Richard Kiel had a face you didn’t easily forget—towering, warm-eyed, and framed by a presence that filled every room he entered. Best remembered as Jaws, the steel-toothed Bond villain, he led a real-life story just as intriguing, and this profile separates the documented biography from the persistent rumors so you can see the man behind the character.
Height: ~7 ft 1.5 in (~2.17 m) ·
Birth: Sept. 13, 1939 ·
Death: Sept. 10, 2014 ·
Signature Role: Jaws in James Bond films ·
Reported Condition: Acromegaly
Quick snapshot
- Born Richard Dawson Kiel in Detroit, 1939 (Los Angeles Times)
- Played Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker (ABC News Australia)
- Died in Fresno, California at age 74 (Los Angeles Times)
- Screen career spanned nearly five decades (ABC News Australia)
- Exact official height — sources round differently (IMDb, 007 Info)
- Medical diagnosis of acromegaly reported by obituaries but no single confirmatory family statement exists (Los Angeles Times) (IMDb)
- Specific cause of death was not the focus of major obituaries (Los Angeles Times, ABC News Australia) (IMDb)
- Family details (wife’s name, children’s identities) are largely kept private (Los Angeles Times) (IMDb)
- 1939: Born in Detroit, Michigan (Los Angeles Times)
- 1960: Credited television debut on Laramie (James Bond International Fan Club)
- 1977: The Spy Who Loved Me released — Jaws introduced (ABC News Australia)
- 1979: Moonraker released — Jaws becomes a fan favorite (The Register)
- 2014: Dies in Fresno, California (KNBA/NPR)
- Jaws remains one of the most celebrated Bond villains in franchise history (Southern Monitor editorial)
- Biographical interest in Kiel continues to grow among film enthusiasts (Southern Monitor editorial)
The pattern: The confirmed facts are stable, but the open questions are just as telling.
Across obituaries and film databases, a small core of facts is reported consistently. These form the stable part of his biography.
| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Richard Dawson Kiel | Los Angeles Times (obituary) |
| Born | September 13, 1939, Detroit, Michigan | Los Angeles Times |
| Died | September 10, 2014, Fresno, California | Los Angeles Times |
| Height (disputed) | Approx. 7 ft 1.5 in (2.17 m) | IMDb (database) |
| Reported Condition | Acromegaly | Los Angeles Times |
| Signature Role | Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) / Moonraker (1979) | ABC News Australia |
| First Credit | Laramie (1960, TV episode) | 007 Info (James Bond fan club) |
| Family Moved | To Los Angeles area when he was nine | Los Angeles Times |
Who Was Richard Kiel?
Richard Dawson Kiel was an American actor born in Detroit, Michigan, on September 13, 1939. His family moved to the Los Angeles area when he was nine, placing him in the physical and cultural orbit of Hollywood during his formative years. Standing out from the crowd from an early age, Kiel gradually found his way into the entertainment industry through extra work and small television roles. His early appearances included credits on westerns and science-fiction series, a typical path for a young working actor in the 1960s. The Los Angeles Times noted that his screen career ultimately spanned nearly five decades, beginning with a 1960 appearance on Laramie.
The pattern: For a man who would become one of the most recognizable henchmen in cinema history, Kiel’s early career was a slow, patient build of small roles rather than an overnight discovery.
Height and Condition — The Physical Reality
Was Richard Kiel really 7 feet tall?
Published accounts give his height as approximately 7 feet 1.5 inches, or 2.17 meters. Kiel himself sometimes rounded his height to 7 feet 2 inches in interviews because it was easier for people to remember.
While acromegaly is widely reported as the cause of his height in major obituaries, no single medical document or family statement has verified the specific diagnosis publicly. The condition remains part of his widely reported biography rather than a confirmed medical record.
How tall was Richard Kiel?
Approximately 7 feet 1.5 inches (2.17 meters), with Kiel sometimes rounding up to 7 feet 2 inches in interviews.
What condition did Richard Kiel have?
The Los Angeles Times reported that his unusual height was associated with acromegaly, a hormonal condition involving excessive growth hormone. This detail is consistently cited in the literature surrounding his biography, but it falls into the category of a fact that is strongly associated with him without being independently verified by a medical source that has been made public.
The trade-off: For fans seeking a definitive answer on his medical history, the current public record leaves a small but significant gap. For film enthusiasts, the visual legacy on screen remains unaffected by the missing paperwork—the height is the story, with or without the medical footnote.
Did Richard Kiel Play Jaws in James Bond?
Yes. Richard Kiel portrayed the steel-toothed assassin Jaws in two consecutive James Bond films: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979). The character’s signature feature was a set of chromium-steel teeth, and his imposing stature made him a perfect physical match for the role.
Jaws was a henchman first associated with Karl Stromberg in The Spy Who Loved Me and later with Hugo Drax in Moonraker. The character was initially intended to die at the end of The Spy Who Loved Me, but survived after favorable audience reaction. In Moonraker, Jaws changes allegiance and survives alongside the character Dolly, cementing his status as a fan favorite.
Jaws was initially intended to die at the end of The Spy Who Loved Me, but survived after favorable audience reaction.
— KNBA/NPR (public radio journalism)
Kiel’s performance as Jaws demonstrated how a character without dialogue—relying purely on physical presence and expression—could become a defining element of two of the highest-grossing Bond films. It is the role that defines his legacy, and it almost didn’t survive the first movie.
