Veteran actor Walter Olkewicz, who’s presence graced a number of beloved TV Shows including Twin Peaks, Seinfeld and Grace Under Fire, has died. He was 72.
His death was confirmed by his son, screenwriter Zak Olkewicz. “He was a good man who pushed his love for creativity and the arts into everything he did,” he said in a statement. “He handed that passion down to me, and I look forward to passing it on to the grandchildren he loved so much.”
No cause of death has been revealed. In a Facebook post, Zak wrote, that Walter’s death “was sudden but I don’t believe he woke up or was in any pain or fear.
“He was a lot of great things, but mostly he was a good good person in his heart, and I know from the outreach of kind words from everyone he will be missed by the world as much as by his family.”
Walter Olkewicz carved out an impressive career as a character actor. His most iconic role was playing the seedy bartender Jacques Renault in Twin Peaks. A role that was reprised in David Lynch’s 1992 film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, and appearing as Jean-Michel Renault in the show’s 2017 revival.
Olkewicz also had a recurring role in Grace Under Fire, and appeared in cult sitcomes of Seinfeld and Married… With Children.
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