Carel Struycken was born in the Hague, The Netherlands. When he was four years old his family moved to Curacao, an island in the Caribbean. At age sixteen, he returned to his home country, where he finished high school. He graduated from the directing program at the film school in Amsterdam, following which he did a year at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles.
After school, he collaborated on a number of projects of writer/director
Rene Daalder. He was "discovered" as an actor at the corner of Hollywood and Vine in Los Angeles by a lady who had abandoned her car in the middle of the street, calling after him, "We need you for a movie!". The movie was
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978). The turning point in his acting career however was
Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985), a
George Lucas film. In addition to cinema, he has also appeared on television, notably as the recurring character, valet Mr. Homn, on
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987).
Carel has also helped in hardware and software development of virtual reality systems.
Class of '85(2022)as Roy
The Eden Theory(2021)as The Stranger
Doctor Sleep(2019)as Grampa Flick
Two Minutes to Midnight(2018)as Shire
Twin Peaks(2017)as ???????, The Fireman
Population: 1(1986)
Terrestrials(2010)
Secrets from Another Place: Creating Twin Peaks(2007)
The Witches of Eastwick(1987)
A Captain's Log(2021)as Self
King on Screen(2022)as Special Appearance
Serierejser(2020)as Self
When the Witches Came to Town(2017)as Self, Interviewee
Without Your Head(2006)as Self
The Project(2009)as Self
WatchMojo(2006)as Self - Lurch
Entertainment Tonight(1981)as Self
De wereld draait door(2005)as Self
Tag Team: Addams Family (Whoomp!)(1993)as Lurch