Hollywood has lost one of its most beloved character actors. Richard Riehle, best known as the hapless Tom Smykowski in the cult comedy Office Space, died on October 15 at age 78 of natural causes in Los Angeles, friends of the actor told TMZ. His representatives confirmed the news on October 19, according to Parade and Just Jared.
Born May 12, 1948, in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Riehle amassed more than 400 film and television credits across a career spanning nearly five decades — a résumé that made him one of the most recognizable “that guy” actors in the business.
“A square dude” who stole every scene
Riehle is best remembered as Tom Smykowski, the eccentric product manager in Mike Judge’s 1999 comedy Office Space, who survives a car crash, wins a settlement and launches his own “Jump to Conclusions” mat. His film credits also included Casino, The Fugitive, Bridesmaids, Fried Green Tomatoes, Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo and Transformers: Age of Extinction.
On television, he appeared in The Golden Girls, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The West Wing, ER, Modern Family, NCIS and The Middle, among dozens of others. He also had an extensive theater career, including Broadway productions of Execution of Justice and The Iceman Cometh.
Tributes pour in
“We are deeply saddened to confirm the passing of our beloved client, Richard Riehle,” his representatives said in a joint statement. Actor Donal Logue called him “an amazing human being” and a “consummate professional” in an Instagram tribute, while filmmaker Michael Matteo Rossi remembered him as “one of the nicest, most genuine people I’ve ever met.”
Fans flooded social media with memories of his most iconic roles. He is survived by his wife, Jane Latham, and their four children. His passing comes amid a wave of remembrances this month, including model Sahara Ray, who died at 34.
An unforgettable “that guy”
In an industry obsessed with leading men, Riehle built a career on being unforgettable in every scene he touched. From the “Jump to Conclusions” mat to his dozens of beloved TV turns, he was the rare character actor audiences recognized instantly — and loved just as quickly.
He is survived by his wife, Jane Latham, and their four children. Hollywood’s hardest-working supporting players have lost one of their finest.
