David Huddleston, who played the title role in The Big Lebowski, has died at the age of 85.
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“Sadly, Huddleston died Tuesday of heart and kidney disease in Santa Fe, N.M., his wife Sarah told The Hollywood Reporter”.
This undated photo provided by Sarah C. Koeppe, shows David Huddleston and his wife Sarah C. Koeppe.
Outside of his role in what is objectively one of the greatest films of all time, Huddleston enjoyed a long career as an esteemed character actor.
But it was Huddleston’s character as the mayor of Rock Ridge in the film “Blazing Saddles” and as the title character in the 1998 film “The Big Lebowski” that he is most noted for. But over time, it built up an unexpected and massive fan base, and become a staple re-watch film. Huddleston began his acting career after being honorably discharged from the Air Force and was able to attend The American Academy of Dramatic Arts on his G.I. Bill in the late 1950s.
According to a 2014 interview with Santa Fe New Mexican, the popularity of his performance apparently followed him for decades after the film’s release.
For much of the 1980s, Huddleston also starred in a series of television commercials for the Citrus Hill brand of orange juice.
“I’ve had a very, very, very good run at this stuff. I’ve met people who I never dreamt I would meet, all heroes of mine”.
All in all, Huddleston would go on to appear in more than 60 movies, ranging from Smokey And The Bandit II and Santa Claus: The Movie to Rio Lobo and McQ opposite John Wayne.
Prior to his Big Lebowski role, he played guest characters in numerous shows, including parts on Gilmore Girls, The West Wing and Murder She Wrote.
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Besides Koeppe, he is survived by a son, a daughter-in-law and a recently adopted dog named Dooley.
