Richard Riehle: key obituary facts
Is Richard Riehle dead? Yes. Richard Riehle died on October 15, 2026, at age 78.
Cause of death: Richard Riehle's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Richard Riehle known for?
He was an American actor.
More about Richard Riehle
Born: 12 May 1948.
Place of birth: Menomonee Falls.
Gender: male.
Occupation: stage actor, film actor, television actor, actor.
Nationality: United States.
Education: University of Notre Dame, University of Minnesota, Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts.
Career began: 1977.
Years active: 1977–2026.
Richard Riehle, the American character actor, died October 15, 2026, aged 78.
Born May 12, 1948, in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, he built a career across film, television and other projects that spanned nearly five decades. His work began in 1977 and ultimately encompassed more than 400 screen and other productions.
Riehle studied at the University of Notre Dame and the University of Minnesota, where he completed an MFA, and also trained at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts. He began acting at Meadow Brook Theatre in Michigan and later performed in regional theater in the Pacific Northwest. Among his film credits were Glory and Office Space, while television audiences knew him as Walt Finnerty on Grounded for Life, appearing in the series from 2001 to 2005. He also played Batai in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “The Inner Light” and made appearances across other Star Trek productions, as well as guest roles on NCIS, The Middle and The West Wing. Riehle also portrayed Santa Claus in eight projects, including five productions noted in his biography. His career brought together stage work, recurring television roles and a wide range of film and television appearances.