Joe Turkel

A prolific character player in films from the 1950s through the early 80s, Turkel did bit parts in 50s B-films before appearing in two early important films from director Stanley Kubrick, "The Killing" (1956) and "Paths of Glory" (1957). He went on to amass over 30 credits working mostly in low- to medium-budget genre fare helmed by filmmakers as diverse as Bert I Gordon, Sam Fuller, and Robert Wise.

Turkel may be best known by cultists for one of his later roles--"replicant" creator Dr. Tyrell in Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" (1982). He was creepily convincing as a scientist who enjoyed playing God. Kubrick fans will also remember him as Lloyd, the smiling bartender, who offers some deadly advice to Jack Nicholson in "The Shining" (1980). Joseph Turkel died on June 27, 2022 in Santa Monica, CA at the age of 94.