Albert Michael Strobel (January 28, 1940– December 2, 2022) was an American actor best known for his recurring role on

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and

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's ''

Twin Peaks ''Twin Peaks'' is an American mystery serial drama television series created by Mark Frost and David Lynch. It premiered on ABC on April 8, 1990, and originally ran for two seasons until its cancellation in 1991. The show returned in 2017 ...

'' as Phillip Michael Gerard, also known as

Mike Mike may refer to: Animals * Mike (cat), cat and guardian of the British Museum * Mike the Headless Chicken, chicken that lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off * Mike (chimpanzee), a chimpanzee featured in several books and document ...

Early life

Strobel was born in

Madison, Wisconsin Madison is the county seat of Dane County and the capital city of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census the population was 269,840, making it the second-largest city in Wisconsin by population, after Milwaukee, and the 80th ...

. Strobel lost his left arm at the shoulder as a result of a car crash he sustained when he was 17 years old. While living in Oregon in the early 1970s he did theatrical work at the

University of Oregon The University of Oregon (UO, U of O or Oregon) is a public research university in Eugene, Oregon. Founded in 1876, the institution is well known for its strong ties to the sports apparel and marketing firm Nike, Inc Nike, Inc. ( or ) is a ...

and co-founded the Church of the Creative. At the

Grateful Dead The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. The band is known for its eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, country, jazz, bluegrass, blues, rock and roll, gospel, reggae, world music, ...

's August 27, 1972, concert in Veneta he shot video which ended up in the film ''

Sunshine Daydream ''Sunshine Daydream'' is a music documentary film, starring the rock band the Grateful Dead. It was shot at their August 27, 1972 concert at the Old Renaissance Faire Grounds in Veneta, Oregon. Unreleased for many years, the film was sometimes s ...

''.

Career

Strobel starred in "scores" of local productions in Eugene, Oregon from the late 1960's right up to the early 80's. He was the star, producer and overall "moving force" behind a television dramatization of

Anton Chekhov Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (; 29 January 1860 Old Style date 17 January. – 15 July 1904 Old Style date 2 July.) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who is considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career ...

's '' Swansong'', which aired on OEPBS and was called "a first for Oregon educational television." Strobel was cast in ''

'', the series which made him a star, without an audition or even meeting

. Strobel appeared in the ''

'' series as well as '' Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me'', and had roles in the films ''Shadow Play'', '' Megaville'', and ''Ricochet River'' (starring

Kate Hudson Kate Garry Hudson (born April 19, 1979) is an American actress and businesswoman. She has received numerous awards and nominations, including a Golden Globe Award, a Critics' Choice Movie Award and a Satellite Award, as well as nominations f ...

). He appeared in productions of ''

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with ''Ham ...

'', ''

Oklahoma! ''Oklahoma!'' is the first musical written by the duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, ''Green Grow the Lilacs''. Set in farm country outside the town of Claremore, Indian Territory, in 1906, it tell ...

'' and ''

Richard III Richard III (2 October 145222 August 1485) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 26 June 1483 until his death in 1485. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty. His defeat and death at the Bat ...

''. He also appeared in the television movie '' Child of Darkness, Child of Light''. As early as 2005 he had retired and was living in Eugene, Oregon. In 2015, Strobel appeared in a video supporting

following his departure from the ''Twin Peaks'' revival slated for 2016, along with numerous other ''Twin Peaks'' cast members. David Lynch later returned to the revival and Strobel came out of retirement to reprise his role as Philip Gerard. The new series aired on Showtime in 2017.

Personal life and death

Strobel died in Eugene, Oregon, on December 2, 2022, at age 82.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

Al Strobel at Aveleyman
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Strobel, Al 1940 births 2022 deaths 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors American amputees American male film actors American male television actors Male actors from Seattle