Actor Joe Turkel, known for his portrayal of Lloyd the bartender in The Shining and Dr. Eldon Tyrell in Blade Runner, has died at the age of 94. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Turkel died this past Monday at St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica. Along with Stanley Kubrick’s beloved horror film, Turkel also had supporting roles in two of Kubrick’s other films, specifically The Killing and Paths of Glory. Turkel considered the latter film the greatest movie ever made. The actor had a prolific career with over 100 credits, but his role as Lloyd, the bartender in The Shining, is one for which Turkel will always be remembered.
Actor Joe Turkel: The Shining and Blade Runner Star
Turkel was one of only two actors to appear in as many as three films made by the notably meticulous Stanley Kubrick. While he only had two scenes and a total of 96 words in The Shining, rehearsals took six weeks. One day, Turkel was on set from 9:00 AM to 10:30 PM. Kubrick’s commitment to a perfect shot was a source of nerves for Turkel. He said, “I got to my dressing room, took my shirt off, took my T-shirt off, and wrung [the sweat] out.” Regardless, it’s a memorable scene and a role that has been parodied many times.
Turkel is also known for playing Dr. Eldon Tyrell, the creator of the replicants in Blade Runner. His character had an eccentric personality and god-like status that the actor carried well. Other film credits include King Rat, The Sand Pebbles, and The Dark Side of the Moon. According to Variety, Turkel’s final credit was a voice credit, reprising his role as Tyrell in a 1997 Blade Runner video game.
Before his death, Turkel completed a memoir entitled The Misery of Success. The family plans to publish the novel later this year.
Joe Turkel is survived by his two sons, two daughters-in-law, and his brother.
