Many today are mourning the loss of comedic actor and voice artist Jack Riley, known best for his roles on The Bob Newhart Show and Rugrats. Variety is reporting the Cleveland native died of pneumonia at a Los Angeles hospital and is survived by a wife, two children, and two grandchildren. He was 81.
After serving a stint in the Army, Riley got his first break in radio before moving to California and landing guest spots on some of the ‘7os most beloved sitcoms: I Dream of Jeannie, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and M*A*S*H. His most iconic role was that of cynical patient Elliot Carlin on The Bob Newhart Show, on which he appeared in 49 episodes over the span of six seasons. He later reprised that role on St. Elsewhere and even ALF.
Younger generations, however, would probably recognize his voice first and foremost. The late actor provided Rugrats‘ toy-inventing Stu Pickles with a distinct, subdued levity that colored his delivery of some of the Nicktoon’s most memorable lines. He worked on 143 episodes of the original Nickelodeon series, 18 episodes of the spin-off All Grown Up!, and several films and video games. His career spanned close to five decades, amassing an astounding 157 credits to his name.
(Via Variety)
