RIP Richard 'Jaws' Kiel

[OJsDad]

http://variety.com/2014/film/news/james-bond-villain-richard-kiel-dies-at-74-1201303251/

Richard Kiel, who most famously played Jaws in two James Bond films starring Roger Moore, "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "Moonraker," and also appeared in Adam Sandler comedy "Happy Gilmore," died Wednesday afternoon in a hospital in Fresno, Calif., three days shy of his 75th birthday.

TMZ first reported the news.

The actor had broken his leg earlier in the week, but it is not clear whether that contributed to his death.

Kiel had lent his voice to a James Bond videogame in 2003 but more recently had voiced Vlad for the animated film "Tangled" in 2010.

Kiel's villainous Jaws was so popular with movie audiences who saw "The Spy Who Loved Me" that the character was made sympathetic in follow-up  "Moonraker."

Before his appearances in the Bond film in the mid to late '70s, Kiel was perhaps best known for his roles in Burt Reynolds prison football film "The Longest Yard" and for appearing in several episodes of "The Wild Wild West" as an assistant to super-villain Miguelito Loveless (the diminutive Michael Dunn).

Younger audiences knew him best from "Happy Gilmore," in which he played a golf spectator who threatens the villainous Shooter McGavin

Kiel stood 7 feet 1.5 inches tall in his prime. His height and distinctive features were the result of acromegaly, a hormonal condition.

In 1962 the actor played the title role in "Eegah," beloved by fans of extraordinarily bad movies.

The same year Kiel starred "To Serve Man," a classic episode of "Twilight Zone" in which he played Kanamit. A few years later he appeared on "The Monkees."

In the 1970s he continued to appear on television. He was a series regular on the William Shatner-Doug McClure series "Barbary Coast," and he was an evil Native American shapeshifter who terrorizes Darren McGavin's character in "The Night Stalker."

The actor's autobiography, "Making It Big in the Movies," was published in 2002.

[mirth]

RIP Jaws.

[mirth]

https://www.yahoo.com/movies/roger-moore-remembers-his-james-bond-costar-richard-97233814202.html

[Centurion40]

RIP.

Saw him signing autographs and posing for photos in Vegas.  The man was huge.

[bayonetbrant]

Too bad he was associated with one of the all-time worst Bond flicks (Moonraker); he would've been a much more impressive / scary dude with some better scripts.

[mirth]

He's also associated with one of the best Bond films, The Spy Who Loved Me. Certainly it's the best of the Roger Moore Bond movies and it's one of my favorites overall.

For the record, although it's not an official Bond film Never Say Never Again is the worst.

[bayonetbrant]

My favorite Roger Moore flick was For Your Eyes Only.  The Spy Who Loved Me was good, but seemed like they were trying to re-create You Only Live Twice, but underwater instead of in space.  TMMV :)

[Sir Slash]

I had forgotten he was on the old Wild Wild West show. Long time back when Slash was just a little cut.

[Martok]

I remember him in Happy Gilmore as well.  RIP Mr. Kiel. 

[BanzaiCat]

RIP. Man, Jaws was fearsome back when I was a kid.

My favorite was You Only Live Twice.

Kinda liked Moonraker, but even as a kid it was cheesy as hell. They were reaching villain-wise there.

I liked On Her Majesty's Secret Service, too.