A great character player named Charles Dierkop has left an indelible mark on the world of films. In the classic Western “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” Dierkop played the famous criminal George “Flat Nose” Curry. He died on Sunday at the age of 87.
Dierkop’s amazing trip began in 1936 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he was born. He followed his dream of becoming an actor by going to the American Foundation of Dramatic Arts in Philadelphia after serving in the US service in Korea. He worked hard and was good at what he did, and it paid off when he got parts in films like “The Sting” and TV shows like “Police Woman.”
A 2018 chat with Dierkop showed how much he enjoyed being cast in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” He said that his unique physical trait—a nose that was broken several times as a child—made him a good fit for the part of Flat Nose Curry. This unique quality caught the eye of his agent, who thought of him right away when reading the story.
Through his whole life, Dierkop was dedicated to both his work and the people he loved. He married Joan Addis in 1958 and they split up in 1974. They met at acting school and became married. Charles Jr. and Lynn were their two children. Dierkop’s daughter Lynn and the many fans who were moved by his unforgettable acts carry on his legacy after Charles Jr.’s death in 1990.
