SANTA FE, NM (CelebrityAccess) — David Huddleston a comedic character actor, perhaps best known for his role in the legendary 1998 Coen Brothers film The Big Lebowski, died on Tuesday. He was 85.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Huddleston's wife Sarah said that he died of heart and kidney disease in Santa Fe, N.M.
Huddleston, who had more than 60 films to his credit, had his breakthrough on the big screen with Robert Benton's 1972 Civil War drama 'Bad Company' which featured his future Lebowski co-star Jeff Bridges.
Other films for Huddleston included Mel Brook's classic comedy Blazing Saddles, Billy Two Hats with Gregory Peck, and Smokey and the Bandit II with Burt Reynolds.
More recent roles include portraying the Judge in the 2005 film version of Mel Brook's The Producers, as well as a role in the television comedy It's Always Sunny In Pennsylvania in 2010.
He also had success on the stage, including playing Benjamin Franklin on Broadway in a revival of 1776 and Charlie in Death of a Salesman in the early 1980s.
In 1990, he was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his appearance on the coming of age television series 'The Wonder Years.'
The Hollywood Reporter said he was survived by his wife of 32 years, his son Michael and his daughter-in-law Nancy. – Staff Writers
