoungSergeant
The Fan Shopkeeper
Driven Leo
Last ResortPhil Billingsley
Ghosts of Mississippi Tommy Mayfield
1997 Trading Favors Highway Patrolman
One Eight Seven Walter
Cold Night Into DawnGerald
One of Our OwnBurt Herchak
A River Made to Drown In Heavyset Man
DilemmaCaptain Ross
1998 Desperate Measures Warden Ed Fayne
Mercury Rising Edgar Halstrom
The Odd Couple II The Sheriff
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Dune Buggy DriverCameo
Lethal Weapon 4 Coast Guard Officer
The Lesser Evil Detective Smitts
Judas Kiss Security Guard
Richie Rich's Christmas Wish Sergeant Mooney
Mighty Joe Young Commander Gorman
1999The ArrangementDetective Bert Hershak
Kill the Man Mr. Ellias
Office Space Tom Smykowski
Blink of an EyeMain Prison Guard
Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo Bob Bigalow
2001 The Fluffer Sam Martins
Say It Isn't So Sheriff Merle Hobbs
Crash Point Zero  [ fr ]Alan Douglas
Joe Dirt Car Dealer
Bandits Lawrence Fife
The Socratic MethodProfessor Myers
The GristleStarnes
2002 Ken Park "Murph" Murphy
Time Changer Dr. Wiseman
2003 The Hebrew Hammer Santa Claus
Beethoven's 5th Vaughn Carter
2004Death and TexasPrison Warden
Home on the Range Sheriff Sam BrownVoice
Palindromes Dr. Dan
Mysterious Skin Charlie
2005 Neo Ned Officer Pendleton
The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green Hat Sister
Wedding Crashers Funeral GuestUncredited
The 12 Dogs of ChristmasMayor Nobel Doyle
2006 The Lost Bill Richmond
Intellectual Property Detective Rees
Hot Tamale Sheriff Pinkham
Hatchet Jim Permatteo
The Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell The Narrator, Paranormal Historian
Down the P.C.H.Ricky
National Lampoon's Dorm Daze 2 Captain Bunkley
Little Big Top Bob
The DarkroomEmilio
Price to PayHooper
Midnight ClearTommy
Fierce FriendPhone Tech
Domestic Import Sam, The Mailman
2007 Smiley Face Mr. Spencer
The Memory Thief Judaica Store Clerk
Choose ConnorGrant Miller
The Man from Earth Dr. Will Gruber
Spinning into Butter Paul Meyers
My Father John Parker
A Plumm Summer Art Bublin
Wasting Away Colonel South
Resurrection MaryDetective Mahoney
Big Stan Judge
Desperate EscapeCroaker Norge
2008 The Last Word Man At Gorge
Red Sam Berry
Hindsight Peter
The Temerity of ZimMr. BrownShort film
Green Flash Herb
Your Name Here Literary Agent Lipschitz
Audie & the Wolf Michael Ludlow
Bait ShopGus
Necessary Evil Captain Parsons
2009Stellina BlueDr. Helfenstein
Nowhere to HideToley
Messengers 2: The Scarecrow Jude Weatherby
Project SolitudeFrederick Sterling
Halloween II Buddy, The Night Watchman
Play Dead Truck Driver
The Last Lovecraft: Relic of Cthulhu Mr. Snodgrass
2010 Growth Larkin Holberman
5 Star DayJim, The Plumber
Spork Clyde
BoyBand Principal Collins
Miss Nobody Leonard Ormsby
Screwball: The Ted Whitfield StoryJoe Francia, The Umpire
1,001 Ways to Enjoy the Missionary PositionCharlie
The Search for Santa Paws Santa Claus
Lights OutHarold
Killer by Nature Warden Upton
Darnell Dawkins: Mouth Guitar LegendHal "Howlin' Hal" Halsby
2011The Back-up BrideSonny Spur
Bridesmaids Bill Cozbi
Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer The Ringmaster
Chillerama Cecil KaufmanSegment: "Zom-B-Movie"
A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas Santa Claus
Black VelvetThe Sheriff
Finding HopeSheriff AveryShort film
2012 Treasure Buddies Thomas Howard
Extracted Father Riley
WaterwalkJim T.
