Richard Dawson Kiel was an American actor, voice artist and comedian best known for his role as the super-spy Jaws in the James Bond movies and for his extraordinary stature. Born on September 13, in Detroit, Michigan, his height and features were a result of a hormonal condition known as acromegaly. As an adult, he stood 7-feet and 1.
His incredible size parlayed him into becoming an actor in both television and the movies. Before breaking into film and television, Kiel worked as a nightclub bouncer and as a cemetery plot salesman before playing a caveman in the science fiction classic, "Eegah," in He also produced, co-wrote and starred in "The Giant of Thunder Mountain.
During the Sixties, Kiel starred in numerous episodes showcasing his abilities as both a dramatic and comedic actor. He would also go on to reprise the character of Jaws in several James Bond video games. Both Kiel and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger were also the original choices to portray the title character in "The Incredible Hulk" in However, Schwarzenegger was turned down due to his height, and despite having filmed sequences for the pilot, Kiel was let go from the role for Lou Ferrigno who had the appropriate mass for the character.
Although most of Kiel's footage was reshot, he still appears in surviving lake scenes. In , Kiel suffered a severe head injury in a car accident, which affected his balance and required him to use a cane to support himself.
His cane appears with him in his scene in the movie, "Happy Gilmore," with Adam Sandler. After battling alcoholism for several years, he became a born-again Christian to help him overcome the sickness. He passed away from coronary artery disease in Fresno, California on September 10, , three days before his 75th birthday. He was survived by his wife Diane, children and grandchildren.
