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Jack Kehler
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Jack Kehler (May 22, 1946 – May 7, 2022) was an American character actor. He was best known for his role of Marty, The Dude's landlord in the 1998 film The Big Lebowski.[1] He also appeared in Men in Black II, The Last Boy Scout, Point Break, Wyatt Earp and Waterworld.[2]
Key Information
Early years
[edit]Kehler was born on May 22, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[3]
Career
[edit]Kehler started to act in theatre at the age of 24.[4] He studied with Sanford Meisner and Wynn Handman and became a member of the Actors Studio.[5] His first film role was in Strange Invaders, released in 1983.[4]
In the 1980s, he worked primarily on television, appearing in Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacey and St. Elsewhere.[4] In the 1990s, he had roles in several action films, including The Last Boy Scout, Wyatt Earp and Waterworld. He appeared in the Coen brothers' 1998 cult film The Big Lebowski as Marty, the stammering landlord to Jeff Bridges' the Dude.[2]
He recurred as Harlan Wyndam Matson on Amazon Prime's The Man in the High Castle.[5]
Personal life
[edit]He was married to his wife Shawna Casey and had a son, Eddie Kehler, and a grandson Liam.[2]
Death
[edit]He died from complications due to leukemia on May 7, 2022.[6]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Strange Invaders | Gas Station Attendant | |
| 1985 | Year of the Dragon | Alan Perez | |
| 1990 | I Love You to Death | Wiley | |
| 1991 | Point Break | Halsey | |
| The Last Boy Scout | Scrabble Man | ||
| Grand Canyon | Steve Fox | ||
| 1992 | White Sands | Casanov | |
| 1994 | Wyatt Earp | Bob Hatch | |
| 1995 | Waterworld | Atoll Banker | |
| 1996 | My Fellow Americans | Wayne | |
| 1997 | One Eight Seven | Larry Hyland | |
| Lost Highway | Guard Johnny Mack | ||
| 1998 | The Big Lebowski | Marty | |
| Lethal Weapon 4 | State Department Official | ||
| Sour Grapes | Jack | ||
| 1999 | Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me | Circus Barker | |
| The Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human | The Male's Father | ||
| Dudley Do-Right | Homer | Character is mistakingly labeled as "Howard" in the credits. | |
| True Crime | Mr. Ziegler | ||
| Forces of Nature | Vic | ||
| 2000 | Auggie Rose | Oscar Weeks | |
| 2002 | Big Trouble | Leonard Ferroni | |
| Men in Black II | Ben | ||
| Love Liza | Denny | ||
| 2003 | Under the Tuscan Sun | Apartment Manager | |
| 2005 | Fever Pitch | Al Waterman | Also narrator |
| 2006 | Movin' Too Fast | Hank | |
| Grilled | Dick Abbott | ||
| School for Scoundrels | Classmate | ||
| Invincible | Wade Chambers | ||
| Special | Dr. Dobson | ||
| 2007 | Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story | Press Conference Reporter | |
| 2008 | Pineapple Express | Walter - Accountant | |
| 2010 | The Last Godfather | Cabbie | |
| Dirty Girl | Dr. Shelby | ||
| 2014 | The Sound and the Fury | Earl | |
| 2016 | In Dubious Battle | Dr. Burton | |
| 2019 | Zeroville | Studio Art Director | |
| 2022 | Father Stu | Curtis | Final film role |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Hill Street Blues | Bobby | Episode: "The Suitcase" |
| 1987 | Hunter | Scooter Davis | Episode: "The Cradle will Rock" |
| 1988 | St. Elsewhere | Jack Warner | Episode: "Their Town" |
| 1988-1989 | Newhart | Tommy Lee Holliday | Episodes: "I Married Dick" "Home for the Holidays" |
| 1989 | L.A. Law | Pest Control Exterminator Steve Tumka | Episode: "One Rat, One Ranger" |
| 1990 | Father Dowling Mysteries | Angelo Copelli | Episode: "The Passionate Painter Mystery" |
| 1990 | Equal Justice | Rodney Kickel | Episode: "Cop's Story" |
| 1990 | Cop Rock | Donald Bruckner | Episode: "Bang the Potts Slowly" |
| 1992 | Night Court | Fingers Kirby | Episode: "P.S. Do I Know You?" |
| 1993 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Jaheel | Episode: "Babel" |
| 1995 | Wings | Earl | Episode: "Gone but not Faygotten" |
