Richard Riehle, character actor in 'Office Space,' 'Star Trek' and 'Bridesmaids,' dies at 78

As of 3:39 p.m. ET, Monday, Oct. 19, 2026

Richard Riehle, the character actor best known for playing Tom Smykowski in "Office Space," has died at 78. Variety reported it has confirmed that Riehle died of natural causes on Oct. 15 in Los Angeles.

TMZ first reported the death on Monday, citing friends of the actor. People said it had reached out to a representative for Riehle for comment. No statement from Riehle's family or a representative had been released as of 3:39 p.m. ET.

In "Office Space," Riehle played the product manager who is laid off from Initech, survives a hit-and-run accident and lands a large financial settlement that lets him build his prototype "Jump to Conclusions" mat, Variety reported.

Riehle appeared in more than 400 films, television shows and other projects, according to Variety. His film roles included the ranch hand Carlson in "Of Mice and Men," the guard who allowed Harrison Ford to escape custody in "The Fugitive" and Principal Beasely in "Jury Duty," along with parts in "Wedding Crashers" and "Bridesmaids," Variety reported.

On television, he played Walt Finnerty on "Grounded for Life" and appeared several times across the "Star Trek" franchise, including as Batai in "The Inner Light," an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," according to Variety. He portrayed Santa Claus in eight projects, Variety reported.

Riehle was born on May 12, 1948, in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, and attended the University of Notre Dame before earning a master's degree from the University of Minnesota, Variety reported. He began acting at the Meadow Brook Theatre in Rochester, Michigan, and was working in regional theater in the Pacific Northwest when he appeared in the John Wayne film "Rooster Cogburn," according to Variety.