Dennis Burkley, who played Tiny in the episode Short Notice, has died. He was 67. During a busy forty-year career he amassed more than 130 film and TV credits, and was frequently cast as truckers, bartenders, bikers and rednecks. He was perhaps best known for his role as the mute biker that befriends Eric Stoltz’s character in Mask (1985), and to modern audiences as the voice of Carl Moss, the principal of Tom Landry Middle School in Arlen, Texas, on 35 episodes of King of the Hill.
Burkley died in his sleep at his home in Sherman Oaks early on Sunday morning, his agent David Ankrum told The Hollywood Reporter. He had been battling health problems for some time, said his son, Shawn.
In his Knight Rider appearance, he was a threatening heavy that assisted Harold T. Turner (played by character actor William Smith). In his scenes he intimidated Michael Knight (David Hasselhoff), plays chicken with K.I.T.T. (and loses), and also shows his softer side babysitting Natalie Turner (played by Brittany Wilson).
Other television credits include guest-star stints on Kojak, Starsky and Hutch, The Rockford Files, B.J. and the Bear, The Fall Guy, The Dukes of Hazzard, NYPD Blue, JAG and My Name Is Earl.
In addition to his son, Mr. Burkley’s survivors also include his wife of 46 years, Laura, and their daughter Shannan.
Read more: ‘King of the Hill’ Actor Dennis Burkley Dies at 67