| 1995 | Babylon 5 | Timothy Chase | Episode: "Comes the Inquisitor" |
| 1996 | Sliders | The Poacher | Episode: "In Dino Veritas" |
| 1996-1997 | Murder One | Frank Szymanski | |
| 1998 | The Practice | Kyle Peabody | Episode: "In Deep" |
| 1999 | JAG | Private First Class Philipp E. Fields | Episode: "Ghosts of Christmas Past" |
| 2001 | The Division | George Duncan | Episode: "Secrets and Lies" |
| 2001 | Becker | Pete | Episode: "The Ghost of Christmas Presents" |
| 2003 | 7th Heaven | Walter | Episode: "Stand up" |
| 2003 | Angel | Manny | Episode: "Long Day's Journey" |
| 2003 | Karen Sisco | Jackie Kinder | Episode: "Dear Dearwood..." |
| 2003 | Las Vegas | Aaron Walker | Episode: "What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas" |
| 2004 | 24 | Kevin Kelly | Episode: "Day 3: 12:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m." |
| 2004 | NCIS | Tom Wilson | Episode: "Lt. Jane Doe" |
| 2006 | The New Adventures of Old Christine | Scalper | Episode: "Exile on Lame Street" |
| 2007 | Monk | Harvey Disher | Episode: "Mr. Monk Visits a Farm" |
| 2009 | The Mentalist | Playland Owner | Episode: "Red Sauce" |
| 2009 | Mad Men | Morris Man | Episode: "Out of Town" |
| 2009 | Bones | Malaki Wallace | Episode: "The Goop on the Girl" |
| 2012 | Franklin & Bash | Jim Sweeney | Episode: "Jango and Rossi" |
References
[edit]- ^ ‘The Big Lebowski’ actor Jack Kehler dead at 75
- ^ a b c Erik Pedersen (10 May 2022). "Jack Kehler Dies: 'Big Lebowski' Landlord, Character Actor In Dozens Of Films & TV Shows Was 75".
- ^ "Kack Kehler, 75". Classic Images. July 2022. p. 42.
- ^ a b c "Jack Kehler, Character Actor in 'The Man in the High Castle' and 'The Big Lebowski', Dies at 75". 10 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Jack Kehler, the Dude's dancing landlord in The Big Lebowski, dies at 75". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ "Jack Kehler, actor in 'The Man in the High Castle' and 'The Big Lebowski,' dies at 75". NBC News. May 10, 2022. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
External links
[edit]- Jack Kehler at IMDb
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
Jack Kehler
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life
Birth and family background
Jack Kehler was born on May 22, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[7][8] As a Philadelphia native, Kehler was raised in the city during his formative years.[9] He relocated to New York City, where he initially worked as a waiter.[10][1]Acting training
After working as a waiter in New York City, Jack Kehler decided to pursue a career in theater at the age of 24, marking his formal entry into acting.[11][1] In the 1970s, Kehler trained under influential acting coaches Sanford Meisner, known for his technique emphasizing instinctive, truthful responses in performance, and Wynn Handman, who focused on scene study and character development at his Neighborhood Playhouse studio.[9][12] These sessions in New York honed his ability to embody complex, everyday characters with authenticity. Kehler became a lifetime member of The Actors Studio in 1983, joining a prestigious group dedicated to method acting and creative freedom in interpretation.[2] His early theater involvement in 1970s New York, such as directing Eugene O'Neill's The Web at Theater XII in 1977, immersed him in ensemble-driven productions that strengthened his foundation in character acting by fostering deep emotional preparation and collaborative scene work.[13]Career
Theater beginnings
