Al Strobel

Albert Michael Strobel (January 28, 1940 – December 2, 2022) was an American actor best known for his recurring role on David Lynch and Mark Frost's Twin Peaks as Phillip Michael Gerard, also known as Mike.

Early life Strobel was born in Madison, Wisconsin . Strobel lost his left arm at the shoulder as a result of a car accident when he was 17 years old. While living in Oregon in the early 1970s he did theatrical work at the University of Oregon and co-founded the Church of the Creative. At the Grateful Dead's August 27, 1972, concert in Veneta he shot video which ended up in the film Sunshine Daydream.

Career Strobel starred in "scores" of local productions in Eugene, Oregon from the late 1960s right up to the early 80's. He was the star, producer and overall "moving force" behind a television dramatization of Anton Chekhov's Swansong, which aired on OEPBS and was called "a first for Oregon educational television."

Strobel was cast in Twin Peaks, the series which made him a star, without an audition or even meeting David Lynch.

In 2015, Strobel appeared in a video supporting David Lynch following his departure from the Twin Peaks revival slated for 2016, along with numerous other Twin Peaks cast members. David Lynch later returned to the revival and Strobel came out of retirement to reprise his role as Philip Gerard. The new series aired on Showtime in 2017.

Personal life and death Strobel died in Eugene, Oregon, on December 2, 2022, at age 82.

Filmography

Film

Television