Walter Olkewicz, a veteran character actor best known for roles in Twin Peaks and Seinfeld, has died, aged 72. 

The actor died in California on Tuesday (6 April) “after a long battle with infections”, reports Deadline.

The news was confirmed by his son, screenwriter Zak Olkewicz.

“He was a good man who pushed his love for creativity and the arts into everything he did,” said Zak. “He handed that passion down to me, and I look forward to passing it on to the grandchildren he loved so much.”

In a separate Facebook post, Zak added that his father’s death “was sudden but I don’t believe he woke up or was in any pain or fear”.

Olkewicz’s career spanned nearly five decades. It began in the Seventies and ran through 2017, until health complications from knee surgery forced him out of acting. Crowdfunding pages were set up over the past few years in an effort to help with the actor’s medical bills.

He is best known for his television roles in the Nineties, most famously as the bartender and croupier Jacques Renault on the cult classic series Twin Peaks.

Olkewicz reprised the role in the 1992 film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me and again as part of the Showtime reboot in 2017. 

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The actor is also recognisable for his performance as oil refinery worker Dougie Boudreau on the ABC show Grace Under Fire, as well as his memorable portrayal of Nick the Cable Guy from the 1996 episode of Seinfeld titled “The Cadillac”. 

Other notable TV credits include The Last Resort, Wizards and Warriors, Partners in Crime, and Dolly Parton’s ABC variety show Dolly. 

He also made guest appearances on shows such as Who’s The Boss?, Cheers, ER, Family Ties, and Murder, She Wrote.

Olkewicz was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. He made his screen debut in the 1976 sci-fi thriller Futureworld before landing a role in Steven Spielberg’s 1979 war comedy 1941. 

Treat Williams, who acted alongside Olkewicz in 1941, paid tribute to his late co-star by sharing a photo of them on set together. 

Olkewicz is survived by his son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.