Richard Kiel takes a bite out of Vancouver Robert Waldman chats with JAWS...not the shark! August 22nd 2004 05:43pm | Posted by: Editor-in-Chief Lucky onlookers at Science World recently went ape over the sighting of 007 veteran Richard Kiel in the crowds. Best remembered for his heroic work on Albert Broccoli’s The Spy Who Loved Me the strapping actor was in town to help publicize the new James Bond The Exhibition display at Science World. What a coup it was for this venerable institution to latch onto this living legend. Yours truly was even luckier to grab a few minutes with this formidable actor. My few minutes with Kiel showed him to be both a compassionate and intelligent individual. Apart from acting this gentle giant is an accomplished writer having penned his autobiography, the appropriately titled Big. Currently his interest in public affairs and governance has him trying to get a screenplay he co-wrote on the life of slavery figure Cassius Clay off the ground. Blessed with a loving wife of four children and three grandchildren the smiling papa values faith and family above all else. Smitten by the acting bug from an early age, it took almost 17 years for Richard to gain world-wide fame as JAWS, the steel-toothed wonder while picking up good notice after stints in the Gene Wilder/Richard Pryor comedy Silver Streak and Burt Reynold’s pig skin odyssey The Longest Yard. Producers first took note of this man’s unique size placing him into scores of television series such as The Wild Wild West, The Rifleman and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. 2004 marks the second time the Kiels have been in Vancouver. Earlier on Richard made a memorable mark on comedy fans with his uproarious interludes in Happy Gilmore, Adam Sandler’s real breakout movie. Past experience in films have given Kiel a successful standard of living. Along the way he’s met scores of people. High marks must go to Albert Broccoli, the deceased Bond patriarch, who personally flew the Kiels and their doctor to L.A. from London for a week when Mrs. Kiel was about to give birth. That no nonsense approach to doing the right thing and putting family first was something both Richard Kiel and Albert Broccoli shared. Also they held in common a belief that taking one’s craft to heart is important and endearing. Solid common sense advice like this is something Richard Kiel has grown up with. More people that follow this path will make the world a better place for us all.. Source: HNR In: Interviews |Visit the HNR Forums

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