FDR: American Badass! Senator Bronson
Last Call Harold
Bad Ass Father Miller
The WatermenBelvin Lee Smith
3 Days of Normal Chief Dale Nickens
Stitch in TimeNorman Stitch
Dead Man's Burden Hank "Three Penny Hank"
BearCity 2: The Proposal Gabe
Breathless Deputy Cole
2013 Texas Chainsaw 3D Farnsworth
Blue Dream Ted Sellers
Lonely BoyMr. Fitz
Girl Meets BoyRaymond
LionheadBronowitz, The Lawyer
The Secret Village [3] Paul
Coffee, Kill Boss Vincent Brutsi
Mischief Night The Trucker
Friend RequestFrank
Munchausen The DoctorShort film
2014 The Scribbler Officer O'Reilly
There's Always Woodstock Mr. Harmon
Gone Doggy GoneStan Janson
In Your Eyes Mr. Padgham
Lovesick The Father
Friended to DeathDan
The Cabining "Sarge"
Transformers: Age of Extinction The Landlord
One Week VacationKevin WintersShort film
The Turtle's HeadDetective Bing ShoosterShort film
The Three DogateersSanta
Pilot ErrorRoy Grimm
2015 Amnesiac The Postman
Primrose LaneOfficer Braggs
Roommate WantedDr. Hoffman
Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant The Bartender
Contracted: Phase II "Deuce" Gelman
Daddy Al Rubin
Sex, Death and Bowling Father Joe
Helen Keller vs. NightwolvesSheriff Ryan
DementiaSam
Jimmy's JungleGrandpa Bell
2016 Pee-wee's Big Holiday Dan
Fear, Inc. Bill
Medal of VictoryTed Crump
Citrus SpringsGeorge
Last Man ClubGrady
HeelsCalvin Lackey
SchlepUncle Bill
2017 Miyubi GrandfatherShort film
Swing StateTom Fleischman
Breaking LegsPrincipal Bater
Nowhere, MichiganMartin
Pitching Tents Grandpa
20 Weeks Keenan
You Have a Nice FlightBob
The Meanest Man in TexasMr. Kilpatrick
AquariansFather Rob
Golden VanityThe Radio Announcer
Delight in the MountainJudge George Hinton
2018 Bad Apples Principal Dale
For the HitsGrandpa George
Bullitt County The Mister
Hyde Park Clarence Potts
Fishbowl California Glen
PawParazziBobby
West of Hell Mr. Braxton
Living Room CoffinNate
The Invisible MotherArchie
Randy's CanvasProfessor Hausdorff
The AcornMr. IvesShort film
Puppy Star Christmas Santa Claus
2019LimboPhil
Chase Turley
15 Minutes at 400 DegreesJohnShort film
3 from Hell Sheriff Wolfe
The Incredible EnzoThe MagicianShort film
What's Buried in the BackyardAllen Palms
Made ViciousLawyer Justice
2021 Destination Marfa "Skeeter"DVD, Amazon, and VUDU

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1978 The Other Side of Hell Tattooed ManTelevision film
1989 My Two Dads Ed Steinbauer Jr.Episode: "Say Goodnight, Gracie"
Dragnet Oliver BradyEpisode: "Nouveau Gypsies"
Falcon Crest George BeekerEpisode: "Payback"
Cross of Fire DuvallTelevision film
Cast the First StoneDicksonTelevision film
1989, 1990 Quantum Leap Clifford Vargas, Lieutenant Lannon2 episodes
1989, 1992 Murder, She Wrote Sergeant Devon O'Malley, Aaron2 episodes
1989–1993 L.A. Law Roger Beekman, Edmund Clancy3 episodes
1990 Nasty Boys GardnerEpisode: "The Good, the Bad, and the Nasty"
His & Hers Mr. MuellerEpisode: "Dueling Therapists"
People Like UsAnthony FelicianoTelevision film
Broken Badges Unknown CharacterEpisode: "Pilot"
1990–1991 Ferris Bueller Principal Ed Rooney13 episodes
1991 Father Dowling Mysteries L.A. Detective MillerEpisode: "The Malibu Mystery"
