R.I.P. David Huddleston of 'The Big Lebowski' and many MeTV shows

The beloved character actor also starred in favorites like 'Bewitched,' 'Gunsmoke' and 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show.'

Everett Collection

David Huddleston, who's best known for his role in The Big Lebowski after appearing in bit parts on several classic TV shows, died Tuesday at the age of 85. 

Huddleston had a career spanning five decades, getting his start on television and eventually making his way to feature films. Throughout the 1970s, the actor appeared on a variety of programs, including Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Emergency!, The Rockford Files and Hawaii Five-O. Perhaps you remember him hanging out with Mary and Sue Ann at a convention in Chicago on The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Huddleston (left) on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show'

Bit parts like those made him a familiar face on television, but Huddleston had some notable film roles as well. 

Landing his first big roles in the 1970s, Huddleston appeared in Blazing Saddles as Olson Johnson. In 2005, he had the opportunity to work with Mel Brooks again in the film adaptation of the musical The Producers. 

Perhaps Huddleston is best remembered for his role as the titular character in The Big Lebowski starring Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore. The film, released in 1998, was panned when it was released, but eventually became a cult classic. 

Despite successful roles on film, Huddleston remained true to his roots on television. Throughout the '90s, he appeared on Murder, She Wrote, Columbo and The Wonder Years. In 2000, Huddleston worked with Aaron Sorkin on The West Wing.

Huddleston's wife told The Los Angeles Times the actor died in Santa Fe, New Mexico, from advanced heart and kidney disease. 

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  • GARRY MARSHALL
  • PATTY DUKE
  • BETH HOWLAND FROM 'ALICE'
  • MIKE MINOR OF 'PETTICOAT JUNCTION'
  • WILLIAM SCHALLERT OF 'THE PATTY DUKE SHOW'
  • ROBERT HORTON OF 'WAGON TRAIN'
  • MICHU MESZAROS OF 'ALF'
  • ANN MORGAN GUILBERT OF 'THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW'
  • RONNIE CLAIRE EDWARDS OF 'THE WALTONS'
  • THERESA SALDANA FROM 'THE COMMISH'
  • FRANK SINATRA, JR.
  • EARL HAMNER, JR., CREATOR OF 'THE WALTONS' AND 'FALCON CREST'
  • BUCK KARTALIAN FROM 'PLANET OF THE APES'
  • JOE SANTOS OF 'THE ROCKFORD FILES'
  • DORIS ROBERTS, 'RAYMOND' MOM AND 'REMINGTON STEELE' STAR
  • JANET WALDO, VOICE OF JUDY JETSON ON 'THE JETSONS'
  • PETER BROWN, STAR OF 'LAWMAN,' 'LAREDO' AND SOAPS
  • MADELEINE SHERWOOD, MOTHER SUPERIOR ON 'THE FLYING NUN'
  • GEORGE KENNEDY, STAR OF 'COOL HAND LUKE,' 'AIRPORT' AND 'THE NAKED GUN'
  • MARTIN E. BROOKS OF 'THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN' AND 'HUNTER'
  • SYLVIA ANDERSON, CO-CREATOR OF 'THUNDERBIRDS' AND 'SPACE: 1999'
  • RICHARD DAVALOS OF 'EAST OF EDEN'
  • GEORGE GAYNES OF 'POLICE ACADEMY' AND 'PUNKY BREWSTER'
  • GARRY SHANDLING, COMIC AND STAR OF 'THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW'
  • RET TURNER, EMMY-WINNING COSTUME DESIGNER FOR CAROL BURNETT AND CHER
  • JOE ALASKEY, VOICE OF BUGS BUNNY AND DAFFY DUCK
  • KEN HOWARD, STAR OF 'THE WHITE SHADOW'
  • PAT HARRINGTON, JR. OF 'ONE DAY AT A TIME'
  • ALAN YOUNG OF 'MR. ED'
  • JAMES NOBLE OF 'BENSON'
  • STUART NISBET, WHO APPEARED IN (ALMOST) EVERY TV SHOW
  • WAYNE ROGERS, TRAPPER JOHN OF 'M*A*S*H'
  • FYVUSH FINKEL OF 'PICKET FENCES'
  • BARRY JENNER OF 'FAMILY MATTERS' AND 'STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE'
  • GARRY MARSHALL
  • PATTY DUKE
  • BETH HOWLAND FROM 'ALICE'
  • MIKE MINOR OF 'PETTICOAT JUNCTION'
  • WILLIAM SCHALLERT OF 'THE PATTY DUKE SHOW'
  • ROBERT HORTON OF 'WAGON TRAIN'
  • MICHU MESZAROS OF 'ALF'
  • ANN MORGAN GUILBERT OF 'THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW'
  • RONNIE CLAIRE EDWARDS OF 'THE WALTONS'
  • THERESA SALDANA FROM 'THE COMMISH'
  • FRANK SINATRA, JR.
  • EARL HAMNER, JR., CREATOR OF 'THE WALTONS' AND 'FALCON CREST'
  • BUCK KARTALIAN FROM 'PLANET OF THE APES'
  • JOE SANTOS OF 'THE ROCKFORD FILES'
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  • MADELEINE SHERWOOD, MOTHER SUPERIOR ON 'THE FLYING NUN'
  • GEORGE KENNEDY, STAR OF 'COOL HAND LUKE,' 'AIRPORT' AND 'THE NAKED GUN'
  • MARTIN E. BROOKS OF 'THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN' AND 'HUNTER'
  • SYLVIA ANDERSON, CO-CREATOR OF 'THUNDERBIRDS' AND 'SPACE: 1999'
  • RICHARD DAVALOS OF 'EAST OF EDEN'
  • GEORGE GAYNES OF 'POLICE ACADEMY' AND 'PUNKY BREWSTER'
  • GARRY SHANDLING, COMIC AND STAR OF 'THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW'
  • RET TURNER, EMMY-WINNING COSTUME DESIGNER FOR CAROL BURNETT AND CHER
  • JOE ALASKEY, VOICE OF BUGS BUNNY AND DAFFY DUCK
  • KEN HOWARD, STAR OF 'THE WHITE SHADOW'
  • PAT HARRINGTON, JR. OF 'ONE DAY AT A TIME'
  • ALAN YOUNG OF 'MR. ED'
  • JAMES NOBLE OF 'BENSON'
  • STUART NISBET, WHO APPEARED IN (ALMOST) EVERY TV SHOW
  • WAYNE ROGERS, TRAPPER JOHN OF 'M*A*S*H'
  • FYVUSH FINKEL OF 'PICKET FENCES'
  • BARRY JENNER OF 'FAMILY MATTERS' AND 'STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE'

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