Walter Olkewicz, the gentle giant who stole scenes from “Twin Peaks”, “Seinfeld” and “Grace Under Fire”, has died at the age of 72.
The veteran character actor died on Tuesday morning at his home in Los Angeles, his son, Zak Olkewicz, confirmed to the Hollywood reporter.
Co-stars of Steven Spielberg’s cult film “1941” and Joel Schumacher’s successful adaptation of John Grisham’s “The Client,” died after a 20-year health battle that included a series of surgeries. knees that caused infections, resulting in disabilities that forced him to leave the business presentation.
“He was a good man who pushed his love for creativity and the arts into everything he did,” Zak told Deadline in a statement on behalf of his family. “He taught me that passion and I look forward to passing it on to the grandchildren he loved so much.”
Born on May 14, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey, Olkewicz attended Bayonne High School, St. Louis College. Mary of the Plains in Kansas and Colorado State University, before making her film debut in 1976’s “Futureworld,” starring Peter Fonda and Blythe Danner.
“Seinfeld” fans know him as Nick, the cable guy from a 1996 classic episode – but Olkewicz is probably best known as Jacques Renault in David Lynch’s ABC series “Twin Peaks” in 1990, as well as in the feature film since 1992 “Twin Peaks: Walking with me on fire. ”
Olkewicz has resumed his role for Lynch’s reboot in 2017 Showtime, which would be his last role on screen. “It was his first role in almost 15 years and he did everything 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 TV credits include appearances in classic series such as “ER,” The Rockford Files, “Taxi,” “Barney Miller,” “Good Luck,” ” Newhart ”,“ Falcon Crest ”,“ Family Ties ”,“ Married … With Children ”,“ Moonlighting ”,“ LA Law ”and“ Murder, She Wrote ”.
He is survived by his son Zak, daughter-in-law Katrina Rennells and grandchildren Sadie and Declan Robert.