Charles Dierkop
Charles Richard Dierkop (born September 11, 1936) is an American character actor. He is most recognized for his supporting roles in the films Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and The Sting (1973) and the television series Police Woman (1974-1978).
Charles Dierkop | |
---|---|
Born | Charles Richard Dierkop September 11, 1936 La Crosse, Wisconsin, U.S. |
Occupation | Character actor |
Years active | 1961–present |
Spouse(s) | Joan Addis (1958-1974) |
Children | 2 |
Early years
Dierkop was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and attended Aquinas High School[1] in La Crosse. He was raised by his aunt and uncle after his father left when Dierkop was an infant and his mother "left home when he was still a tot".[2]
Military service
Dierkop dropped out of high school after his junior year and enlisted in the U.S. Marines.[3] He served in Korea after the Korean War had ended and returned from there when he was discharged at age 19. Upon his return, he lived with his mother in Philadelphia, and with the help of the G.I. Bill, he enrolled in the American Foundation of Dramatic Arts in Philadelphia.[2]
Career
Dierkop is a lifetime member of The Actor's Studio. His first role as a professional actor was in television's Naked City.[2]
He was cast in two George Roy Hill films, and played an outlaw both times — as "Flat Nose Curry" in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), he played a member of the Hole in the Wall Gang,[4] and as "Floyd" in The Sting (1973), he acted as a bodyguard to Robert Shaw's New York gangster/griftee, Doyle Lonnegan.[5] He is best known for playing Detective Pete Royster on the television series Police Woman between 1974 and 1978.[6]
Dierkop appears briefly in the music video of "Man on the Moon", a hit song by the American alternative rock band R.E.M.[7]
Personal life
Dierkop was married to Joan Addis from 1958 to 1974. They have a daughter and a son.[1]
Partial filmography
- Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961) - Pilot of the Seaview (uncredited)
- The Hustler (1961) - Pool Room Hood (uncredited)
- The Pawnbroker (1964) - Robinson
- Gunn (1967) - Lazlo Joyce
- The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967) - Salvanti
- The Sweet Ride (1968) - Mr. Clean
- The Thousand Plane Raid (1969) - Railla
- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) - Flat Nose Curry
- Pound (1970) - Airdale
- Angels Hard as They Come (1971) - General
- Night of the Cobra Woman (1972) - (uncredited)
- The Hot Box (1972) - Journalist Garcia / Major Dubay
- Messiah of Evil (1973) - Gas Attendant
- The Student Teachers (1973) - (uncredited)
- The Sting (1973) - Floyd
- Captains Courageous (1977) - Tom Platt
- Star Virgin (1979) - Igor
- Texas Lightning (1981) - Walt
- Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) - Killer Santa
- The Fix (1985) - Hawkeye
- Savage Harbor (1987) - Boat Gunman
- Code Name Zebra (1987) - Crazy
- Banzai Runner (1987) - Traven
- Grotesque (1988) - Matson
- Messenger of Death (1988) - Orville Beecham
- Spies and Lovers (1989) - Biker Ben
- Blood Red (1989) - Cooper
- Liberty & Bash (1989) - Mr. B
- Eternity (1990) - Video Editor
- Nerds of a Feather (1990) - Biker Ben
- Under Crystal Lake (1990)
- Roots of Evil (1992) - Collins
- Maverick (1994) - Riverboat Poker Player (uncredited)
- Reverse Heaven (1994) - Bank Robber
- Too Fast Too Young (1996) - Businessman
- Merchants of Venus (1998) - Carl
- Invisible Dad (1998) - Mr. Weiderman
- Superguy: Behind the Cape (2000) - Sam Trent
- Murder on the Yellow Brick Road (2005) - Redwood
- Mystery Woman: Wild West Mystery (2006 TV movie) - Zeke Foster
- Chinaman's Chance: America's Other Slaves (2008) - Dr. Sawyer
- Forget Me Not (2009) - Foreman Pete
- The Midnighters (2016) - Louie
Television credits
- The Naked City (1960-1962) - Arrest Suspect / Boy who Gets Beaten Up / Tow Truck Driver / Shag's Friend / Hungarian in Rail Yard / Hood / Registered Mail Clerk / Hood #1 (uncredited)
- Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1965) - Left-Handed Man
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1966) - Adolph
- The Andy Griffith Show (1966) - Larry
- Star Trek (1967, episode: Wolf in the Fold) - Morla
- Batman (1968) - Dustbag (uncredited)
- Adam-12 (1968) - Janney
- Lancer (1968-1970) - Walters / Bleaker / Harris
- Bonanza (1969-1972) - Shorty / Nicholson / Sawyer
- The High Chaparral (1970) - Slim
- Land of the Giants (1970) - Arthur Kamber
- Bearcats! (1971, in episode 9, "Bitter Flats") - Pistolero
- Love, American Style (1971) - Gus (segment "Love and the Eyewitness")
- Mission: Impossible (1972) - Richie
- Alias Smith and Jones (1971-1973) - Clayton Crewes / Poker Player / Shields
- Kung Fu (1973) - Traphagen
- Mannix (1969-1973) - Frank / Makuta / John Marrish
- Gunsmoke (1966-1973) - Traphagen
- Kojak (1974) - DeLuca
- Police Story (1973-1974) - Royster / Dave Rawlins
- Cannon (1971-1974) - Eddie Main / Keegan
- Police Woman (1974-1978) - Det. Pete Royster
- Vega$ (1978) - Lenny
- The Deerslayer (1978, TV Movie) - Hurry Harry March
- CHiPs (1980) - Mouse
- Fantasy Island (1980-1982) - Vinnie Avalon / Harry 'Weasel' Forbes
- Matt Houston (1983-1984) - Viney / Choo Choo
- The Fall Guy (1983-1985) - Mack Doyle / Arden
- Simon & Simon (1986-1988) - Al Pacheco / Jerry Sappman
- MacGyver (1991) - Mo Nimitz
Further reading
- Aquinas News, Aquinas High School, La Crosse, Wisconsin, September 18, 1975, vol. 45, no. 2, pg. 1, "Former Aquinite is TV Star"
- Aquinas News, Aquinas High School, La Crosse, Wisconsin, September 2, 1978, Special 50th Anniversary edition, pg. 12, "Former Aquinite has his name in lights", Sue Schmidt, class of 1978.
References
- Lienlokken, Marguerite (March 30, 1968). "Charles Dierkop, TV 'Baddie' Is Visiting His Hometown". The La Crosse Tribune. Wisconsin, La Crosse. p. 14. Retrieved August 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- Martin, Bob (April 18, 1976). "'Police Woman' actor finds dad--after 39 years". Independent Press-Telegram. California, Long Beach. p. 72. Retrieved August 3, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- Goolsby, Denise (10 November 2016). "WWII vet fought in four battles, earned Bronze Star". The Desert Sun. Gannett. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- "Flat Nose Curry in 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' 'Memba Him?!". TMZ. EHM Productions, Inc. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- Eagan, Daniel (26 November 2009). America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 2027. ISBN 9781441175410.
- Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 844. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
- Charles Dierkop cameo (3min 28sec) (Sep 13, 2017). R.E.M. - Man On The Moon (Official Music Video) (Motion picture / Music video). REMHQ - R.E.M.'s Official YouTube Channel. Retrieved July 15, 2018.