Richard Dawson Kiel

Richard Dawson Kiel net worth is $500 Thousand. Also know about Richard Dawson Kiel bio, salary, height, age weight, relationship and more …

Richard Dawson Kiel Wiki Biography

Richard Kiel was born on the 13th September 1939, in Detroit, Michigan USA, and was an actor, comedian, and voice artist, probably best known for his role as Jaws in the James Bond movies such as “The Spy Who Loved Me” (1977) and “Moonraker” (1979). Kiel’s career started in 1960 and ended in 2014 with his passing.

Have you ever wondered how rich Richard Kiel was at the moment of his death? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Kiel’s net worth was as high as $500,000, an amount earned through his successful acting career. In addition to playing in the movies, Kiel also worked in numerous TV series, which improved his wealth.

Richard Kiel grew up in Michigan, and from an early age he suffered from a hormonal condition known as acromegaly, which reflected on his height which grew to 217 cm. Before his acting career, Kiel worked various jobs including as a nightclub bouncer and a cemetery plot salesman.

In 1960, Kiel debuted on television in one episode of “Klondike”, while in 1961 he appeared in “The Phantom Planet” and the TV movie “The Phantom”. In 1962, he played in “Eegah” as a prehistoric caveman, and also in an episode of the cult series “The Twilight Zone”. Kiel continued with roles in such movies as “House of the Damned” (1963), “Lassie’s Great Adventure” (1963), and he also in four episodes of “The Wild Wild West” (1965-1968). In 1974, Kiel had a part in Robert Aldrich’s Oscar-nominated movie called “The Longest Yard” starring Burt Reynolds. In the mid-‘70s, Richard appeared in “Flash and the Firecat” (1975), “Gus” (1976), and in Arthur Hiller’s Oscar-nominated comedy “Silver Streak” (1976) alongside Gene Wilder, Richard Pryor, and Jill Clayburgh. From 1975 to 1976, Kiel played in 14 episodes of the Primetime Emmy Award-nominated series “Barbary Coast” with William Shatner and Doug McClure, all of which increased his net worth.

However, his most notable role came in 1977 when Kiel played the villain named Jaws in Lewis Gilbert’s Oscar-nominated “The Spy Who Loved Me” starring Roger Moore. With a budget of $14 million, the movie grossed over $185 million at the box office, and helped Kiel to increase his net worth significantly. He ended the ‘70s with “Force 10 from Navarone” (1978) starring Harrison Ford, had a lead role in “The Humanoid” (1979), and played Jaws again in “Moonraker” (1979) with Roger Moore, which earned more than $210 million worldwide and received an Oscar nomination.

In the ‘80s, Kiel had a few notable roles including in “Phoenix” (1983), “Cannonball Run II” (1984) with Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, and Frank Sinatra, and in Clint Eastwood’s western “Pale Rider” (1985). Because of his health problems, Kiel’s acting career drastically slowed down, but he still appeared in such movies as “The Giant of Thunder Mountain” (1991) and “Happy Gilmore” (1996) starring Adam Sandler. Most recently, he played in David Kellogg’s “Inspector Gadget” (1999) alongside Matthew Broderick and Rupert Everett, and he filmed “The Engagement Ring”, but the production details are unknown since he died.

Kiel also wrote and published his autobiography entitled “Making It Big in the Movies” in 2002.

Regarding his personal life, Richard Kiel was married to Faye Daniels from 1960 to 1973, and later to Diane Rogers from 1974 until his death. He has four children and nine grandchildren. Kiel was a born-again Christian, and his religion helped him to overcome alcoholism. He injured his head in a car accident in 1992, and from then he had problems with his balance, using a cane for support, and later a scooter and a wheelchair. In September 2014, Richard Kiel died of a heart attack at St. Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, California.