After working as a waiter in New York City, Jack Kehler began his professional theater career in the late 1970s by directing Eugene O'Neill's one-act play The Web at Theater XII on St. Mark's Place.[13] This production, paired with O'Neill's The Movie Man directed by Reva Cooper, marked his initial foray into the New York stage scene, showcasing emerging talent in experimental and classic American drama venues.[14] Kehler's directorial debut highlighted his early engagement with O'Neill's works, which emphasized character-driven narratives and emotional depth, aligning with the realistic acting approaches he would later pursue. In the early 1980s, Kehler transitioned to acting roles within New York's Off-Off-Broadway circuit, joining the Actors Studio in 1982 after training with Sanford Meisner and Wynn Handman.[1] His stage work during this period included a cast role in the ensemble production Untitled, written and directed by Dennis Watlington, performed at the Annex Theatre from August 3 to 6, 1983.[15] Featuring fellow up-and-coming performers like Bruce Willis, this short-run piece at the American Theatre of Actors exemplified the collaborative, low-budget environment of downtown Manhattan theater, where Kehler honed his skills in ensemble dynamics and naturalistic portrayals. These early theater experiences, rooted in method acting principles from the Actors Studio, refined Kehler's distinctive character acting style, emphasizing subtle mannerisms and authenticity that would define his later screen work.[1] By 1983, this foundation bridged to his film debut in Strange Invaders, marking the shift from stage to cinema while building on the improvisational and scene-study techniques developed in New York productions.[1]Film roles
Jack Kehler made his film debut in 1983's science fiction thriller Strange Invaders, directed by Michael Laughlin, where he portrayed a gas station attendant in a small but memorable supporting role.[1] This early appearance marked the beginning of his transition from theater to screen acting, as he gradually built a reputation through bit parts in action and comedy films throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Kehler's roles during this period often featured him as everyman characters or authority figures, contributing to the ensemble dynamics of mid-budget Hollywood productions without drawing primary focus.[9] Kehler's breakthrough came with his iconic portrayal of Marty, the Dude's eccentric landlord, in the Coen Brothers' 1998 cult classic The Big Lebowski. In the film's opening scene, Marty interrupts Jeff Bridges' character, the Dude, at home to demand overdue rent while clad in a bathrobe; he performs an awkward, interpretive dance routine and invites the Dude to his performance art quintet inspired by the Sioux, all while vaguely alluding to the Nihilists central to the plot.[9] This brief but vividly quirky appearance, lasting under two minutes, became one of the most quoted and recognized moments in Kehler's career, cementing his status as a go-to character actor for offbeat supporting roles and boosting his visibility among audiences and filmmakers.[1] Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Kehler continued to amass credits in high-profile films, showcasing his versatility in both comedies and dramas. In Kevin Costner's 1995 post-apocalyptic adventure Waterworld, he played the Atoll Banker, a pragmatic financier amid the film's floating dystopia, adding subtle tension to key negotiation scenes.[9] Similarly, in Barry Sonnenfeld's 2002 sci-fi comedy Men in Black II, Kehler appeared as Ben, the owner of a Zarthan-themed pizzeria, providing comic relief in a brief encounter with the agents played by Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones.[1] Over his four-decade career, Kehler accumulated more than 170 screen credits, with over 60 in feature films alone, evolving from straightforward supporting parts in the 1980s to increasingly memorable bit roles that infused everyday characters with distinctive quirks in comedies like The Big Lebowski and dramas such as Lost Highway (1997).[16] His work highlighted a reliable presence in ensemble casts, often elevating scenes through understated delivery and physical comedy.[9]Television roles