The Golden Girls Detective ParresEpisode: "Never Yell Fire in a Crowded Retirement Home: Part 1"
Keeper of the City Captain WalderTelevision film
1992 Civil Wars Richard SturdevantEpisode: "Whippet 'Til It Breaks"
Roseanne Mr. EvansEpisode: "Lies"
Star Trek: The Next Generation BataiEpisode: "The Inner Light"
On the Air Dr. Winky2 episodes
1993For Their Own GoodDave ButlerTelevision film
Shaky Ground Henry McCallisterEpisode: "Love Thy Neighbor]"
Sirens Irving ChattleEpisode: "Keeping the Peace"
Ned Blessing: The True Story of My Life Judge Longley4 episodes
Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer KissMort AberdineTelevision film
1994Shadow of ObsessionApplegateTelevision film
Gambler V: Playing for Keeps Frank DiMaioTelevision film
1995 Get Smart Mr. WintersEpisode: "Pilot"
Trial by FireFred CobbTelevision film
Too Something Unknown CharacterEpisode: "The Candidate"
1996 The Client Sergeant Phil RuckerEpisode: "Motherless Child"
TerminalSecurity ChiefTelevision film
Murder One Pat FergusonEpisode: "Chapter Twenty-Three"
Kirk Dr. Arthur Bacanovic2 episodes
The Single Guy Mr. Van WagnerEpisode: "Best Man"
1996, 1999 Diagnosis: Murder Deputy Sheriff Harmon Tolliver, Dustin Woods2 episodes
1997 Men Behaving Badly StrangerEpisode: "The Odds Couple"
High Incident RoyEpisode: "Knock, Knock"
Perversions of Science GornEpisode: "People's Choice"
Ally McBeal Jack Billings2 episodes
The Visitor Principal ShinagelEpisode: "Fear of Flying"
The Practice Mr. HoltEpisode: "Sex, Lies, and Monkeys"
Murder, She Wrote: South by SouthwestJack OgdenTelevision film
1998 Brooklyn South Donald JarmanEpisode: "Tears on My Willow"
The Pretender Graham HawkesEpisode: "Indy Show"
The Pentagon Wars General ViceTelevision film
Buffy the Vampire Slayer MerrickEpisode: "Becoming: Part 1"
When the Bough Breaks II: Perfect PreyDetective BevlanTelevision film
The Ransom of Red Chief The Narrator, Sheriff "T-Bone" YankumTelevision film
Mr. Murder John WexelTelevision film
Chicago Hope Milo SchwarzEpisode: "Sarindipity"
Maggie The FrogVoice, episode: "The Greatest Story Ever Toad"
Home Improvement Detective RobertsEpisode: "Bewitched"
Route 9Agent WallaceTelevision film
1998–2001 Columbo Sergeant Degarmo2 episodes
1999 Hard Time: The Premonition Captain WatersTelevision film
Au Pair Sam MorganTelevision film
Hard Time: Hostage Hotel Captain WatersTelevision film
2000 Star Trek: Voyager Seamus Driscol2 episodes
City of Angels Dr. WhitneyEpisode: "Ax and You Shall Receive"
Providence Simon, InspectorEpisode: "The Storm"
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch JedediahEpisode: "The Wild, Wild Witch"
Any Day Now Unknown CharacterEpisode: "Nothing Personal"
2001 The West Wing Officer Jack Sloan2 episodes
2001–2005 Grounded for Life Walt Finnerty45 episodes
2002 The Laramie Project Henderson Trial JudgeTelevision film
ER Mandrake PatientEpisode: "A Hopeless Wound"
Another Pretty FaceHilton MarchTelevision film
2003 Fillmore! Leo GrantVoice, episode: "Masterstroke of Malevolence"
Tremors Helmut KrauseEpisode: "The Key"
Monster MakersDetective BrennanTelevision film
2003–2004 Married to the Kellys Uncle Dave10 episodes
2004MNTSB: The Crash of Flight 323Ernie WilsonTelevision film
