Richard Herd is an actor that many television viewers will remember for his roles in Star Trek and Seinfeld, among many others on both the big screen and the small. Unfortunately, the actor has passed away at 87 years old.
News of Richard Herd's death came via his actress wife, Patricia Crowder Herd, who told THR of his passing. The actor died on Tuesday, May 26, in his Los Angeles home due to complications from cancer. He is survived by her after 40 years of marriage, and his three children: Erica, Rick, and Alicia.
Seinfeld fans will definitely remember Herd as Mr. Wilhelm, who was George's supervisor during the character's stint as assistant to the traveling secretary for the New York Yankees. In one of his more famous moments, Wilhelm took the fall for George when the latter dragged the Yankees' World Series trophy around with his car, in an attempt to get fired. Wilhelm ended up stepping up and taking the blame, while insulting the faux George Steinbrenner in the process, all in order to take a position with the New York Mets, which was the job that George had been hoping to get, thus inspiring his plan. He also was brainwashed by a carpet cleaning cult, which was also a laugh riot.
Richard Herd also appeared on both Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager, though his appearances likely wouldn't be recalled immediately by casual viewers. He played the Klingon L'Kor in TNG, but was a member of Starfleet in Voyager, played the role of Admiral Owen Paris for multiple episodes.
Herd embraced the Star Trek fandom over the years, and even released two albums as part of a band themed after the space-centric show. The group, which was dubbed The Enterprise Blues Band, went on tour and performed at various conventions around the world. They also wrote a number of original songs, including the "Red Shirt Boogie Blues." You can check out a rendition of it below.
Richard Herd's death comes at the end of a successful career that he credited in part to sickness as a child. Herd had a serious bone infection, osteomyelitis. in his younger years and spent a lot of time in Boston Children's Hospital (via Patriot Ledger). The actor said it was during that time that he gained the ability to be stoic, which he said later helped him when he became an actor.
Richard Herd's first Hollywood credit came via the movie Hercules In New York, which is the same movie that Arnold Schwarzenegger got his start in. After a few smaller television roles, Herd landed a breakout role in All The President's Men, and continued to be a fixture in television and movies for decades. More recently, Herd was seen in Clint Eastwood's The Mule, and CBS' Hawaii Five-0.
CinemaBlend would like to extend its condolences to the family and friends of Richard Herd, and wish them well during this difficult time.
