Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid actor Charles Dierkop dies at 87: Star also appeared in The Sing and was on TV’s Police Woman
Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid actor Charles Dierkop has died at the age of 87.
He was also known for his roles in the film The Sting and the TV show Police Woman.
The Hollywood veteran died on Sunday.
Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid actor Charles Dierkop has died at the age of 87
He died in the aftermath of a heart attack and pneumonia, his daughter Lynn has said The Hollywood Reporter.
The publication added that Charles died at Sherman Oaks Hospital, California.
Born Charles Richard Dierkop in 1936 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the actor also famously starred opposite Rod Steiger in 1964’s The Pawnbroker.
And played a gangster in the 1967 mafia film The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.
Two years later, Charles landed the role of outlaw George ‘Flat Nose’ Curry in Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid.
The main stars of that popular western film were matinee idols of the time, Paul Newman and Robert Redford.
Here he is seen on the far right with Robert Redford and Paul Newman, as well as Ted Cassidy and Dave Dunlap
The film was a huge success and made icons of Redford and Newman
They played the film’s titular gunslingers.
The 1969 film was based on a true story.
It was about train and bank robberies, a torrid love affair and a new look at outlaw life in remote Bolivia.
It’s also a character study of a remarkable friendship between Butch—possibly the most lovable outlaw in Frontier history—and his closest associate, the legendary, always dangerous Sundance Kid.
Charles also worked with Newman in 1961’s The Hustler and again on the 1973 con classic The Sting, in which Charles played bodyguard Floyd.
Recalling how he landed the role of ‘Flat Nose’, Charles – who broke his nose several times in fights in his youth – said in 2018: ‘My agent was on a plane reading a script and it says: Flat Nose Curry. ..I think I have someone in mind.
Here he is seen in a suit and hat as he plays a tough guy in 1973’s The Sting, which also starred Redford and Newman.
“So I got an interview with George Roy Hill (director of The Sting) and was cast very easily.”
Charles also had a string of TV roles, on shows like Lost In Space, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Star Trek (he played Morla in a 1967 episode), Batman, Adam-12, Ironside and The Andy Griffith Show.
He also appeared in the hit crime show Police Woman starring Angie Dickinson.
In his 1976 episode, he played Detective Pete Royston.
Here Charles is seen far left with Ed Bernard, Angie Dickinson and Earl Holliman in Police Woman (1974 – 1978)
In his episode he played Detective Pete Royston, far right, in 1976
He also appeared in REM’s 1992 music video for their Man on the Moon hit – with Charles appearing in the promo while sitting in a pub.
His first role was an uncredited part in 1961’s Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea.
Charles was married to Joan Addis from 1958 until their divorce in 1974.
The couple – who met at the American Foundation of Dramatic Arts – had two children: son Charles Jr., who died in 1990 at age 29, and daughter Lynn.