Richard Kiel Wikipedia Summary and Early Career
Richard Kiel Wikipedia entries describe him as an American actor best known for playing Jaws in James Bond films The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker. His Wikipedia biography lists his height as 7 feet 2 inches, a physical trait that defined many of his roles. He began his screen career in the 1960s and appeared in dozens of movies and television shows over five decades. His Wikipedia page highlights early television guest spots on series such as The Wild Wild West and The Greatest American Hero.
Kiel also appeared in several major studio films, including Happy Gilmore and The Longest Yard. His Wikipedia filmography notes roles in fantasy, action, and comedy genres, showing his range beyond the Bond villain typecast. He worked with production companies such as Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, and Universal Pictures. His Wikipedia entry lists him as a member of the Screen Actors Guild and notes his collaborations with directors like Peter Sellers and Adam Sandler.
Net Worth, Earnings, and Financial Profile
Richard Kiel Wikipedia sources estimate his net worth at around 10 million dollars at the time of his death, accumulated through decades of acting work. His Wikipedia page notes that his highest-profile roles, especially Jaws, generated significant residual income from television and film syndication. He also earned income from personal appearances and autograph signings, which are documented on his Wikipedia biography. His financial profile is often compared to other character actors of similar stature in the industry.
His Wikipedia entry does not list specific salary figures for individual films, but industry data suggests that major Hollywood roles in the 1970s and 1980s paid character actors between 50,000 and 200,000 dollars per project. Kiel's Wikipedia page mentions his work in independent films and low-budget productions later in his career. He also participated in voiceover roles for animated series and video games, which are cited on his Wikipedia filmography. Public records and Wikipedia data confirm he held assets in real estate and personal investments.
Personal Life, Physical Attributes, and Legacy
Richard Kiel Wikipedia entries confirm his birth name as Richard Dawson Kiel and list his birthplace as Detroit, Michigan. His Wikipedia biography states he was born on September 13, 1939, and passed away on September 10, 2014. His height of 7 feet 2 inches is consistently cited across Wikipedia and other biographical sources. He was married to Diane Rogers for over 40 years, and the couple had four children, as noted on his Wikipedia page.
Kiel's Wikipedia legacy section highlights his influence on pop culture, especially the iconic Jaws character in the Bond franchise. His Wikipedia page notes that his physical appearance led to roles in films such as Inspector Gadget and Tangled, where he provided voice work. He was also a subject of documentaries and retrospectives on character actors in Hollywood. His Wikipedia entry links to his official IMDb profile and other verified sources for further reading, including a detailed biography on Forbes and film data on IMDb.