Joe Turkel
Joseph Turkel was an American character actor who starred in film and television during the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1950s and 1960s. He is best known for his roles in Stanley Kubrick's films The Killing, Paths of Glory, and The Shining, and as Dr. Eldon Tyrell in Blade Runner. He also had roles in three of Bert I. Gordon's films.
Early life
Turkel was born in Brooklyn on July 15, 1927, to Benjamin Turkel, who was a tailor, and Gazella, a homemaker and occasional opera singer. His parents were Polish Jewish immigrants. He had two brothers, Harold and David. Turkel joined the United States Army when he was seventeen and served in the European [Theater of Operations, United States Army|European Theater of Operations] during World War II.
Career
Turkel's first film appearance was 1948's City Across the River. His other film appearances include Bert I. Gordon's The Boy and the Pirates as Abu the Genie, Tormented as Nick, and Village of the Giants as the sheriff; as a gangster-sidekick in The Purple Gang ; a prisoner of war named "Dino" in the 1965 POW movie King Rat; The Sand Pebbles as Bronson; The St. [Valentine's Day Massacre (film)|The St. Valentine's Day Massacre] as Chicago gangster Jake "Greasy Thumb" Guzik; and the 1990 horror feature The [Dark Side of the Moon (1990 film)|The Dark Side of the Moon].
Turkel appeared on the television series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp as Jim Rellance on November 13, 1956. His other television appearances include Sky King, Frontier Doctor, Bat Masterson, U.S. Marshal, Adam-12, The Asphalt Jungle, Mackenzie's Raiders, Kojak, Tales from the Darkside, and Miami Vice. He also appeared on Bonanza three times, including the 1961 episode "The Many Faces of Gideon Flinch", playing one of two of Bullet Head Burke's right-hand men.
Turkel's best known roles are Lloyd, the ghostly bartender in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining and Dr. Eldon Tyrell, the android manufacturer in Ridley Scott's Blade Runner. He was one of only two actors to have worked with Kubrick as a credited character three times. The other appearances were in The Killing, and in Paths of Glory,
He retired from acting after reprising his role of Eldon Tyrell in the 1997 Blade Runner video game. As of 1999, he lived in Southern California and wrote screenplays. He said in a 2014 interview that Paths of Glory was his favorite among his films. Prior to his death, Turkel wrote a memoir, The Misery of Success, scheduled for a now-posthumous 2022 release.
Personal life
Turkel was married to Anita Josephine Cacciatore, with whom he had two sons. When he attended a 2011 rally in Occupy Seattle, he referred to himself as a "liberal progressive Democrat".
Death
On June 27, 2022, Turkel died at the age of 94 from liver failure at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California.
Filmography
City Across the River – Shimmy StocktonJohnny Stool Pigeon – Bellboy Sword in the Desert – Haganah Soldier Angels in Disguise – Johnny MuttonLucky Losers – Johnny AngeloFederal Man – Jack "Sneeze" NortonTriple Trouble – Benny the BloodSouthside 1-1000 – FrankieHalls of Montezuma – Marine Fixed Bayonets! – Soldier Starlift – Litter Case Down Among the Sheltering Palms – Pvt. Harris The Glass Wall – Freddie ZakoylaA Slight Case of Larceny – Holdup Man Man Crazy – RayDuffy of San Quentin – Frank RobertsGypsy Colt – Chuck Return from the Sea – Sailor The Human Jungle – Delinquent Hood The Bamboo Prison – P.O.W. Cell 2455, Death Row – Curly Mad at the World – Pete JohnsonThe Naked Street – ShimmyLucy Gallant – One of Casey's Air Force Buddies Inside Detroit – Pete LinkThe Killing – TinyThe Proud and Profane – Patient with Cards Friendly Persuasion – Poor Loser The Shadow on the Window – Lounger Hellcats of the Navy – ChickBeau James – Reporter The Midnight Story – Lothario at Dance Jeanne Eagels – Eddie, Reporter House of Numbers – Bradville – Convict Paths of Glory – Private Pierre ArnaudThe Beast of Budapest – MartinThe Bonnie Parker Story – Chuck DarrowThe Case Against Brooklyn – Henchman MonteVerboten! – InfantrymanWarlock – Chet Haggin Here Come the Jets – HenleyThe Purple Gang – Eddie OlsenVisit to a Small Planet – Malcolm The Boy and the Pirates – Abu the GenieTormented – Nick, The BlackmailerBat Masterson – FargoPortrait of a Mobster – Joe NoeEast Side West Side (TV series) – Richard BaileyThe Yellow Canary – PolicemanThe Carpetbaggers – Reporter Combat! – Pvt. KlimmerVillage of the Giants – SheriffKing Rat – DinoThe Sand Pebbles – Seaman BronsonThe St. Valentine's Day Massacre – Jake "Greasy Thumb" GuzikThe Rat Patrol – Capt. BruenerThe Devil's 8 – SamFive Savage Men – PeyoteWild in the Sky – CorazzaSix Hundred and Sixty–Six – Col. FergusonCycle Psycho – HarryThe Prisoner of Second Avenue – Man Upstairs The Hindenburg – Detective MooreThe Commitment – JulesWhich Way Is Up? – Harry BoatwrightThe Shining – Lloyd the bartenderBlade Runner – Dr. Eldon TyrellMiami Vice, episode 415: Indian Wars – LevecThe Dark Side of the Moon – Paxton WarnerBlade Runner – Dr. Eldon Tyrell