If there was ever a well recognized Hollywood giant it would be Richard Kiel. Kiel passed away yesterday in the hospital at the age of 74, just 3 days shy of his birthday. Cause of death is unknown at this time.
Born a Detroit native, from an early age Kiel had been diagnosed with acromegaly, a hormonal condition when your body produces too much growth hormone during adulthood, which helped him to his 7foot-4inches height.
This also led to a number of his acting role’s as he was able to gain parts that called for a character that a bigger, taller character made a big impression. Such as, his first break came in 1959 when he played the alien Kanamit in Twilight Zone, deadly assistant Voltaire in the 1960s TV series The Wild, Wild West; playing opposite William Shatner in the 1970s TV sitcom Barbary Coast; producing and taking on the lead character of Eli Weaver in the movie The Giant of Thunder Mountain; and a parody role of his most famous character in Inspector Gadget as “Famous big guy with silver teeth.”
He is survived by his wife, Diane, four children, and nine grandchildren.
by MGOrtiz