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11th Sep 2014

Richard Kiel, the man who played Jaws in James Bond and Mr. Larson in Happy Gilmore, has died

Kiel passed away in Saint Agnes medical centre in Fresno, California, yesterday. He was 74 years old.

Conor Heneghan

Kiel passed away in Saint Agnes medical centre in Fresno, California, yesterday. He was 74 years old.

The hospital confirmed Kiel’s passing yesterday but did not reveal the cause of death although Kiel, who stood at a couple of inches over seven foot, had been admitted to the hospital after breaking his leg last week. It is not known whether or not him breaking his leg was in any way related to his death.

Kiel will be best remembered as one of the most memorable of all Bond villains, having starred as the incredibly scary Jaws in two Bond movies, The Spy Who Loved Me in 1977 and Moonraker two years later. Younger generations might remember him better for his role as Mr. Larson in Happy Gilmore, Gilmore’s former boss who bent Shooter McGavin’s club after the pair had an altercation on the golf course.

Kiel was injured in a truck accident several years ago and had difficulty walking afterwards which reduced his acting commitments and forced him to use a cane and eventually a motorised wheelchair as a result.

He’ll be sadly missed.

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