Richard Riehle (born May 12, 1948) is an American character actor. He has appeared in over 400 films, television shows and other projects.
Life and career Riehle was born on May 12, 1948, in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.Richard Riehle Biography (1948–) He attended the University of Notre Dame and then completed an MFA at University of Minnesota. Riehle began acting at the Meadow Brook Theatre in Rochester, Michigan and was doing regional theatre in the Pacific Northwest when he appeared in the John Wayne film Rooster Cogburn. Riehle has portrayed 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 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 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 Year Title Role Notes 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 Dominion Larry Killer: A Journal of Murder Warden Quince Lone Justice 2 The Mayor 1996 Executive Decision Air Marshal George Edwards Too Fast Too Young Sergeant The Fan Shopkeeper Driven Leo Last Resort Phil Billingsley Ghosts of Mississippi Tommy Mayfield 1997 Trading Favors Highway Patrolman One Eight Seven Walter Cold Night Into Dawn Gerald One of Our Own Burt Herchak A River Made to Drown In Heavyset Man Dilemma Captain 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 Driver Cameo 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 1999 The Arrangement Detective Bert Hershak Kill the Man Mr. Ellias Office Space Tom Smykowski Blink of an Eye Main Prison Guard Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo Bob Bigalow 2001 The Fluffer Sam Martins Say It Isn't So Sheriff Merle Hobbs Alan Douglas Joe Dirt Car Dealer Bandits Lawrence Fife The Socratic Method Professor Myers The Gristle Starnes 2002 Ken Park "Murph" Murphy Time Changer Dr. Wiseman 2003 The Hebrew Hammer Santa Claus Beethoven's 5th Vaughn Carter 2004 Death and Texas Prison Warden Home on the Range Sheriff Sam Brown Voice Palindromes Dr. Dan Mysterious Skin Charlie 2005 Neo Ned Officer Pendleton The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green Hat Sister Wedding Crashers Funeral Guest Uncredited The 12 Dogs of Christmas Mayor 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 Darkroom Emilio Price to Pay Hooper Midnight Clear Tommy Fierce Friend Phone Tech Domestic Import Sam, The Mailman 2007 Smiley Face Mr. Spencer The Memory Thief Judaica Store Clerk Choose Connor Grant 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 Mary Detective Mahoney Big Stan Judge Desperate Escape Croaker Norge 2008 The Last Word Man At Gorge Red Sam Berry Hindsight Peter The Temerity of Zim Mr. Brown Short film Green Flash Herb Your Name Here Literary Agent Lipschitz Audie & the Wolf Michael Ludlow Bait Shop Gus Necessary Evil Captain Parsons 2009 Stellina Blue Dr. Helfenstein Nowhere to Hide Toley Messengers 2: The Scarecrow Jude Weatherby Project Solitude Frederick 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 Day Jim, The Plumber Spork Clyde BoyBand Principal Collins Miss Nobody Leonard Ormsby Screwball: The Ted Whitfield Story Joe Francia, The Umpire 1,001 Ways to Enjoy the Missionary Position Charlie The Search for Santa Paws Santa Claus Lights Out Harold Killer by Nature Warden Upton Darnell Dawkins: Mouth Guitar Legend Hal "Howlin' Hal" Halsby 2011 The Back-up Bride Sonny Spur Bridesmaids Bill Cozbi Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer The Ringmaster Chillerama Cecil Kaufman Segment: "Zom-B-Movie" A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas Santa Claus Black Velvet The Sheriff Finding Hope Sheriff Avery Short film 2012 Treasure Buddies Thomas Howard Extracted Father Riley Waterwalk Jim T. FDR: American Badass! Senator Bronson Last Call Harold Bad Ass Father Miller The Watermen Belvin Lee Smith 3 Days of Normal Chief Dale Nickens Stitch in Time Norman 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 Boy Mr. Fitz Girl Meets Boy Raymond Lionhead Bronowitz, The Lawyer The Secret Village Paul Coffee, Kill Boss Vincent Brutsi Mischief Night The Trucker Friend Request Frank Munchausen The Doctor Short film 2014 The Scribbler Officer O'Reilly There's Always Woodstock Mr. Harmon Gone Doggy Gone Stan Janson In Your Eyes Mr. Padgham Lovesick The Father Friended to Death Dan The Cabining "Sarge" Transformers: Age of Extinction The Landlord One Week Vacation Kevin Winters Short film The Turtle's Head Detective Bing Shooster Short film The Three Dogateers Santa Pilot Error Roy Grimm 2015 Amnesiac The Postman Primrose Lane Officer Braggs Roommate Wanted Dr. 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. Nightwolves Sheriff Ryan Dementia Sam Jimmy's Jungle Grandpa Bell 2016 Pee-wee's Big Holiday Dan Fear, Inc. Bill Medal of Victory Ted Crump Citrus Springs George Last Man Club Grady Heels Calvin Lackey Schlep Uncle Bill 2017 Miyubi Grandfather Short film Swing State Tom Fleischman Breaking Legs Principal Bater Nowhere, Michigan Martin Pitching Tents Grandpa 20 Weeks Keenan You Have a Nice Flight Bob The Meanest Man in Texas Mr. Kilpatrick Aquarians Father Rob Golden Vanity The Radio Announcer Delight in the Mountain Judge George Hinton 2018 Bad Apples Principal Dale For the Hits Grandpa George Bullitt County The Mister Hyde Park Clarence Potts Fishbowl California Glen PawParazzi Bobby West of Hell Mr. Braxton Living Room Coffin Nate The Invisible Mother Archie Randy's Canvas Professor Hausdorff The Acorn Mr. Ives Short film Puppy Star Christmas Santa Claus 2019 Limbo Phil Chase Turley 15 Minutes at 400 Degrees John Short film 3 from Hell Sheriff Wolfe The Incredible Enzo The Magician Short film What's Buried in the Backyard Allen Palms Made Vicious Lawyer Justice 2021 Destination Marfa "Skeeter" DVD, Amazon, and VUDU
Television