US actor Charles Dierkop is dead
US actor Charles Dierkop appeared in over 120 film productions in his life. He has now died at the age of 87.
Charles Dierkop started his career in the theater and appeared briefly on Broadway, after which he took on several smaller roles in Western films, some of which were not mentioned by name.
He finally achieved his breakthrough with his roles in “Two Bandits” (1969) and “The Clou” (1973). In total, the actor, who predominantly appeared in supporting roles, appeared in over 120 film productions. Now the sad news of his death became public.
On Sunday, Charles Dierkop died as a result of a heart attack and pneumonia in Sherman Oaks Hospital in Los Angeles, his daughter Lynn told the US magazine “The Hollywood Reporter”. He was 87 years old.
“One of my greatest heroes”
There is great sadness for the deceased. Numerous fans say goodbye on social media and show their condolences. “How sad to hear that. I’ve seen so many series and films with him. Rest in peace,” writes one user on X. “He was a damn good actor,” commented another. Another person said: “He was one of my greatest childhood heroes. He will never be forgotten.”
Charles Dierkop owed his success in part to his nose. He broke this several times in his youth during physical altercations. In one of his most important roles, George “Flat Nose” Curry in “Two Bandits,” this worked to his advantage, he said in a 2018 interview.
Charles Dierkop is survived by his daughter Lynn. She comes from his marriage to his ex-wife Joan Addis. The two married in 1958 and divorced in 1974. The couple had another son, but he died in 1990 at the age of 29.
Who is Charles Dierkop
Charles Richard Dierkop (September 11, 1936 – February 25, 2024) was 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).
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”.
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 was discharged from the Marine Corps 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.
Charles Dierkop’s Career
Dierkop was a lifetime member of the Actors Studio. His first role as a professional actor was in television’s Naked City.
Dierkop 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, and as “Floyd” in The Sting (1973), he acted as a bodyguard with Lee Paul 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.
Dierkop appears briefly in the music video of “Man on the Moon”, a hit song by the American alternative rock band R.E.M.
Personal life and death
Dierkop was married to Joan Addis from 1958 to 1974. They had a daughter and a son.
On February 25, 2024, Dierkop died from complications of pneumonia and a heart attack at Sherman Oaks Hospital in Los Angeles. He was 87.