Kehler's television career began in the mid-1980s with a recurring role as Sergeant Cooper, a no-nonsense police officer, in the satirical miniseries Fresno, where he appeared in four episodes alongside a star-studded cast including Carol Burnett and Dabney Coleman.[5] This early breakout provided him with steady exposure in comedic ensemble formats, marking his transition from theater to broadcast work.[17] Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Kehler built a robust portfolio of guest appearances on prominent series, often embodying authoritative or eccentric supporting characters that added texture to episodic narratives. Notable spots included roles as a scavenger named Bobby in Hill Street Blues (1986), Scooter Davis in Hunter (1987), and Boone in Ohara (1987), showcasing his versatility in crime dramas and procedurals.[18] He also recurred as Frank Szymanski, a detective, in 18 episodes of the legal thriller Murder One (1995–1997), contributing to the show's serialized intensity.[17] These television gigs, numbering in the dozens across shows like Cagney & Lacey, Newhart, and Northern Exposure, allowed him to hone his craft in quick, memorable turns while maintaining a parallel film schedule.[8] In the 2000s, Kehler secured another recurring role as a family friend in the romantic comedy I'm with Her (2003–2004), appearing in multiple episodes opposite Taye Diggs and Eva Longoria.[8] His television work culminated in the prestige drama The Man in the High Castle (2015–2019), where he portrayed Harlan Wyndam-Matson, a reclusive stamp counterfeiter, in a recurring capacity across several seasons of the Amazon series adaptation of Philip K. Dick's novel.[1] This role highlighted his ability to infuse historical fiction with understated quirkiness. Over four decades, Kehler amassed more than 90 television credits, frequently cast as authority figures—such as sergeants, detectives, and guards—or quirky everymen like landlords and oddball technicians, a pattern that echoed his film persona and provided reliable income to complement sporadic big-screen opportunities.[8] His TV roles, spanning comedic miniseries to dystopian epics, underscored his reliability as a character actor in both network and streaming eras.[5]Personal life
Marriage and family
Kehler married Shawna Casey in 1993, and the couple resided in Los Angeles, where they built a family together.[10][19] They had one son, Eddie Kehler.[10][2] Eddie later married Mari-Anne Kehler, and the couple welcomed a son, Liam Kehler, who became Kehler's grandson.[2][20] Kehler was survived by his wife Shawna, son Eddie, daughter-in-law Mari-Anne, and grandson Liam.[2][8]Health and death
Kehler had been battling leukemia.[21] He died on May 7, 2022, at the age of 75 from complications of the disease at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.[1][17] His son, Eddie Kehler, announced the news to Deadline, confirming the cause and location of death.[8] Following the announcement, colleagues and fans paid tribute to Kehler on social media, remembering his memorable character roles and warm presence in the industry.[9] Kehler was cremated, with his ashes kept by his family; no public funeral or memorial service was reported.[7]Filmography
Film
Kehler's feature film credits, drawn from comprehensive databases, are listed chronologically below.[22][23]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Strange Invaders | Gas Station Attendant[24] |
| 1985 | Year of the Dragon | Alan Perez[25] |
| 1985 | Lost in America | Casino Manager |
| 1986 | The Whoopee Boys | Cop |
| 1988 | The Couch Trip | TV Station Guard |
| 1988 | Midnight Run | Travel Agent |
| 1988 | Married to the Mob | Receptionist at Plaza |
| 1989 | The 'Burbs | Art Weingartner |
| 1990 | Men at Work | Ralph |
| 1990 | Texasville | Junior |
| 1990 | Air America | Q.V. Arno |
| 1991 | Point Break | Halsey |
| 1991 | The Last Boy Scout | Scrabble Man |
| 1991 | The Fisher King | Doctor |
| 1992 | The Player | Phil |
| 1993 | Fatal Instinct | Prison Guard |
| 1993 | The Temp | Night Guard |
| 1994 | Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult | Master of Ceremonies |
| 1994 | Wyatt Earp | Bob Hatch |
| 1994 | The Little Rascals | Cop |
