Charles Dierkop

Charles Dierkop (born September 11, 1936) is an American character actor. He is most recognized for his supporting roles in the films, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Sting (1973), and the television series, Police Woman (1974-1978).

Early years

Dierkop was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and attended Aquinas High School in La Crosse. He was raised by his aunt and uncle after his father left when Dierkop was an infant and his mother "left home when he was still a tot".

Military service

Dierkop dropped out of high school after his junior year and enlisted in the U.S. Marines. He served in Korea after the Korean War had ended and returned from there when he was discharged at age 19. Upon his return, he lived with his mother in Philadelphia, and with the help of the G.I. Bill, he enrolled in the American Foundation of Dramatic Arts in Philadelphia.

Career

Dierkop is a lifetime member of The Actor's Studio. His first role as a professional actor was in television's Naked City.

He was cast in two George Roy Hill films, and played an outlaw both times — as "Flat Nose Curry" in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), he played a member of the Hole in the Wall Gang, and as "Floyd" in The Sting (1973), he acted as a bodyguard to Robert Shaw's New York gangster/griftee, Doyle Lonnegan. He is best known for playing Detective Pete Royster on the television series Police Woman between 1974 and 1978.

Dierkop appears briefly in the music video of "Man on the Moon", a hit song by the American alternative rock band R.E.M.

Personal life

Dierkop married Joan Addis in 1958. They have a daughter and a son.

Partial filmography

Dierkop's film and television credits span from 1961 to 2002.

Film

Television