Carel Struycken facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carel Struycken
Struycken at the 2016 Brussels Comic-Con
Born	(1947-07-30) 30 July 1947 (age 78) The Hague, Netherlands
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1978–present
Height	2.13 m (7 ft 0 in)
Children	2
Relatives	Peter Struycken (brother)

Carel Struycken is a Dutch actor, born on July 30, 1948. He is famous for playing tall, unique characters in movies and TV shows. You might know him as the Giant or Fireman in the TV series Twin Peaks. He also played Mr. Homn in Star Trek: The Next Generation. One of his most well-known roles is Lurch, the butler in The Addams Family movies. Carel Struycken has also appeared in films like Men in Black, Gerald's Game, and Doctor Sleep.

Early Life and Education

Carel Struycken was born in The Hague, Netherlands. When he was four years old, his family moved to Curaçao. This is an island in the Caribbean. While living there, at age 15, he wrote several Caribbean waltzes.

At 16, he moved back to the Netherlands. He finished high school there. Later, he studied directing at a film school in Amsterdam. After that, he spent a year at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, USA.

Carel Struycken's Acting Career

How He Started Acting

In 1978, Carel Struycken was discovered as an actor. He was in Los Angeles when a woman saw him and called out, "We need you for a movie!" That movie was Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. This was the start of his acting journey.

Famous Roles in Sci-Fi and Fantasy

Carel Struycken has played many memorable characters. In 1985, he was Terak in the TV movie Ewoks: The Battle for Endor. This film was a spin-off from the original Star Wars movies.

He also appeared as Fidel in the 1987 film The Witches of Eastwick. In the same year, he began playing Mr. Homn in Star Trek: The Next Generation. He played this role in five episodes until 1992.

Playing Lurch in The Addams Family

One of Carel Struycken's most famous roles is Lurch. Lurch is the tall, quiet butler in The Addams Family movies. He first played Lurch in the 1991 film. He returned as Lurch in the 1993 sequel, Addams Family Values. He also played the character in the TV movie Addams Family Reunion. The director, Barry Sonnenfeld, also cast him in a small role in Men in Black.

Roles in Twin Peaks and Horror Films

Struycken played a mysterious character called "The Giant" in the TV series Twin Peaks. This show was very popular in the early 1990s. He also appeared in the sequel series, Twin Peaks: The Return, in 2017.

He played the "Moonlight Man" in the 2017 film Gerald's Game. In 2019, he was "Grandpa Flick" in Doctor Sleep. This movie is a sequel to the famous film The Shining.

Personal Life

When Carel Struycken was 20, he was diagnosed with acromegaly. This is a condition that causes the body to produce too much growth hormone. It explains his impressive height of 2.13 meters (7 feet) and his unique facial features.

Carel Struycken loves photography. He has a website where he shares his special spherical panoramas. He also shares a photography blog with Josh Korwin.

He is married and has two children. They live in the Los Angeles area. His brother, Peter Struycken, is also famous. Peter won a special art prize in 2012 from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.

In January 2025, Carel Struycken's home was destroyed by the Eaton Fire.

Film and Television Appearances

Film Roles

Television Roles

Music Videos

• 1983 "Mexican Radio" by Wall of Voodoo
• 1996 "A.D.I.D.A.S." by Korn

See also

In Spanish: Carel Struycken para niños