Prolific Actor Richard Riehle Dies at 78

Renowned actor Richard Riehle, best known for playing Tom Smykowski in the 1999 comedy Office Space, has passed away in Los Angeles at the age of 78. Sources from TMZ confirmed that his death on Thursday was due to natural causes. Riehle, a Wisconsin native, had a prolific career, appearing in over 400 film and television projects.

Riehle’s film contributions included roles in Casino, Free Willy, and The Fugitive, as listed on IMDb. On television, audiences enjoyed his performances in shows such as Fuller House, The West Wing, and Grounded for Life. His theatrical ventures spanned Broadway productions like The Man Who Had All the Luck, The Iceman Cometh, and Execution of Justice.

Riehle was seen at the premiere of New Line Cinema’s A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on November 2, 2011, in Hollywood. The photo, taken by Jason Merritt/Getty Images, captures Riehle’s vibrant presence.

I bring the best I can to the audition, and if that’s what they want, and if all the other stars are in alignment, I’ll get it

In a 2019 interview on The Working Actor’s Journey blog, Riehle shared his philosophy on handling rejection in the industry. He emphasized bringing his best to auditions and moving on if the role wasn’t right.

Among his notable roles, Riehle’s portrayal in Office Space stands out. As a project manager, his character dreamt up the absurd “Jump to Conclusions” mat. This idea, widely considered terrible by his fictional colleagues, was a humorous high point of the film. His memorable line, I am good at dealing with people!, showcased his character’s social struggles.

Riehle’s final listed work on IMDb was in The Cowboy Killer alongside Ed Begley Jr. and Robert Carradine. Sadly, Carradine passed away in February. This film was released in July, marking his last recorded performance.