IMDB Wikipedia $500 Thousand 1939 1939-9-13 2014-09-10 7′ 1½” (2.17 m) Actor Adam Sandler American Bennett Kiel Burt Reynolds Christopher Kiel Detroit Diane Rogers Diane Rogers (m. 1974–2014) Dom DeLuise Faye Daniels (m. 1960–1973) Frank Sinatra Gene Wilder Happy Gilmore (1996) Jennifer Kiel Jill Clayburgh Matthew Broderick Michigan Moonraker (1979) producer Richard Dawson Kiel Richard George Kiel Richard Kiel Net Worth Richard Pryor Robert Aldrich Roger Moore Rupert Everett September 13 Tangled (2010) The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) U.S. Virgo Writer

Richard Dawson Kiel Quick Info

Full Name Richard Kiel
Net Worth $500 Thousand
Date Of Birth September 13, 1939
Died 2014-09-10
Place Of Birth Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height 7′ 1½” (2.17 m)
Profession Actor
Nationality American
Spouse Diane Rogers (m. 1974–2014), Faye Daniels (m. 1960–1973)
Children Bennett Kiel, Christopher Kiel, Richard George Kiel, Jennifer Kiel
IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001423/
Movies Moonraker, The Spy Who Loved Me, Happy Gilmore, Tangled, Eegah, Pale Rider, The Longest Yard, Force 10 from Navarone, Inspector Gadget, Cannonball Run II, The Giant of Thunder Mountain, The Human Duplicators, The Phantom Planet, So Fine, The Humanoid, They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way, Aces Go Place…
TV Shows Barbary Coast, Van Dyke and Company

Richard Dawson Kiel Trademarks

  1. Towering height and menacing frame

Richard Dawson Kiel Quotes

  • It is always more fun to play a bad guy than to be yourself as you can create a character unlike your own and be someone you are not for a change.
  • Once a Bond fan, always a Bond fan.
  • I am actually 7 foot and and one-half inches tall. I say Seven two because it’s easier. Unlike some tall skinny guys I am really ‘big’ weighing around 350 pounds.
  • Not only did God deliver me from the bondage of alcoholism, he also blessed my family financially because of my commitment to honor what he had done for me and for not doing what I believed could possibly be destructive to others.
  • To be loved is important as is having a sense of accomplishment but to love is equally important in life especially when it is combined with taking action to do something for someone else to make their life better.

