Richard Riehle

Actor

American Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, USA Taurus

Quick Info

ProfessionActor
NationalityAmerican
Date of Birth12/05/1948
Age78 years (died on 15, Oct, 2026)
BirthplaceMenomonee Falls, Wisconsin, USA
Date of Death15/10/2026
Zodiac SignTaurus

Latest News about Richard Riehle

19/10/2026

Richard Riehle, the character actor best known as Tom Smykowski in Office Space, died in Los Angeles on 15/10/2026, according to reports published by TMZ and others. Friends told TMZ he died of natural causes. He had more than 400 screen credits, including The Fugitive, Casino, Grounded for Life and multiple Star Trek series.

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Bio/Wiki

SummaryRichard Riehle was an American character actor known for supporting roles in film, television, and Broadway and regional theatre. He began acting in regional theatre, made his screen debut in Rooster Cogburn (1975), and gained wider Hollywood work after Glory (1989). He is known for Walt Finnerty in Grounded for Life and for multiple Star Trek appearances. He died in Los Angeles in October 2026, reportedly of natural causes.

Educational Qualification(s)

UndergraduateUniversity of Notre Dame
PostgraduateMaster of Fine Arts, University of Minnesota

Personal Life

SpouseJane Latham
Marriage Year1970

Family

MotherMary Margaret Riehle (née Walsh)
FatherHerbert John Riehle (1921–1961)
SpouseJane Latham
Children4

Career

DebutRooster Cogburn (1975)
StageMeadow Brook Theatre, Rochester, Michigan; Broadway from 1985 with Execution of Justice; Classic Stage Company and Public Theatre in New York
Notable Film Roles
  • Black Rain (1989)
  • Glory (1989)
  • Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
  • Office Space (1999)
  • Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999)
  • Mercury Rising (1998)
Notable Television Roles
  • Principal Ed Rooney in Ferris Bueller (1990-91)
  • Walt Finnerty in Grounded for Life (2001-2005)
  • Batai in Star Trek: The Next Generation, 'The Inner Light'
  • Seamus in Star Trek: Voyager
  • Jeremy Lucas in Star Trek: Enterprise
Voice WorkSheriff Sam Brown in Home on the Range (2004)

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. His screen debut was a bit part in the John Wayne Western Rooster Cogburn (1975).
2. He has played Santa Claus in eight different projects.
3. He spent more than a decade away from screen work to focus on Broadway and regional theatre.
4. He appeared in Disney productions including Iron Will and Mighty Joe Young.
5. He appeared on Broadway in The Iceman Cometh and Babes in Arms.

Also born on 12 May

Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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