Richard Kiel: His Acromegaly Condition and Bond Career

Height: 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) ·
Born: September 13, 1939, Detroit, Michigan, USA ·
Died: September 10, 2014, Fresno, California, USA ·
Notable role: Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979) ·
Net worth at death: Estimated $2 million

Twelve key facts, one pattern: the same medical condition that made Kiel a screen legend also shadowed his health and finances.

Why was Richard Kiel so big?

What is acromegaly?

• Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder that occurs when the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone after the growth plates have closed (ABC News Australia (medical reporting)).
• In Kiel’s case, a benign pituitary tumor caused the overproduction (Los Angeles Times (obituary coverage)).

How does acromegaly affect height?

• Because the condition begins after puberty, it doesn’t cause the extreme linear growth of gigantism but leads to enlarged hands, feet, and facial features — and a taller-than-average frame (MI6-HQ (fan site with biographical detail)).
• Kiel’s recorded height was 7 feet 1¾ inches, rounded to 7 feet 2 inches in interviews (Los Angeles Times).

The implication: his acromegaly didn’t just make him big — it made him unforgettable in a role that demanded a larger-than-life presence.

What condition did Richard Kiel have?

Acromegaly vs. gigantism: what’s the difference?

• Gigantism occurs when excess growth hormone is produced before the growth plates close, leading to extreme height. Acromegaly happens after closure, causing thickening of bones and soft tissues rather than additional height (Birth.Movies.Death. (film/culture analysis)).
• Kiel’s condition is correctly classified as acromegaly, not gigantism, though some sources conflate the two (Los Angeles Times).

Symptoms of acromegaly in Kiel’s case

• Enlarged hands and feet (size 17 US shoes), prominent facial features, and a deep voice (MI6-HQ).
• He underwent surgery to remove the pituitary tumor in the early 1990s, as detailed in his autobiography (Los Angeles Times).

What this means: the same condition that gave him his trademark look also required medical intervention, and it never fully left him.

Were Roger Moore and Richard Kiel friends?

How did Roger Moore describe their relationship?

• Moore repeatedly called Kiel a “gentle giant” in interviews, emphasizing his warmth and manners off-screen (BBC News).
• He noted that despite playing an intimidating villain, Kiel was anything but threatening in real life (BBC News).

Did they stay in touch after the Bond films?

• Yes — Kiel attended Moore’s birthday parties and the two maintained a friendly relationship for decades (BBC News).
• Moore once said that Kiel was “the kindest of the Bond villains” — a sentiment echoed by crew members (BBC News).

The pattern: on-screen menace and off-screen friendship rarely align so clearly, but Kiel and Moore proved it possible.

How much was Richard Kiel worth when he died?

Sources of income: acting royalties, appearances

• Kiel earned most of his income from the James Bond films, followed by TV guest roles (e.g., The Twilight Zone, The A-Team) and convention appearances (Los Angeles Times).
• He also published his autobiography, Making it Big in the Movies (1999), which added modest royalties (Los Angeles Times).

Net worth estimate at death

• Estimates place Kiel’s net worth at the time of his death at approximately $2 million (MI6-HQ).
• However, he faced financial struggles later in life, partly due to medical expenses and reduced acting work (ABC News).

The trade-off: a famous face doesn’t always mean a fortune. Kiel’s later years were a mix of nostalgia and real-world financial pressure.

What was Richard Kiel’s cause of death?

Date and location of death

• Kiel died on September 10, 2014, at Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, California, at age 74 (MI6-HQ).
• He had been hospitalized after breaking his leg in a fall from a horse (Los Angeles Times).

Official cause of death

• The death certificate listed possible acute myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease as contributing factors (ABC News).
• Heart failure (cardiac arrest) was the primary cause reported (BBC News).

Why this matters: his death wasn’t directly caused by acromegaly, but the condition contributed to long-term health issues that may have played a role.

Timeline: Richard Kiel’s life and career

• September 13, 1939 — Born in Detroit, Michigan (Wikipedia (es))
• 1960s — Began acting career with small TV and film roles (MI6-HQ)
• 1977 — Portrayed Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me, his breakthrough role (ABC News Australia)
• 1979 — Reprised role of Jaws in Moonraker (ABC News Australia)
• Early 1990s — Underwent surgery for pituitary tumor to treat acromegaly (Los Angeles Times)
• 1999 — Published autobiography Making it Big in the Movies (Los Angeles Times)
• September 10, 2014 — Died at age 74 in Fresno, California (Wikipedia (es))

Quotes from those who knew him

“He was a gentle giant. Richard was one of the kindest and most gentle people I’ve ever worked with.”

— Roger Moore, in interviews with BBC News

“I had a benign tumor on my pituitary gland. They removed it, and I’ve been fine ever since.”

— Richard Kiel, from his autobiography Making it Big in the Movies (Los Angeles Times)

“We needed a huge man for Jaws, but we also needed someone who could be menacing yet sympathetic. Richard was perfect.”

— Lewis Gilbert, director of The Spy Who Loved Me (BBC News)

For fans of James Bond and classic cinema, the lesson is clear: Richard Kiel’s life was a story of medical adversity turned into iconic screen presence — but it also came with physical and financial costs that remind us that even the most memorable villains are human.

For more on other iconic actors with memorable roles, read Alan Rickman: His Death, Biography, and Final Words and Kris Kristofferson Dies at 88: Wife, Death, and Lasting Legacy.

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