Joe Turkel dead: The Shining and Blade Runner actor dies aged 94
Actor Joe Turkel who played the bartender in horror classic, The Shining, has died aged 94.
Turkel, who was also in Blade Runner, starred in more than 100 TV shows and films over his long career.
He was a favourite actor of renowned director Stanley Kubrick and appeared in three of his films, The Killing, Paths of Glory and The Shining.
In The Shining, Turkel played ghostly bartender Lloyd, who served a crazed Jack Nicholson in one of the most watched horror films of all time.
In Blade Runner, starring Harrison Ford, he played scientist Eldon Tyrell who devised replicants. He was born in 1927 and after a spell with the US Army fighting in the Second World War headed to Hollywood.
His representatives confirmed that he had died at St John’s Hospital in Santa Monica.
They said in a statement that they were “so sad” to share that their “great friend and client Joe Turkel has passed away.”
Representative Chris Carbaugh told People: “Joe was a lightning bolt and he was very passionate to talk about films, baseball and life. Every time we spoke he was quick to crack a bad joke and make me laugh.
“He was very proud of being the only actor to do three Stanley Kubrick films and loved to share his experiences with family, friends and fans.”
He went on to describe the actor as ‘an old Brooklyn boy’ who “loved” spending time with his brother, two sons and grandchildren.
As well The Shining and Blade Runner he appeared The Lone Ranger, S.W.A.T, The Andy Griffith Show, Miami Vice, The Dark Side of the Moon. His first film credit was in ‘City Across the River in 1948.
Turkel retired 25 years ago and his final piece of work was voicing a character in the 1997 Blade Runner video game.
