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Who was Joe Turkel’s wife? Actor who played Lloyd the bartender in ‘The Shining’ dies at 94

Joe Turkel's role as Lloyd in 'The Shining' has been spoofed and homaged in TV and film over the years, including 2016's 'Passengers'

Profile character actor Joe Turkel, who was best known for his sinister role of a bartender in ‘The Shining’ and the maker of artificial humans ‘Blade Runner’ died on Monday, June 27. He was 94. The unfortunate news of his demise was shared by his family. According to reports, Turkel died peacefully with his sons Craig and Robert by his side. He is now survived by his two sons, two daughters-in-law, and his brother, David Turkel.
 
The news of Turkel’s death comes months after the legendary actor and comedian Louie Anderson died on January 21. He was admitted to the hospital days earlier after being diagnosed with cancer but sadly could not make it. Bob Saget is another icon that Hollywood lost on January 9. Speaking of celebrity deaths, Betty White died at 99 of natural causes on December 31, 2021. Chick Vennera, DMX, Jay Black, and Jeanette Maus are other public figures who passed away last year leaving their loyal fans devastated.
 
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Who was Joe Turkel’s wife?

Turkel was born in July 1927 in Brooklyn and at the age of 17, he enlisted in the Merchant Marines and later joined the United States Army and served in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. He shifted his base to California in 1947 to pursue his true love- acting. In 1948, he debuted in ‘City Across the River’. Turkel was married to Anita J Turkel with whom he had two sons. Very little information is available on his wife. His wife’s life was largely kept private. All we know is that she preceded the actor in his death.
 
Turkel had more than 140 acting credits to his name. He teamed up with iconic director Stanley Kubrick on three movies namely ‘The Killing’, ‘Paths of Glory’, and ‘The Shining’. Turkel's role as Lloyd in 'The Shining' has been spoofed and homaged in TV and film over the years, including 2016's Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence sci-fi flick 'Passengers', which found Michael Sheen playing a similarly dressed, similarly unflappable bartender named Arthur. He later played replicant creator Eldon Tyrell in1982’s ‘Blade Runner’. In his 40-year career, Turkel appeared in movies such as ‘The St. Valentine’s Day’, ‘The Sand Pebbles’ and ‘King Rat’ among others. The actor had completed a memoir, titled ‘The Misery of Success’ before his death. His family plans to publish it later this year.

‘What a gifted fellow he was’

Tributes poured in for the actor as one of the users stated, “Oh my goodness, anyone on here will know that Blade Runner is my favorite film. Joe Turkel was immense in it. RIP.” Another stated, “He seemed like the nicest guy in interviews, wish I had the chance to speak with him at a convention or just shake his hand. RIP to a legend.” One user posted, “So perfect in his two most iconic rolls. Both Bladerunner and Shining almost unimaginable without him.”
 
The next one tweeted, “From what I read about Joe Turkel, he was a gentleman. At a special Blade Runner screening many years after it’s first debuted, he greeted every audience member at the end of the film as they exited the theater. Rest In Peace.” One added, “RIP JOE TURKEL: Crushed to learn of the death of Joe Turkel. His film credits included Eldon Tyrell in Blade Runner and Lloyd the Bartender in The Shining. We became friends when I hired him to voice the Special X channel in the early @SiriusXM days. What a gifted fellow he was.”