Richard Riehle, Office Space Actor, Died of a Stroke at 78

Actor Richard Riehle died from a stroke, according to his death certificate. Deadline reported the cause on October 27, 2026. He was 78.

Riehle died on October 15 at his home in Los Angeles. Many film fans know him as Tom Smykowski, the character he played in the 1999 comedy Office Space.

The cause of death was not public at first. Friends of Riehle initially told TMZ that he had died of natural causes. Variety also reported on October 19 that he had died of natural causes on October 15.

The later report came from the death certificate itself, which TMZ obtained. It lists a stroke as the cause of death. It also lists oropharyngeal cancer, a type of throat cancer, as the underlying cause. The underlying cause is the condition that led to the events that caused a death.

Riehle's death was first reported on October 19, several days after he died.

For his colleagues and the fans who still quote his lines from Office Space, the news is a sad one. The film has remained a favourite for more than two decades, and his role in it is one of the reasons it is remembered.

Our condolences go to his family and friends.