Willy Switkes Dies At Age 83, Character Actor From Hit Films "Taxi Driver,' 'Tootsie' Passes Away From Colon Cancer

Willy Switkes, a character actor who held roles in classic films like "Tootsie", "The French Connection" and "Taxi Driver", has died of colon cancer at the age of 83.

His niece Ellen recently told the Washington Post that the bit player passed away at a hospice in Rockville, Md. last Thursday.

Switkes was born in Washington, D.C. but spent a large chunk of his life in New York City. It was there he got small parts in several New York City-centric films like "Taxi Driver", "Tootsie" and "The French Connection." Switkes also had a part in New York aeutuer Woody Allen's film "Bananas."

Switkes roles were often nameless. For example, he was credited as "man at cab" in Tootsie, as he attempted to get in lead Dustin Hoffman's way and was thrown out of the way.

Switkes appeared in several Broadway productions throughout his life including "The Cherry Orchard" and   "A Thousand Clowns." He also served as an understudy of Buster Keaton during the early comedy legends' 1960 tour of "Once Upon a Matress."