Jack Kehler, a prolific character actor, died Saturday of complications from leukemia at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. He was 75 years old.
Kehler’s death was confirmed by his son Eddie Kehler.
Born on May 22, 1946 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Kehler began his acting career at the age of 24 by beginning work in the theater. In 1982, Kehler joined Sanford Meisner and Wynn Handman and began his tenure as a lifetime member of the Actors Studio.
Soon after, Kehler moved to Los Angeles, where he began taking supporting roles in film and television. He landed his first film role in 1983 in Michael Laughlin’s science fiction publication Strange Invaders, starring Paul Le Mat and Nancy Allen. Kehler is credited as a gas station attendant in the film.
Kehler spent the remainder of the 1980s working primarily for television, appearing on Hill Street Blues, Fresno, Cagney & Lacey and St. Elsewhere.” During the ’90s, he became a colorful presence in action films, including The Last Boy Scout, Wyatt Earp, and Waterworld. Kehler also found himself in the cult film spotlight for his role as the landlord of Jeff Bridges’ The Dude in Joel and Ethan Coen’s 1998 crime comedy The Big Lebowski.
Kehler continued to work late in his life, with a recurring role on The Man in the High Castle and guest appearances on various television series. He was most recently seen as a landlord on the Disney+ series Love, Victor. He will star in crime thriller The Platinum Loop, which is currently in post-production.
In addition to acting, Kehler also produced a live one-man show starring himself.
Kehler is survived by his wife Shawn Casey; his son Eddie Kehler; his daughter-in-law Mari-Anne; and his grandson Liam.
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