Actor Joe Turkel dies in California at the age of 94. The name is probably only known to film experts, but many people know two films in which he appeared: Turkel played bartender Lloyd in “The Shining” and Dr. Eldon Tyrell in “Blade Runner” – two absolute classics of their genres.
The American actor Joe Turkel, known among other things from “The Shining” and “Blade Runner”, died on June 27 at the age of 94. His family confirmed this according to “Deadline”. He passed away peacefully last Monday at Saint John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, California, surrounded by his loved ones.
The American was born Joseph Turkel in July 1927 in Brooklyn, New York. During World War II he served in the United States Navy as a sailor before moving to California in 1949 to start his acting career. It all began back then with a supporting role as a crook in the crime film “The Brood of Satan”.
More film roles followed in the 50s and 60s. However, these were often so small that his name was not mentioned in the credits. He was also given a supporting role in the 50s in Stanley Kubrick’s works “The math didn’t add up” and “Paths to Fame”. Turkel and Kubrick were friends for many years. In 1980, Turkel landed the part of bartender Lloyd alongside Jack Nicholson in his horror classic The Shining.
The New York native also made a name for himself with his role in Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner”. In it he played the eccentric CEO Dr. Eldon Tyrell. He also got a leading role in 1990’s “The Dark Side of the Moon”.
Over the years, Turkel has also had small appearances in television series, including “Bonanza”, “The Boss”, “Operation in Manhattan”, “Miami Vice” and most recently in 1998 in “Life and I”.
