Richard Riehle, the character actor whose memorable roles included “Office Space,” “Glory” and “Grounded for Life,” died Oct. 15. He was 78.

His management company, Wright Entertainment Inc., confirmed his death Monday, according to The Associated Press. Variety reported that he died of natural causes in Los Angeles.

Across a career spanning more than 400 projects, Riehle became a familiar presence in movies and television. His representatives, in a statement reported by ABC News, also remembered his kindness and encouragement of emerging actors and filmmakers.

For viewers, recognition could come from any number of performances: an anxious employee defending his job, a stubborn grandfather or an official making someone else’s life difficult. Riehle brought those characters to life with a distinctive face, a thick mustache and an ability to make a small role linger.

Richard Riehle made “Office Space” anxiety unforgettable

In Mike Judge’s 1999 workplace comedy, Riehle played Tom Smykowski, an Initech product manager desperately trying to explain why his employer needed him.

“I have people skills!” Tom insists, turning a plea for continued employment into one of the film’s signature moments. Riehle gave the character a mixture of indignation and panic that made the exchange painfully recognizable.

Tom’s fortunes eventually change after a traffic accident produces a financial settlement. He uses the money to pursue his invention: a “Jump to Conclusions” mat, with conclusions printed on squares that people can jump onto. The idea is ridiculous. Riehle plays its creator’s enthusiasm with complete conviction.

The production required some uncomfortable commitment. Riehle told Notre Dame Magazine that an emergency medical technician fitted him with a real cast for a scene following Tom’s accident. He remained in it for eight hours. When the technician left, a production assistant was entrusted with the cast cutter.

A long apprenticeship before Hollywood

Riehle was born May 12, 1948, in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. His father died when he was 13, and his mother returned to nursing. As a teenager, he worked 40-hour weeks at a grocery store to contribute to the family’s finances.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in speech and drama at Notre Dame and an MFA at the University of Minnesota. His early career took him through regional theater, where he developed the versatility that would later keep him working across genres.

An IndustryCentral career profile traces that work through companies including the Guthrie, Yale Repertory Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre, along with Shakespeare festivals in Oregon and Colorado. The schedule often meant moving from one city to another as productions changed.

His Broadway debut came in “Execution of Justice” in 1986. The Internet Broadway Database also records his performances in the 1999 revival of “The Iceman Cometh” and the 2002 revival of Arthur Miller’s “The Man Who Had All the Luck.”

“Glory” provided a major screen breakthrough in 1989. Riehle played the quartermaster who withheld supplies from Black soldiers. He recalled that director Edward Zwick chose him because he approached the character as a bureaucrat, while other actors played him as a villain. Riehle considered participating in the film a career highlight.

That attention to a character’s function helped define his approach to supporting work.

“The lead isn’t always the best part in a play or a movie,” he told Notre Dame Magazine.

A familiar face across generations

His film credits ranged from “The Fugitive” and “Casino” to “Of Mice and Men,” “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo” and “Bridesmaids.” He could move between a tense thriller and a broad comedy without losing the particularity of the person he was playing.

Riehle told The A.V. Club he chose the air marshal in “Executive Decision” for its action, despite having only one line.

Television offered another lasting connection with audiences through Walt Finnerty, the grandfather on “Grounded for Life.” He also appeared across three “Star Trek” series: “The Next Generation,” “Voyager” and “Enterprise.”

His work extended to animation, including voicing Bumi in “The Legend of Korra.” Among his later television appearances was Warden Reynolds in two episodes of HBO’s “Barry” in 2023.

The colleague behind the characters

Donal Logue, who played Riehle’s son on “Grounded for Life,” remembered someone whose humor could derail a scene before filming even began.

In an Instagram tribute reproduced by TVLine, Logue recalled laughing so hard during Riehle’s final network audition that he broke character and fell to the floor. He described Riehle as “humble, kind, and incredible at his craft.”

Logue also remembered the books: classic novels by writers such as Victor Hugo and Fyodor Dostoevsky, tucked into the back pocket of Riehle’s slacks. His tribute recalled their shared affection for the House of Pies restaurant in Los Angeles and the pleasure of working together.

Variety reported that Riehle is survived by his wife, Jane Latham, and their four children.

Riehle’s own advice to aspiring actors reflected the qualities his colleagues remembered. In his IndustryCentral profile, he urged them to prepare, remain patient, appreciate opportunities and treat the people around them well.

“Help to make it a pleasant experience and everyone will look forward to working with you again.”