{
  "id": 15658066,
  "title": "R.I.P. Richard Riehle, Office Space actor",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/r-i-p-richard-riehle-office-space-actor",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-19T19:14:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The A.V. Club",
    "slug": "the-a-v-club",
    "url": "https://www.avclub.com/richard-riehle-office-space-actor-obituary"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Richard Riehle, the actor known for his role as Tom Smykowski in the 1999 film Office Space, has passed away. Born in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin on May 12, 1948, Riehle began his acting journey by chance while at the University of Notre Dame. After receiving his MFA from the University of Minnesota, he spent time in regional theaters before making his screen debut in 1975's Rooster Cogburn: (…And The Lady). Riehle's career took a break for a decade before he resumed appearing in notable films and TV shows throughout the 1980s and 1990s. His diverse roles spanned various genres, from stocky, blustery put-upon everymen in films like Free Willy and The Fugitive to roles in Star Trek: Voyager and Enterprise. However, it was his role as Tom Smykowski in Office Space that brought him widespread recognition. Despite the disappearance of his iconic \"Jump To Conclusions\" mat prop, Riehle remained a staple in the industry, appearing in numerous productions including Grounded For Life, Psych, Texas Chainsaw 3D, Transformers: Age Of Extinction, and HBO's Barry. Riehle, who celebrated his 78th birthday on May 12, 2023, died on October 15, 2023, of natural causes.",
  "summary": "Best known for his memorable turn in Office Space, Richard Riehl starred in more than 400 screen projects.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Consequence",
        "title": "Richard Riehle, Office Space’s Tom Smykowski, Dead at 78",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/richard-riehle-office-spaces-tom-smykowski-dead-at-78",
        "published": "2026-10-19T17:54:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "TVLine",
        "title": "Richard Riehle, Office Space Actor, Dead At 78",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/richard-riehle-office-space-actor-dead-at-78",
        "published": "2026-10-19T18:38:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Forbes",
        "title": "Richard Riehle, ‘Office Space’ And ‘The Fugitive’ Actor, Dies At 78",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/richard-riehle-office-space-and-the-fugitive-actor-dies-at-78",
        "published": "2026-10-19T18:53:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Variety",
        "title": "Richard Riehle, Character Actor in ‘Office Space,’ ‘Star Trek,’ ‘Bridesmaids’ and More, Dies at 78",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/richard-riehle-character-actor-in-office-space-star-trek-bridesmaids",
        "published": "2026-10-19T19:17:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Rolling Stone",
        "title": "Richard Riehle, Character Actor and ‘Office Space’ Scene-Stealer, Dead at 78",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/richard-riehle-character-actor-and-office-space-scene-stealer-dead-at",
        "published": "2026-10-19T20:09:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "TheWrap",
        "title": "Richard Riehle, ‘Office Space’ Actor, Dies at 78",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/richard-riehle-office-space-actor-dies-at-78-15652125",
        "published": "2026-10-19T20:09:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hollywood Reporter",
        "title": "Richard Riehle, ‘Office Space’ Actor, Dies at 78",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/richard-riehle-office-space-actor-dies-at-78",
        "published": "2026-10-19T20:17:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Deadline",
        "title": "Richard Riehle Dies: ‘Office Space’ & ‘Bridesmaids’ Actor Was 78",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/richard-riehle-dies-office-space-bridesmaids-actor-was-78",
        "published": "2026-10-19T20:51:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}