Standing 7 feet 1.5 inches tall, Richard Kiel built a cinematic career defined by his imposing physical stature. Throughout a career spanning five decades, he transitioned from niche monster portrayals to mainstream recognition as the steel-toothed Jaws in two James Bond features. His work bridged the gap between early television genre productions and successful big-budget film comedies.
Early Career and Television Roles
Born in Detroit in 1939, Kiel moved to the Los Angeles area as a child, eventually graduating from Baldwin Park High School. His early career included work as a nightclub bouncer and a mathematics instructor. During the 1960s, he became a familiar face on television, appearing in series such as The Monkees, Emergency!, and The Fall Guy. One of his most recognizable early roles was as a Kanamit alien in the 1962 Twilight Zone episode To Serve Man. He also gained notoriety for playing various villainous henchmen in multiple episodes of The Wild Wild West.
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Kiel’s transition to film began with the 1962 feature Eegah. He often gravitated toward horror and science fiction, appearing in low-budget productions like The Phantom Planet and The Human Duplicators. His international prominence rose significantly after producers cast him as Jaws, the silent, lethal antagonist in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979). The physical nature of the Jaws character proved arduous, as the metal prosthetic used to create the iconic smile caused him significant pain.
Comedy and Later Projects
By the 1980s and 1990s, Kiel shifted toward comedic roles that played upon his immense size. He appeared as Mr. Larson in the 1996 film Happy Gilmore, where he provided comedic support alongside Adam Sandler. Beyond acting, he exercised creative control by producing and co-writing the 1991 film The Giant of Thunder Mountain. His final film credit was a voice role in the 2010 Disney project Tangled. He also published his autobiography, Making It Big in the Movies, in 2002.
Personal Life and Religious Conversion
Kiel’s life outside the studio included two marriages; he wed Faye Daniels in 1960 before divorcing in 1973, and later married Diane Rogers in 1974. A born-again Christian, he credited his religious faith for assisting him in his recovery from alcoholism. Following a prolonged career in the United States film industry, Kiel passed away in Fresno in 2014 at the age of 74 due to heart disease. He is interred at Belmont Memorial Park.
Fast facts
- Born: 1939, Detroit
- Died: 2014, Fresno
- Height: 7 feet 1.5 inches
- Education: Baldwin Park High School
- Autobiography: Making It Big in the Movies (2002)
- Religion: Christianity
- Burial site: Belmont Memorial Park
Questions readers ask
Was Richard Kiel intended to play the Incredible Hulk?
Yes, Kiel filmed scenes for the pilot episode but was replaced by Lou Ferrigno because producers preferred a more muscular physique.
Did Richard Kiel have other professional roles besides acting?
Yes, he worked as a door-to-door salesman, a nightclub bouncer, and a mathematics teacher at the William B. Ogden Radio Operational School.
Achievements
- Educated at Baldwin Park High School
- Worked as actor, television actor and screenwriter