Richard Dawson Kiel Important Facts

  • Died 3 days before his 75th birthday after a fall at home in which he broke his leg. He may have died from the amount of anaesthetic because of his height.
  • Was very good friends with Roger Moore. Between his friendship with Moore and the popularity of Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me(1977), he was asked to come back for Moonraker(1979).
  • Despite often playing big, scary people in his career, he was well-known for being a very kind and friendly man who was friends with many people he worked with.
  • He died three days shy of his 75th birthday.
  • Lived in a custom built house with the floor a few feet below ground level.
  • In Spain, he is known as “Tiburón”.
  • Signed autographs at The Mad Monster Party in Charlotte, NC on March 21-23, 2014. Was also on a Twilight Zone Panel on March 22nd with William Shatner and Anne Serling, Rod Serling’s daughter.
  • Signed autographs and sold books at OmegaCon. [March 2008]
  • Walnut Creek, CA: Attended the Vintage Toys & Memorabilia Show [April 2013]
  • Attended The Scandinavian Sci-Fi, Game & Film Convention in Helsingborg, Sweden [October 2009]
  • Signing autographs at the Sims and Hankow Astronaut Autograph Show in Burbank, California, due to his portrayal of “Ali” in I Dream of Jeannie (1965). Uses a walking stick normally, but at convention he uses a battery powered scooter. [September 2004]
  • Wrote his autobiography “Making It BIG In The Movies. Published by Reynolds & Hearne of London, England. [2002]
  • Attended The Scandinavian Sci-Fi, Game & Film Convention in Stockholm, Sweden. [October 2003]
  • Autograph session at Bally’s Hotel/Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada. [December 2006]
  • Completed Kentucky Lion, The Cassius Marcellus Clay Story, a historical novel which is co-authored by Pamela Wallace who co-wrote the Academy Award winning screenplay for the movie, Witness (1985), with Harrison Ford. [2003]
  • Beaulieu, Hampshire, UK: Selling books and signing autographs at the Motor Museum [May 2013]
  • Attended Wondercon in San Francisco, signing autographs. [February 2009]
  • Signing autographs at a DVD-Trading market in Cologne, Germany. [January 2004]
  • Attended The Scandinavian Sci-Fi, Game & Film Convention in Malmö, Sweden. [May 2000]
  • Working on his third book which is “You can be a supersalesman using Christian principles.” [2003]
  • He was terrified of heights, something not helped by Kiel’s gigantic size. He often shuddered at some of the stunts he had to perform as Jaws, so Martin Grace, Roger Moore’s stunt double, would fill in for him. He did a superb job of capturing Kiel’s movements even though he was a foot shorter, but when watching the films, nobody could tell them apart.
  • Offered the role of Chewbacca, but turned it down in favor of playing Jaws. He preferred Jaws because he felt he could bring more to the role whereas Chewbacca required a full costume. Taking the role also meant working for scale and Kiel had been working for so long that he felt such a low salary was beneath him.
  • Interviewed in Tom Weaver’s books “Eye on Science Fiction” (McFarland & Co., 2003) and “A Sci-Fi Swarm and Horror Horde” (McFarland & Co., 2010).
  • His son “Richard George” appears in the film The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). He is the little boy on the beach pointing to the upcoming car that “James Bond” is driving from the water.
  • Appeared in a National Geographic special produced by David L. Wolper in which he portrayed Big Foot.
  • Owns a film production company in Oakhurst, California.
  • Worked as a bouncer at a Los Angeles nightclub, before being recruited by Arch Hall Sr. for the lead role in Eegah (1962).
  • In 1992 he was in a serious automobile accident that affected his auto-balance, and he now walks using a walking stick or rides a battery-powered scooter around if he has to go very far. In Happy Gilmore (1996) he is never seen walking and almost all of his scenes are from the waist up. There are only two full body scenes and both times he is leaning on something. The first is a post, the second is a man.
  • Once said that people are always confusing him with André the Giant, Fred Gwynne (“Herman Munster” from The Munsters (1964)), or Ted Cassidy (“Lurch” from The Addams Family (1964)), all of whom are deceased.
  • Original choice to play the title character in the television series The Incredible Hulk (1978). After 2 days of filming it was decided that he was not “bulky” enough for the role. He was paid for the two movies of the week and replaced by Lou Ferrigno. He was happy this happened because he only had sight in one eye and the full contact lenses were bothering him.
  • He is best known for playing Jaws, a giant and seemingly unstoppable assassin with steel teeth who battled James Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979).