| 1994 | Speechless | Uncle Dave |
| 1995 | Waterworld | Banker |
| 1996 | The Whole Wide World | Dr. Williams |
| 1996 | My Fellow Americans | Wayne |
| 1997 | Lost Highway | Guard Johnny Mack |
| 1998 | Lethal Weapon 4 | Air Traffic Controller |
| 1998 | The Big Lebowski | Marty (landlord) |
| 1998 | Pecker | Pervert on Phone |
| 1998 | There's Something About Mary | Tucker |
| 1998 | The Lesser Evil | Detective Hardaway |
| 1999 | Dudley Do-Right | Howard |
| 1999 | The Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human | The Male's Father |
| 1999 | Forces of Nature | Victor |
| 1999 | Man on the Moon | Larry the Cook |
| 2000 | The Independent | William Henry Ellis |
| 2001 | One Night at McCool's | Dr. Green |
| 2002 | Big Trouble | Leonard Ferroni |
| 2002 | Men in Black II | Ben |
| 2002 | The Country Bears | Trucker |
| 2002 | Love Liza | Denny |
| 2003 | Duplex | Pharmacy Customer |
| 2004 | Along Came Polly | Beach Meddler |
| 2005 | The Game of Their Lives | Dutch |
| 2005 | Fever Pitch | Al |
| 2006 | Grilled | Dick Abbott |
| 2007 | Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story | Press Conference Reporter |
| 2008 | Pineapple Express | Walter |
| 2009 | The Unborn | Mr. McNamara |
| 2010 | I Love You Phillip Morris | Jimmy |
| 2010 | The Last Godfather | Don Antonio |
| 2012 | The Guilt Trip | Actor #2 |
| 2013 | 42 | Drugstore Man |
| 2013 | Lost on Purpose | Sheriff Bill |
| 2015 | The Funhouse Massacre | Needles |
| 2016 | Rules Don't Apply | Stagehand |
| 2016 | A Winter Rose | Moses |
| 2019 | The Laundromat | Mr. X |
| 2021 | The French Dispatch | Police Chief |
| 2022 | Father Stu | Curtis[26] |
| 2024 | The Platinum Loop | Ben Malton[27] |
Television
Kehler's television career spanned over three decades, beginning with guest spots on network dramas in the 1980s and evolving into recurring roles on prestige series in later years. He frequently portrayed authority figures, detectives, and eccentric supporting characters, contributing to over 50 TV appearances across broadcast and cable.[1] His early credits established him as a reliable character actor in ensemble procedurals and comedies. Notable examples include:| Year(s) | Series | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Hill Street Blues | Bobby | Guest appearance in 1 episode[18] |
| 1986 | Fresno | Sgt. Cooper | Miniseries, 5 episodes[18] |
| 1987 | Hunter | Scooter Davis | Guest in 1 episode[18] |
| 1987 | Ohara | Boone | Guest appearance[18] |
| 1987 | Cagney & Lacey | Detective | Guest in 1 episode[1] |
| 1988 | Newhart | Tommy Lee Holliday | Guest in "I Married Dick" episode[28] |
| 1988–1989 | St. Elsewhere | Various | Multiple guest spots[1] |
| Year(s) | Series | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Jaheel | Guest in 1 episode[29] |
| 1994–1995 | McKenna | Regular cast member | ABC adventure series, multiple episodes |
| 1995 | Babylon 5 | Mr. Chase | Guest in 1 episode[4] |
| 1995–1996 | Murder One | Frank Szymanski | Recurring in Season 2, 10 episodes |
| 1996 | The X-Files | Various | Guest appearances[1] |
| 1998–1999 | NYPD Blue | Detective | Multiple guest spots[1] |
| 2003 | Angel | Manny | Guest in "Long Day's Journey" episode[30] |
| Year(s) | Series | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 24 | Alan York | Guest in Season 1, 2 episodes[31] |
| 2001–2005 | Six Feet Under | Various | Guest appearances across seasons[1] |
| 2005–2006 | E-Ring | Recurring | 8 episodes[32] |
| 2009 | Mad Men | Morris Mann | Guest in "Out of Town" episode[33] |
| 2009 | Bones | Harry Tepper | Guest in 1 episode[32] |
| 2012 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Shop Owner | Guest in "The Gold Standard" episode[34] |
| 2015–2019 | The Man in the High Castle | Harlan Wyndam-Matson | Recurring, 18 episodes across 4 seasons[32] |
| 2016 | Lethal Weapon | Leo Getz Sr. | Guest in 1 episode[32] |
| 2020 | The Magicians | Bouncer | Guest appearance[32] |
| 2020–2022 | Love, Victor | Landlord | Recurring, multiple episodes[1] |