Walter Olkewicz, the gentle giant who stole scenes from “Twin Peaks,” “Seinfeld” and “Grace Under Fire,” has died at age 72.
The veteran character actor died Tuesday morning at his home in Los Angeles, his son, Zak Olkewicz, confirmed to Hollywood Reporter.
The co-star of Steven Spielberg’s cult film “1941” and the success of John Grisham’s adaptation of Joel Schumacher’s “The Client” died after a 20-year health battle that included a series of knee surgeries that caused infections, which caused disabilities that forced him out of the show business.
“He was a good man who nurtured his love of creativity and the arts in everything he did,” Zak told Deadline in a statement on behalf of his family. “He gave me that passion, and I hope to pass it on to the grandchildren I loved so much.”
Born on May 14, 1948 in Bayonne, New Jersey, Olkewicz attended Bayonne High School in St. Louis. Mary of the Plains College in Kansas and Colorado State University, before making her film debut in 1976’s “Futureworld” with Peter Fonda and Blythe Danner.
Fans of “Seinfeld” know him as Nick, the wiring of a classic 1996 episode, but Olkewicz is perhaps best known as the gloomy Jacques Renault in David Lynch’s ABC series “Twin Peaks” in 1990, as well as in feature film “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.”
Olkewicz reprized his role for the reboot of Lynch’s Showtime in 2017, which would be his last role on screen. “It was his first role in almost 15 years, and he did it all behind a bar to cover up the fact that he couldn’t stand it,” his son told the Hollywood Reporter.
In addition to his recurring roles in “Grace Under Fire” and “Who’s the Boss,” the actor’s countless television credits include appearances in classic series such as “ER,” The Rockford Files, “Taxi,” “Barney Miller.” “Health,” “Newhart,” “Falcon Crest,” “Family Ties,” “Married … with Children,” “Moonlight,” “LA Law” and “Murder, He Wrote.”
He is survived by his son Zak, daughter-in-law Katrina Rennells and grandchildren Sadie and Declan Robert.