Richard Dawson Kiel Filmography

Title Year Status Character Role
The Engagement Ring announced Patterson Actor
BloodHounds, Inc 2011 TV Series Giant Actor
Tangled 2010 Vlad (voice) Actor
James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing 2003 Video Game Jaws (voice) Actor
BloodHounds, Inc. #5: Fangs for the Memories 2000 Video Mortimer Actor
Inspector Gadget 1999 Famous Big Guy with Silver Teeth Actor
Happy Gilmore 1996 Mr. Larson Actor
The Giant of Thunder Mountain 1991 Eli Weaver Actor
The Princess and the Dwarf 1989 Actor
Superboy 1989 TV Series Vlkabok Actor
Think Big 1989 Irving Actor
Out of This World 1988 TV Series Norman Actor
Qing bao long hu men 1985 Laszlo Actor
Pale Rider 1985 Club Actor
Cannonball Run II 1984 Arnold, Mitsubishi Driver Actor
Mad Mission 3: Our Man from Bond Street 1984 Big G Actor
Phoenix 1983 Steel Hand Actor
Simon & Simon 1983 TV Series Mark Horton Actor
Hysterical 1983 Captain Howdy Actor
The Fall Guy 1981 TV Series Animal Actor
So Fine 1981 Eddie Actor
Moonraker 1979 Jaws Actor
The Humanoid 1979 Golob Actor
They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way 1978 Duke Actor
Force 10 from Navarone 1978 Drazak Actor
The Incredible Hulk 1977 TV Series The Hulk (one scene only) Actor
Young Dan’l Boone 1977 TV Series Grimm Actor
The Spy Who Loved Me 1977 Jaws Actor
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries 1977 TV Series Manager – ‘Haunted House’ Actor
Silver Streak 1976 Reace Actor
Land of the Lost 1976 TV Series Malak Actor
Gus 1976 Tall Man Actor
Starsky and Hutch 1976 TV Series Iggy Actor
Barbary Coast 1975-1976 TV Series Moose Moran Actor
Switch 1975 TV Series Loach Actor
Flash and the Firecat 1975 Milo Pewett Actor
Kolchak: The Night Stalker 1974 TV Series The Monster / The Diablero Actor
Emergency! 1974 TV Series Carlo Actor
The Longest Yard 1974 Samson (as Dick Kiel) Actor
Deadhead Miles 1973 Big Dick Actor
Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color 1970 TV Series Luke Brown Actor
The Boy Who Stole the Elephant 1970 TV Movie Luke Brown Actor
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever 1970 Blacksmith (uncredited) Actor
Daniel Boone 1969 TV Series Lemouche Actor
It Takes a Thief 1968 TV Series Willy Actor
Skidoo 1968 Beany Actor
Now You See It, Now You Don’t 1968 TV Movie Nori Actor
A Man Called Dagger 1968 Otto Actor
The Wild Wild West 1965-1968 TV Series Voltaire / Dimas Actor
I Spy 1968 TV Series Tiny Actor
The Monroes 1967 TV Series Casmir Actor
The Monkees 1967 TV Series Monster Actor
Lassie 1963-1966 TV Series Chinook Pete / Dinny Actor
The Las Vegas Hillbillys 1966 Moose Actor
Gilligan’s Island 1966 TV Series The Ghost
Russian Agent
Actor
My Mother the Car 1966 TV Series Cracks Actor
Honey West 1966 TV Series Groalgo Actor
I Dream of Jeannie 1965 TV Series Ali Actor
Brainstorm 1965 Asylum Inmate (uncredited) Actor
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. 1964-1965 TV Series Merry / Thug in Vulcan’s Factory Actor
The Human Duplicators 1965 Dr. Kolos Actor
Two on a Guillotine 1965 Photographer at Funeral (uncredited) Actor
The Nasty Rabbit 1964 Ranch foreman (uncredited) Actor
Roustabout 1964 Strongman (uncredited) Actor
30 Minutes at Gunsight 1963 TV Short Actor
Lassie’s Great Adventure 1963 Chinook Pete Actor
The Nutty Professor 1963 Man in Gym (uncredited) Actor
House of the Damned 1963 The Giant Actor
Eegah 1962 Eegah Actor
The Twilight Zone 1962 TV Series Kanamit Actor
The Phantom 1961 TV Movie Big Mike Actor
The Phantom Planet 1961 The Solarite Actor
The Rifleman 1961 TV Series Carl Hazlitt Actor
King of Diamonds 1961 TV Series Doorman Actor
Laramie 1961 TV Series Rake – Tolan’s helper Actor
Thriller 1961 TV Series Master Styx Actor
Klondike 1960 TV Series Duff Brannigan Actor
