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Richard Kiel

Richard Kiel

Actor, also writer and producer · Died September 10, 2014, aged 74 · Detroit, Michigan, USA

Richard Dawson Kiel (September 13, 1939 – September 10, 2014) was a huge, and intimidating, American character actor, voice artist, and producer. Best known for his role as the steel-toothed Jaws in the James Bond movies The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979), and as Mr. Larson in Happy Gilmore. Other notable films include The Longest Yard (1974), Silver Streak (1976), Force 10 from Navarone (1978), Cannonball Run II (1984), Pale Rider (1985) and Tangled (2010). Standing 7 feet 3 inches (221cm) tall and wore size 20 EEEEE shoes. He frequently played intimidating strongmen or gentle giants. Kiel was married to Diane Rogers from 1974 until his death in 2014; they had four children and nine grandchildren.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 13, 1939
Died
September 10, 2014 (aged 74)
From
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Works as
Actor, also writer and producer
Titles
44 on Motif · 68 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 42 days to Oct 28Down 5% in 30 days

What are Richard Kiel's films like?

Across their 18 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Motif score: 52nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action5 titlesTypical Motif score: 49th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Motif score: 16th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Motif score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
32%
Morality
22%
Power
19%
Self
13%
Survival
6%
Society
5%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty5 titles, browse their movies with this themePower3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 13 · Serious 4 · Dark 1

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 7 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 7 · Charged 6 · Intense 5

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 5 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 7

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 6

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 15 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 6 of 10 analyzed roles.

Shadow
6 of 10
Threshold guardian
2 of 10
Mentor
1 of 10
Herald
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Absurd
8
Thrilling
6
Joyful
5
Warm
4
Other
16

How their films linger

Fun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Richard Kiel's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 25 of their 44 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Richard Kiel's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

68 credits, 44 with a Motif page; 13 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2019)

    as Kanamit (archive footage)

  • Tangled(2010)

    as Vlad (voice)

    Motif score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Welcome to Sweden (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Inspector Gadget(1999)

    as Famous Big Guy with Silver Teeth

    Motif score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Happy Gilmore(1996)

    as Mr. Larson

    Motif score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Giant of Thunder Mountain(1990)

    Producer · Writer · as Eli Weaver

    Motif score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Think Big(1989)

    as Irving

    Motif score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Superboy(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Motif score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Pale Rider(1985)

    as Club

    Motif score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Mob Busters (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • Cannonball Run II(1984)

    as Arnold

    Motif score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Mad Mission 3: Our Man from Bond Street(1984)

    as Big G

    Motif score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Hysterical(1982)

    as Captain James Howdy

    Motif score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Simon & Simon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Fall Guy(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Motif score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • So Fine(1981)

    as Eddie

    Motif score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Moonraker(1979)

    as Jaws

    Motif score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Humanoid(1979)

    as Golob

    Motif score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way(1978)

    as Duke

    Motif score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Force 10 from Navarone(1978)

    as Drazak

    Motif score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Phoenix (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    as Grasshopper

  • Young Dan'l Boone (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Spy Who Loved Me(1977)

    as Jaws

    Motif score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Silver Streak(1976)

    as Reace

    Motif score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Gus(1976)

    as Tall Man

    Motif score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Starsky and Hutch(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Iggy

    Motif score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Switch (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Loach

  • Barbary Coast (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 13 episodes · as Moose Moran

  • Flash and the Firecat(1975)

    as Milo Pewett

    Motif score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Kolchak: The Night Stalker(1974)

    Show 2 episodes · as The Monster

    Motif score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Longest Yard(1974)

    as Samson

    Motif score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Deadhead Miles (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    as Big Dick

  • Emergency!(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Motif score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Boy Who Stole the Elephant(1970)

    as Luke Brown

    Motif score: 30th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • On a Clear Day You Can See Forever(1970)

    as Blacksmith (uncredited)

    Motif score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Skidoo(1968)

    as Beany

    Motif score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Now You See It, Now You Don't(1968)

    as Nori

    Motif score: 74th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • A Man Called Dagger (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    as Otto

  • It Takes a Thief (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Willy

  • The Monkees(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Monster

    Motif score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • The Monroes (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Las Vegas Hillbillys(1966)

    Actor

    Motif score: 11th percentile of all films

  • I Dream of Jeannie(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Ali

    Motif score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Honey West (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Groalgo

  • The Wild Wild West (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 2 episodes · as Voltaire

  • I Spy(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Tiny

    Motif score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • My Mother the Car (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Brainstorm(1965)

    as Asylum Inmate (uncredited)

    Motif score: 61st percentile of all films

  • To Trap a Spy(1964)

    as Thug in Vulcan's Factory (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Motif score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Human Duplicators(1964)

    as Dr. Kolos

    Motif score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Two on a Guillotine(1965)

    as Photographer at Funeral (uncredited)

    Motif score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Nasty Rabbit (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    as Ranch Foreman

  • Roustabout(1964)

    as Strongman (uncredited)

    Motif score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Gilligan's Island(1964)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Daniel Boone (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Lemouche

  • The Man from U.N.C.L.E.(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Guard (uncredited) · as Merry

    Motif score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Lassie's Greatest Adventure (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • Lassie's Great Adventure (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    as Chinook Pete

  • The Nutty Professor(1963)

    as Man in Gym (uncredited)

    Motif score: 68th percentile of all films

  • House of the Damned (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    as The Giant

  • Eegah(1962)

    as Eegah

    Motif score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Phantom Planet(1961)

    as The Solarite

    Motif score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • The Phantom (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    as Big Mike

  • Thriller (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Master Styx

  • The Twilight Zone(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Kanamit

    Motif score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Rifleman(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Motif score: 91st percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 68 titles from 1958 to 2019; peak year 1978.

Biggest box office

Tangled (2010)

$608M worldwide

Highest rated

Tangled (2010)

Motif 97th

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19582019

Peak 1978 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 3 Motif titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting68 of 68: 67 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Motif score50thWriting1 of 68: 0 only writing, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s2 · acting1960s29 · acting1970s20 · acting1980s10 · acting1990s4 · 4 acting · 1 crew2000s1 · acting2010s2 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 5% of 21 roles
617181

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Richard Kiel's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 38th percentile, the median of all 32; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 50th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Motif score across 44 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th13

Shape of the crowd

19 of their 44 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned5
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor

Las Vegas Hillbillys (1966)

87th percentile spread · 47% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Tangled (2010)

Motif 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 59/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 70, detractors 37. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Richard Kiel's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 Motif titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles33–65 · median 45 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles17–45 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 31
Profanity8 titles7–67 · median 29 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 35
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles25–42 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles21–49 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Richard Kiel work with?

People who share at least 2 of Richard Kiel's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Barbara Bach shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors