Richard Riehle, the familiar face behind Office Space’s Tom Smykowski, dies at 78

Richard Riehle, remembered for Office Space and Glory, died October 15 at 78, his representative told The Associated Press on October 19. No cause was disclosed.

The role that followed him offscreen

In Mike Gencarelli’s 2012 interview for MediaMikes, Riehle recalled being surprised by the afterlife of Office Space. He said people began recognizing him on the street months after the film’s short theatrical run, as it reached viewers through home video and cable.

He also described Mike Judge choosing a cast that enjoyed spending time together. Riehle associated the production with shared dinners and nights out after long working days. His recollections put the comedy’s office tension alongside a much warmer experience of making it.

More than one familiar character

The same interview ranged across his Santa Claus performances, horror work and Grounded for Life. Riehle spoke about changing roles as an opportunity to try something new, rather than treating one recognizable part as the limit of his career.

For viewers returning to Office Space, that is a useful way to remember him. The familiar face could anchor a joke, but the performer behind it remained interested in the next challenge. His own account of the film’s second life also explains something an opening-weekend result cannot capture: a supporting performance can become part of how audiences remember a movie long afterward.