The D.I. 1957 Ugly Marine (uncredited) Actor
The Giant of Thunder Mountain 1991 screenplay Writer
The Giant of Thunder Mountain 1991 executive producer Producer
The Freddy Jenkins Show 2014 TV Mini-Series short in memory of – 1 episode Thanks
Edición Especial Coleccionista 2014 TV Series in memory of – 1 episode Thanks
Legends 2000 TV Series documentary Himself Self
The Secrets of 007: The James Bond Files 1997 TV Movie documentary Himself / Jaws Self
The World of James Bond 1995 TV Movie documentary Himself Self
Gottschalk Late Night 1993 TV Series Himself Self
30 Years of James Bond 1992 TV Movie documentary Himself Self
Praise the Lord 1986 TV Series Himself Self
Late Night with David Letterman 1985 TV Series Himself Self
The 54th Annual Academy Awards 1982 TV Special documentary Jaws: For Your Eyes Only musical segment Self
The New Battlestars 1981 TV Series Himself Self
The 1980 Sci-Fi Awards 1980 TV Special Himself Self
The Mike Douglas Show 1977-1980 TV Series Himself – Actor / Himself Self
Circus of the Stars #4 1979 TV Special documentary Himself – Performer Self
Am laufenden Band 1979 TV Series Himself Self
The Hollywood Squares 1979 TV Series Guest Appearance Self
Good Morning America 1979 TV Series Himself Self
La nuit des Césars 1979 TV Series documentary Himself Self
The Making of James Bond – 007 1977 TV Series documentary Himself Self
Van Dyke and Company 1976 TV Series Himself / Ventriloquist Self
Van Dyke and Company 1975 TV Special Himself Self
This Morning 2013 TV Series Himself Self
Soccer AM 2012 TV Series Himself Self
Piers Morgan’s Life Stories 2012 TV Series Himself / Jaws Self
Totally Tracked Down 2010 TV Series Himself Self
Welcome to Sweden 2007 TV Series Himself Self
Gylne tider 2006-2007 TV Series documentary Himself Self
007 in Egypt 2006 Video documentary short Himself Self
Circus Footage 2006 Video documentary short Himself / Jaws Self
After They Were Famous 2005 TV Series documentary Himself Self
The Ultimate Film 2004 TV Movie documentary Himself Self
James Bond: A BAFTA Tribute 2002 TV Movie documentary Himself Self
Best Ever Bond 2002 TV Movie documentary Himself Self
E! True Hollywood Story 2002 TV Series documentary Himself Self
Inside ‘Moonraker’ 2000 Video documentary short Himself Self
Inside ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ 2000 Video documentary short Himself Self
No Small Parts 2015 TV Series documentary Himself Archive Footage
The 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards 2015 TV Special Himself – In Memoriam Archive Footage
Top Gear 2012 TV Series Jaws Archive Footage
My Invisible Friend 2010 Short Jaws Archive Footage
Cable Car Alternative: Storyboard 1 2006 Video Himself Archive Footage
Cable Car Alternative: Storyboard 2 2006 Video Himself Archive Footage
Happy Anniversary Mr. Bond 2002 TV Movie documentary Jaws Archive Footage
Double-O Stunts 2000 Video documentary short Jaws Archive Footage
Inside ‘A View to a Kill’ 2000 Video documentary short Jaws Archive Footage
Ken Adam: Designing Bond 2000 Video documentary short Jaws (uncredited) Archive Footage
007 Racing 2000 Video Game Jaws Archive Footage
Happy Anniversary 007: 25 Years of James Bond 1987 TV Movie documentary Jaws Archive Footage
James Bond: The First 21 Years 1983 TV Movie documentary Jaws Archive Footage
Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color 1977 TV Series Tall Man Archive Footage
To Trap a Spy 1964 Thug in Vulcan’s Factory (uncredited) Archive Footage

Richard Dawson Kiel Awards

Year Award Ceremony Nomination Movie Category
1980 Saturn Award Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA Best Supporting Actor Moonraker (1979) Won
1980 Saturn Award Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA Best Supporting Actor Moonraker (1979) Nominated