Charles Dierkop

American character actor (1936–2024)

Joan Addis

(m. 1958; div. 1974)

Children2

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".^[2]

Military service

Dierkop dropped out of high school after his junior year and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.^[3] He served in Korea during the Korean War 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.^[2]

Career

Dierkop was a lifetime member of the Actors Studio. His first role as a professional actor was in television's Naked City.^[2]

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,^[4] 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.^[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 and death

Dierkop was married to Joan Addis from 1958 to 1974. They had a daughter, Lynn, and a son.^[1]^[8]

On February 25, 2024, Dierkop died at the age of 87 from complications of pneumonia and a heart attack at Sherman Oaks Hospital in Los Angeles.^[9]^[8]

Partial filmography

1961 – Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea as pilot of the Seaview (uncredited)
1961 – The Hustler as pool room hood (uncredited)
1964 – The Pawnbroker as Robinson
1967 – Gunn as Lazlo Joyce
1967 – The St. Valentine's Day Massacre as Salvanti
1968 – The Sweet Ride as Mr. Clean
1969 – The Thousand Plane Raid as Railla
1969 – Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid as George "Flat-Nose" Curry
1970 – Pound as Airdale
1971 – Angels Hard as They Come as General
1972 – Night of the Cobra Woman
1972 – The Hot Box as Garcia, the Journalist/Major Dubay
1973 – Messiah of Evil as the gas attendant
1973 – The Student Teachers
1973 – The Sting as Floyd
1977 – Captains Courageous as Tom Platt
1981 – Texas Lightning as Walt
1984 – Silent Night, Deadly Night as the Killer Santa
1985 – The Fix as Hawkeye
1987 – Savage Harbor as Boat Gunman
1987 – Code Name Zebra as "Crazy"
1987 – Banzai Runner as Traven
1988 – Grotesque as Matson
1988 – Messenger of Death as Orville Beecham
1989 – Spies and Lovers as Ben "Biker Ben"
1989 – Blood Red as Cooper
1989 – Liberty & Bash as Mr. B
1990 – Eternity as the video editor
1990 – Nerds of a Feather Ben "Biker Ben"
1990 – Under Crystal Lake
1992 – Roots of Evil as Collins
1994 – Maverick as Riverboat Poker Player (uncredited)
1994 – Reverse Heaven as bank robber
1996 – Too Fast Too Young as businessman
1998 – Merchants of Venus as Carl
1998 – Invisible Dad as Mr. Weiderman
2000 – Superguy: Behind the Cape as Sam Trent
2005 – Murder on the Yellow Brick Road as Redwood
2006 – Mystery Woman: Wild West Mystery (TV movie) as Zeke Foster
2008 – Chinaman's Chance: America's Other Slaves as Dr. Sawyer
2009 – Forget Me Not as Pete, the Foreman
2016 – The Midnighters as 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
Lost in Space (1965) – Horned Mutant (uncredited)
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1966) – Adolph
Gunsmoke (1966) – Silvee & Dan
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

References

^ ^a ^b Lienlokken, Marguerite (March 30, 1968). "Charles Dierkop, TV 'Baddie' Is Visiting His Hometown". La Crosse Tribune. p. 5. Retrieved August 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ^a ^b ^c Martin, Bob (April 18, 1976). "'Police Woman' actor finds dad--after 39 years". Independent Press-Telegram. Long Beach, Calif. p. TeleViews 1. Retrieved August 3, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Goolsby, Denise (November 10, 2016). "WWII vet fought in four battles, earned Bronze Star". The Desert Sun. Palm Springs, Calif. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
^ "Flat Nose Curry in 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' 'Memba Him?!". TMZ. March 21, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
^ Eagan, Daniel (November 26, 2009). America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 2027. ISBN 978-1-4411-7541-0.
^ Terrace, Vincent (January 10, 2014). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. p. 844. ISBN 978-0-7864-8641-0.
^ Charles Dierkop cameo (3min 28sec) (September 13, 2017). R.E.M. - Man On The Moon (Official Music Video) (Motion picture / Music video). REMHQ - R.E.M.'s Official YouTube Channel. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
^ ^a ^b Rice, Lynette (February 28, 2024). "Charles Dierkop Dies: 'The Sting', 'Butch Cassidy' & 'Police Woman' Actor Was 87". Deadline. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
^ Barnes, Mike (February 26, 2024). "Charles Dierkop, Actor in 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,' 'The Sting' and 'Police Woman,' Dies at 87". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 26, 2024.