Charles Dierkop

Charles Richard Dierkop (September 11, 1936 – February 25, 2024) was an American character actor. He is most recognized for his supporting roles in the films Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting (1973) and the television series Police Woman (19741978).

Early years Dierkop was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He attended Holy Trinity Grade School and attended Aquinas High School in La Crosse. He was raised by his aunt and uncle after his father left when Dierkop was an infant and his mother "left home when he was still a tot". He broke his nose four times in fights as a youth.

Military service Dierkop dropped out of high school after his junior year and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at age 17. He served in Korea during the Korean War and was discharged from the Marine Corps at age 19. Upon his return, he lived with his mother in Philadelphia, and with the help of the G.I. Bill, he enrolled in the American Foundation of Dramatic Arts in Philadelphia. and as "Floyd" in The Sting (1973), he acted as a bodyguard with Lee Paul to Robert Shaw's New York gangster/griftee, Doyle Lonnegan. He is best known for playing Detective Pete Royster on the television series Police Woman between 1974 and 1978.

Dierkop appears briefly in the music video of "Man on the Moon", a hit song by the American alternative rock band R.E.M.

Personal life and death Dierkop was married to Joan Addis from 1958 to 1974. They had a daughter, Lynn, and a son.

Partial filmography

1961 – Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea as pilot of the Seaview (uncredited) 1961 – The Hustler as pool room hood (uncredited) 1964 – The Pawnbroker as Robinson 1967 – Gunn as Lazlo Joyce 1967 – The St. Valentine's Day Massacre as Salvanti 1968 – The Sweet Ride as Mr. Clean 1969 – The Thousand Plane Raid as Railla 1969 – Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid as George "Flat-Nose" Curry 1970 – Pound as Airdale 1971 – Angels Hard as They Come as General 1972 – Night of the Cobra Woman 1972 – The Hot Box as Garcia, the Journalist/Major Dubay 1973 – Messiah of Evil as the gas attendant 1973 – The Student Teachers 1973 – The Sting as Floyd 1977 – Captains Courageous as Tom Platt 1981 – Texas Lightning as Walt 1984 – Silent Night, Deadly Night as the Killer Santa 1985 – The Fix as Hawkeye 1987 – Savage Harbor as Boat Gunman 1987 – Code Name Zebra as "Crazy" 1987 – Banzai Runner as Traven 1988 – Grotesque as Matson 1988 – Messenger of Death as Orville Beecham 1989 – Nerds of a Feather as Ben "Biker Ben" 1989 – Blood Red as Cooper 1989 – Liberty & Bash as Mr. B 1990 – Eternity as the video editor 1991 – Under Crystal Lake as Waldo 1992 – Roots of Evil as Collins 1994 – Maverick as Riverboat Poker Player (uncredited) 1996 – Too Fast Too Young as businessman 1998 – Merchants of Venus as Carl 1998 – Invisible Dad as Mr. Weiderman 2000 – Superguy: Behind the Cape as Sam Trent 2001 - James Dean (TV movie) as Groundsman 2005 – Murder on the Yellow Brick Road as Redwood 2006 – Mystery Woman: Wild West Mystery (TV movie) as Zeke Foster 2008 – Chinaman's Chance: America's Other Slaves as Dr. Sawyer 2009 – Forget Me Not as Pete, the Foreman 2016 – The Midnighters as Louie 2018 - Heaven & Hell as Bank Robber Driver

Television credits

The Naked City (1960–1962) – Arrest Suspect / Boy who Gets Beaten Up / Tow Truck Driver / Shag's Friend / Hungarian in Rail Yard / Hood / Registered Mail Clerk / Hood #1 (uncredited) Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1965) – Left-Handed Man Lost in Space (1965) – Horned Mutant (uncredited) The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1966) – Adolph Gunsmoke (1966) – Silvee & Dan The Andy Griffith Show (1966) – Larry Star Trek (1967, episode: Wolf in the Fold) – Morla Batman (1968) – Dustbag (uncredited) Adam-12 (1968) – Janney Lancer (1968–1970) – Walters / Bleaker / Harris Bonanza (1969–1972) – Shorty / Nicholson / Sawyer The High Chaparral (1970) – Slim Land of the Giants (1970) – Arthur Kamber Bearcats! (1971, in episode 9, "Bitter Flats") – Pistolero Love, American Style (1971) – Gus (segment "Love and the Eyewitness") Mission: Impossible (1972) – Richie Alias Smith and Jones (1971–1973) – Clayton Crewes / Poker Player / Shields Kung Fu (1973) – Traphagen Mannix (1969–1973) – Frank / Makuta / John Marrish Gunsmoke (1966–1973) – Traphagen Kojak (1974) – DeLuca Police Story (1973–1974) – Royster / Dave Rawlins Cannon (1971–1974) – Eddie Main / Keegan Police Woman (1974–1978) – Det. Pete Royster Vega$ (1978) – Lenny The Deerslayer (1978, TV Movie) – Hurry Harry March CHiPs (1980) – Mouse Fantasy Island (1980–1982) – Vinnie Avalon / Harry 'Weasel' Forbes Matt Houston (1983–1984) – Viney / Choo Choo The Fall Guy (1983–1985) – Mack Doyle / Arden Simon & Simon (1986–1988) – Al Pacheco / Jerry Sappman MacGyver (1991) – Mo Nimitz