Star Trek: Enterprise Dr. Jeremy Lucas2 episodes
2005 Detective Father UxbridgeTelevision film
Boston Legal Dr. Barry GloubermanEpisode: "The Ass Fat Jungle"
2006 George Lopez Eddie CarterEpisode: "It's a Cliffhanger, by George"
All of Us Sergeant NelsonEpisode: "Police... Open Up"
2007 7th Heaven Crossroads MayorEpisode: "Inked"
American Body Shop Bishop Thomas K. O'BanyonEpisode: "The Bishop and the Pawn"
The Young and the Restless Warden McQueen10 episodes
2008Our First ChristmasSantaTelevision film
2008–2011 Poor Paul Grandpa Paul, Big Chief Malcolm Roaring Boar10 episodes
2009 Psych Army JohnsonEpisode: "Earth, Wind and... Wait for It"
Better Off Ted BobEpisode: "Get Happy"
2010 Funny or Die Presents Jerry, The MayorEpisode: "Episode Five"
2010, 2011 Nick Swardson's Pretend Time Ellen's Grandfather, The Mayor2 episodes
2011 Kickin' It Mr. CoburnEpisode: "The Great Escape"
2012Lake EffectsChairman McCarrenTelevision film
The Client List Jim RichardsonEpisode: "Games People Play"
Men at Work GusEpisode: "Wake and Bake"
The League Santa ClausEpisode: "A Krampus Carol"
2013 The Mindy Project George MenkenEpisode: "Mindy's Brother"
Modern Family NormanEpisode: "The Future Dunphys"
Mob City Sergeant KuzykEpisode: "Red Light"
2013–2014 The Legend of Korra Bumi, Additional VoicesVoice, 17 episodes
2013, 2018 Drunk History James Roche, Ralph Himmelsbach2 episodes
2014 Maron David Anthony Sr.Episode: "The Mom Situation"
Comedy Bang! Bang! Umpire Bill KesselEpisode: "Nick Offerman Wears a Green Flannel Shirt & Brown Boots"
Mystery Girls WaltEpisode: "Haunted House Party"
Mom JohnEpisode: "Chicken Nuggets and a Triple Homicide"
Two and a Half Men SantaEpisode: "Family, Bublé, Deep-Fried Turkey"
2015 Black-ish SolomonEpisode: "Big Night, Big Fight"
The Soul Man LarryEpisode: "Tell It Like It Isn't"
Axe Cop Science Corp Scientist, Secret President Larry, Tutukaka MaleVoice, 2 episodes
2015–2017 NCIS Walt Osorio2 episodes
2016 Major Crimes Mr. LutzEpisode: "Skin Deep"
The Real O'Neals Father BernardEpisode: "The Real Move"
2016–2018 The Middle Sheriff DuganEpisode: "Roadkill"
2017Love at First GlanceWally MooreTelevision film
Real Rob KyleEpisode: "Priorities"
Superior Donuts MurrayEpisode: "Flour Power"
Mr. Student Body PresidentPrincipalEpisode: "Last Year"
In the RoughDuke "Chopper" McNeil7 episodes
2018 Another Period CongressmanEpisode: "Congress"
Corporate HubertEpisode: "Society Tomorrow"
A Very Nutty ChristmasDosselmeyerTelevision film
2019 Now Apocalypse NeilEpisode: "The Downward Spiral"
American Housewife GeraldEpisode: "Field Trippin'"
2020 Fuller House Uncle MontyEpisode: "Family Business"
2023 Barry The Warden2 episodes

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996 Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom Chief Technician Robert "Pliers" Sykes

References

  1. Richard Riehle Biography (1948–)
  2. 1 2 "Richard Riehle on his long career and short mustache, including the few times he shaved it off". Film. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  3. Smith, Jenn (October 20, 2013). "'Secret Village' coming soon to Little Cinema at Berkshire Museum". The Berkshire Eagle . Retrieved May 13, 2014.