Twin Peaks’ Walter Olkewicz dead: Actor who played Jacques Renault passes away aged 72 following 20-year health battle
- Walter passed away on Tuesday at his Los Angeles homes, with his son, screenwriter Zak Olkewicz, confirming his father’s death
- The actor was most famous for his role as bartender and croupier Jacques Renault on the original series of Twin Peaks which aired in 1990
- Walter had battled health issues during the past 20 years, with a series of knee surgeries leading to infections that caused him to become bedridden
- He was then forced to take a break from acting – with his final onscreen role in the 2017 reboot of Twin Peaks where he played Jacques’ brother, Jean-Michel
- His son said: ‘ It was his first role in almost 15 years, and he did it all from behind a bar to cover the fact that he couldn’t stand’
Twin Peaks actor Walter Olkewicz has died aged 72.
Walter passed away on Tuesday at his Los Angeles home, with his son, screenwriter Zak Olkewicz, confirming his father’s death to the Hollywood Reporter.
The actor was most famous for his role as bartender and croupier Jacques Renault on the original series of Twin Peaks which ran for two seasons between 1990-1991.
Walter had battled numerous health issues during the past 20 years, with a series of knee surgeries leading to infections that caused him to become bedridden.
RIP: Twin Peaks actor Walter Olkewicz has died aged 72 (above in the show as Jacques Renault)
He was then forced to take a break from acting – with his final onscreen role in the 2017 Showtime reboot of Twin Peaks where he played Jacques’ brother Jean-Michel.
Walter shot to worldwide fame as the Canadian Renault, the brother of Jean Renault, (played by Michael Parks) and Bernie (Clay Wilcox)- he became a suspect in Laura’s death.
He starred on the first season of the ABC drama before reprising his role in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992) and Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces (2014).
Tragic loss: Walter passed away on Tuesday at his Los Angeles homes, with his son, screenwriter Zak Olkewicz, confirming his father’s death to the Hollywood Reporter (pictured together in 2003)
The star made his final Twin Peaks appearance in the 2017 Showtime reboot, with his son telling the website: ‘It was his first role in almost 15 years, and he did it all from behind a bar to cover the fact that he couldn’t stand.’
As well as his son, Walter is survived by his daughter-in-law Katrina Rennells and grandchildren Sadie and Declan Robert.
He was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, USA in 1948 and made his acting debut in 1976 drama, Futureworld.
Back: Walter’s final onscreen role was as Jean-Michel Renault in the 2017 reboot of Twin Peaks. His son revealed he stood behind a bar as he was unable to walk
Iconic: Walter played Wally Bodell in an 1983 episode of iconic sitcom Cheers (pictured left with George Wendt as Norm Peterson)
Thriller: He starred as Mafia lawyer Jerome ‘Romey’ Clifford in gritty 1994 thriller, The Client, where he appeared alongside Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones
The star then played Private Hinshaw in Steven Spielberg epic 1941 (1979) – which sparked a flurry of movie roles including Making the Grade (1984) and Christopher Guest’s The Big Picture (1989).
He starred as Mafia lawyer Jerome ‘Romey’ Clifford in gritty 1994 thriller, The Client, where he appeared alongside Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones.
Aside from his Twin Peaks TV success, he also starred as Dougie Boudreau in sitcom Grace Under Fire from 1993 to 1996 – and had roles in shows including Cheers, ER, Murder, She Wrote, Married … With Children, and Moonlighting.
Tributes were paid to the actor by fellow screen stars and fans following the tragic announcement.
Treat Williams, Walter’s co-star in 1941, shared a sweet snap of the actors on set and wrote: ‘RIP Walter Olkewicz. My fellow tank crew member in 1941.’
Missed: Treat Williams, Walter’s co-star in 1941, shared a sweet snap of the actors on set and wrote: ‘RIP Walter Olkewicz. My fellow tank crew member in 1941’
Fan favourite: Fans of the iconic actor also took to Twitter to pay their respects
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