Actor Richard Riehle dies at 78, known for roles in Office Space and Star Trek

Riehle, a prolific character actor with more than 400 credits, died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Oct. 15, 2026.

By Felo News Desk · Published Mon, 19 Oct 2026 21:26:33 GMT

Richard Riehle, a veteran character actor who appeared in Office Space, several Star Trek series and dozens of films, died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Oct. 15, 2026, Variety confirmed.

What happened

Riehle was 78 at the time of his death. The actor’s passing was reported by Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Rolling Stone, all citing a Los Angeles location and natural causes as the cause of death. His death occurred on Thursday, Oct. 15, and was confirmed by the outlets after receiving statements from his representatives.

What the reports add

Variety noted that Riehle was born in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, on May 12, 1948, and highlighted his education at the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota. The Hollywood Reporter added that he had more than 430 acting credits on IMDb and mentioned his role as the guard who helps Harrison Ford’s character escape in The Fugitive (1993). Rolling Stone reported that the actor’s IMDB page listed over 400 credits and that he had ten upcoming projects at the time of his death.

What was said

The outlets did not include direct quotes from family or colleagues. Variety’s report simply confirmed the death and provided biographical details, while The Hollywood Reporter said it had reached out to Riehle’s representatives for further comment. Rolling Stone described the actor as “prolific” and noted his extensive career across film and television.

How it came about

Riehle began his career in regional theatre, performing at the Meadow Brook Theatre in Michigan and later in the Pacific Northwest before moving into film. His early screen work included a part in the John Wayne film Rooster Cogburn. He gained wider recognition as Tom Smykowski in Office Space (1999), a role that featured a memorable “Jump to Conclusions” mat scene. His recurring appearances in the Star Trek franchise—spanning The Next Generation, Voyager and Enterprise—were highlighted in Felo’s recent coverage of Star Trek‑related events, such as the Galileo shuttle’s new home in upstate New York (Star Trek Galileo shuttle finds permanent home) and the premiere of William Shatner’s documentary (William Shatner debuts ‘The Sixty‑Year Mission’).

Key facts

Richard Riehle died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Oct. 15, 2026. (variety.com)
He was 78 years old at the time of his death. (hollywoodreporter.com)
Riehle appeared in more than 400 film and television credits, including Office Space and multiple Star Trek series. (rollingstone.com)