How did Joe Turkel die?

Joe Turkel was an American character actor.

He was born on July 15, 1927, in Brooklyn, New York to Polish-Jewish immigrants.

 

At age 17, Turkel enlisted in the Merchant Marines and joined the United States Army, and saw active wartime service in Europe.

He moved to California in 1947 to pursue an acting career and subsequently landed his first film work in City Across the River (1948).

Turkel starred in numerous films including The Boy and the Pirates, Tormented, King Rat; The Sand Pebbles, The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, The Dark Side of the Moon, Blade Runner, The Killing, Paths of Glory, The Shining, and many more.

Prior to Turkel’s death, he completed a memoir entitled The Misery of Success. The family plans to publish the book in late 2022.

Joe Turkel died on Monday, June 27, 2022, at the age of 94 at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

His death was announced by his family, who said he died peacefully with his sons Craig and Robert by his side.

Joe Turkel is survived by his two sons and daughters-in-law Craig and Annie Turkel, Robert and Casilde Sesti, and his brother David Turkel; two grandchildren, Ben and Sarah.

He is preceded in death by his former wife Anita J. Turkel and his brother, Harold.