Biografía

Offered the role of Chewbacca in La guerra de las galaxias (1977), but turned it down in favor of playing "Jaws" in 007: La espía que me amó (1977). He preferred "Jaws" because he felt he could bring more to the role, whereas Chewbacca required a full costume. Taking the role also meant working for scale and he had been working for so long that he felt such a low salary was beneath him.

Worked as a bouncer at a Los Angeles nightclub before being recruited by Arch Hall Sr. for the lead role in Eegah, el gigante (1962).

Was terrified of heights, something not helped by his gigantic size. He often shuddered at some of the stunts he had to perform as "Jaws", so Martin Grace, Roger Moore's stunt double, would fill in for him. The stuntman did a superb job of capturing Kiel's movements, even though he was a foot shorter, but when watching the films, nobody could tell them apart.

Original choice to play the title character in the TV series El hombre increíble (1977). After two days of filming it was decided that he was not "bulky" enough for the role. He was paid for the two movies of the week and replaced by Lou Ferrigno. He was happy this happened because he only had sight in one eye and the full contact lenses were bothering him.

In 1992 he was in a serious automobile accident that affected his auto-balance, and afterwards walked using a walking stick or riding a battery-powered scooter around if he has to go very far. In Happy Gilmore (1996) he is never seen walking and almost all of his scenes are from the waist up. There are only two full-body scenes and both times he is leaning on something--the first is a post, the second is a man.

To be loved is important, as is having a sense of accomplishment, but to love is equally important in life, especially when it is combined with taking action to do something for someone else to make their life better.

Not only did God deliver me from the bondage of alcoholism, he also blessed my family financially because of my commitment to honor what he had done for me and for not doing what I believed could possibly be destructive to others.

I am actually 7'1-1/2" tall. I say 7'2" because it's easier. Unlike some tall skinny guys, I am really "big", weighing around 350 pounds.

Once a Bond fan, always a Bond fan.

It is always more fun to play a bad guy than to be yourself, as you can create a character unlike your own and be someone you are not for a change.