Character actor Richard Riehle passed away last week at age 78. He voiced Sheriff Sam Brown in “Home on the Range.”

Richard Riehle

Friends of Riehle told TMZ that he died of natural causes last Thursday, October 15 in Los Angeles.

Riehle was known for roles like Wade in Free Willy (1993), Charlie Clark in Casino (1995), Tom Smykowski in Office Space (1999), Bob Bigalow in Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999), Dr. Will Gruber in The Man From Earth (2007), Walt Finnerty on Grounded for Life (2001 – 2005), and Bill Cozbi in Bridesmaids (2011). He had several guest roles across the Star Trek franchise, as well as on shows like NCIS, The Golden Girls, The West Wing, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

He played Santa Claus in several different projects, including Disney’s The Search for Santa Paws (2010).

His most famous Disney role was as Sheriff Sam Brown in the animated film Home on the Range (2004).

His other Disney roles include Burton in Iron Will (1994), Mr. Greeson in Holy Matrimony (1994), Commander Gorman in Mighty Joe Young (1998), Earl in Balloon Farm (1999), Leo Grahand in Fillmore! (2002 – 2004), Thomas Howard in Treasure Buddies (2012), Mr. Coburn in Kickin’ It (2011 – 2015), and Gerald in American Housewife (2016 – 2021).

He was Vaughn Carter in Universal’s Beethoven’s 5th (2003), the landlord in Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), and Bumi in Nickelodeon’s The Legend of Korra (2012 – 2014).

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The post Character Actor Richard Riehle, Voice of Sheriff in ‘Home on the Range,’ Dies at 78 appeared first on WDW News Today.