The implication: Without the positive audience reaction to Jaws in 1977, Kiel’s career would have taken a very different path. The character’s survival in the narrative directly shaped the actor’s legacy.
Filmography and TV Appearances
What movies did Richard Kiel star in?
Besides the Bond films, Kiel appeared in Silver Streak (1976) just before his breakthrough as Jaws. His earlier work includes roles in Palm Springs Weekend (1963) and The Barbarian and the Geisha (1958).
Was Richard Kiel in Star Trek?
A persistent question in fan communities is whether Kiel appeared in Star Trek. The available records point to his presence on The Twilight Zone rather than Star Trek, suggesting a cross-contamination of memory between iconic science-fiction and supernatural series of the 1960s. His genre television work is well documented, but Star Trek does not appear in his main credits.
Most of Kiel’s filmography sits in the shadow of his Bond work, but the early credits show a journeyman actor using his physicality in distinctly different genres.
| Year | Title | Role | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Laramie | Uncredited | Credited television debut |
| TV | The Twilight Zone | Various | Sci-fi anthology appearance |
| 1976 | Silver Streak | Tall passenger | Film role before Bond |
| 1977 | The Spy Who Loved Me | Jaws | Bond villain debut |
| 1979 | Moonraker | Jaws | Role reprisal |
The pattern: For fans who imagine a lost sci-fi performance, the truth is slightly different but no less interesting: his career followed the path of a working character actor, rather than a genre star. His physicality opened doors, but the Bond films opened the vault.
Personal Life, Family, and Privacy
Who was Richard Kiel’s wife?
The name of Richard Kiel’s wife is one of the most common questions attached to the actor. The Los Angeles Times obituary confirms he was survived by his wife and children, but their names are not widely circulated in the public biographical literature. This privacy is a consistent feature of his biography.
Did Richard Kiel have children?
Yes, according to the Los Angeles Times obituary, Kiel was survived by his wife and children. The children’s identities are not widely publicized.
Kiel’s towering frame gave him a career as one of cinema’s most memorable villains, but it also came with a deeply private life, leaving many biographical details—including the names of his closest family members—shrouded from the public record.
What this means: The fact that his family remains essentially anonymous speaks to a life lived fully outside the tabloid context, making the “gentle giant” narrative all the more credible. In an era of constant exposure, that choice gives his biography an unusual and respectful stillness.
How Did Richard Kiel Die?
Richard Kiel died in Fresno, California, on September 10, 2014, at age 74. The specific cause of death was not the centerpiece of most obituaries. Outlets like The Register and ABC News Australia focused instead on his life and career, noting his nearly five decades of screen work and his iconic role as Jaws.
Kiel’s screen career included television and film roles spanning nearly five decades.
— ABC News Australia (entertainment report)
The catch: The cause of death may be an open question for some researchers, but the prevailing narrative from the publications that covered his passing prioritizes his legacy as a beloved character actor over the clinical details of his final illness. This reflects the editorial dignity afforded to a man who had spent his entire adult life in a kind of semi-public solitude.
Kiel’s unusual height was associated with acromegaly, a hormonal condition involving excessive growth hormone.
— Los Angeles Times (obituary)
These three sources, spanning local newspapers, public radio, and international news, collectively paint a picture of a professional respected for his work and careful with his private life.
Summary — The Gentle Giant’s Enduring Image
For film enthusiasts and biography readers who want the clearest possible picture of Richard Kiel, the answer is not in the exact inches of his height or the specific medical terminology. It lies in the fact that a man with so few verified biographical bullet points left such a massive imprint on pop culture. The legacy of Jaws speaks for itself because Kiel himself didn’t need to. For the audience of movie and biography enthusiasts, the trade-off is clear: the character of Jaws achieved immortality while the man behind the teeth preserved his own privacy. In an era of constant biographical exposure, that choice leaves Kiel’s story with a rare and respectful stillness.
Frequently asked questions
Did reported heights for Richard Kiel vary?
Yes. Published accounts give approximately 7 feet 1.5 inches (2.17 meters), while Kiel sometimes rounded to 7 feet 2 inches for simplicity.
Is acromegaly a confirmed diagnosis for Richard Kiel?
The Los Angeles Times reported it, but no confirmatory family statement or public medical record has verified the diagnosis.
Did Richard Kiel appear in a 1960s sci-fi anthology?
His known television credits from that era include The Twilight Zone. No solid evidence places him in Star Trek.
What height did Richard Kiel use in interviews?
He sometimes rounded his height to 7 feet 2 inches because it was easier to remember.
Are Richard Kiel’s wife and children named in public records?
No. The Los Angeles Times reported that he was survived by his wife and children, but their names are not widely circulated.
Which non-Bond films is Richard Kiel known for?
He appeared in Silver Streak (1976), Palm Springs Weekend (1963), and The Barbarian and the Geisha (1958), plus TV roles on Laramie and The Twilight Zone.
Did Richard Kiel’s obituary identify his children?
No. The Los Angeles Times obituary reported that he was survived by his children but did not widely circulate their identities.
Why did obituaries focus on Kiel’s career instead of cause of death?
Major obituaries prioritized his nearly five-decade screen career and his role as Jaws; the specific cause of death was not central to their coverage.
The pattern: The recurring questions around Kiel circle the same tension—a physically extraordinary public figure who left a carefully protected private life behind.
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James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Southern Monitor, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.