Character actors are the backbone of the entertainment industry. In a constellation of Hollywood stars, they’re the unassuming comets that add a touch of eccentricity or relatable normalcy to our favorite shows. Biff Wiff was among those familiar faces where folks don’t always know the names to match, and he played each little role with pride. Born in Chicago in 1948, the beloved actor, who always preferred this stage name, sadly passed away on February 12, 2025, aged 76, following a lengthy cancer battle.
Even if brief, his moments on screen carried a lived-in, comforting quality. With his bushy beard and gentle demeanor, Wiff quickly became an actor that viewers easily recognized. He wasn’t a household name as such, although his presence was felt. Wiff represented the tradition of hard-working character actors whose contributions elevate storytelling through small but essential roles.
Biff Wiff Was a Late Bloomer on Television
Throughout his life, Wiff had a creative bent, but it wasn’t until he was 38 that he embarked on his acting career. In 1986, he landed a well-fitted role in the comedy series titled “The New Gidget“, which followed the life of Francine ‘Gidget’ Griffin (Caryn Richman). At the outset of his acting voyage, he made appearances on shows like “Moonlighting“, “Life Goes On“, and “L.A. Law“.
As a versatile character actor, Wiff maintained a buoyant and likable presence in the industry, working on incredibly popular series like Roseanne, Saved by the Bell: The New Class, Pretty Little Liars, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and more. More recently, Wiff popped up on FXX’s comedy show Dave, a look at Lil Dicky navigating life as an aspiring rapper. He had a four-episode run on Night Court, and played Steve in Jury Duty. Wiff’s ability to be a familiar face yet able to blend into any narrative made him a well-known face for viewers at home.
Patience Was a Virtue for Biff Wiff
As Biff Wiff grew older and his beard grew longer, his roles garnered more and more attention. A breakthrough came when he joined Tim Robinson’s absurd second season of I Think You Should Leave. In the sketch “Detective Crashmore,” Wiff played Santa Claus, who was also in an action movie, delivering profanity-laden one-liners with a deadpan demeanor. His commitment to the absurdity of the part quickly elevated the sketch to a fan favorite, with his weathered, bearded look and lines like “unprofessional bullshit.” The character’s blunt press interviews, where he admits he’s only in it for the money because “everything has sucked lately,” showed Wiff could master comedic timing, which contributed to the show’s signature style.
Building on this success, Wiff returned to the show in season three for “Darmore Doggy Door,” and also brought to life the famous “Shirt Brothers” episode. Wiff had an established persona and could introduce new absurdist elements. Both ITYSL sketches pulled him out of the background and into the forefront. From years of practice, his open approach to the material’s bizarre logic demonstrated why directors valued his work and he gained wide audience recognition. Robinson said of Wiff’s passing, “Biff was an amazing person inside and out, and his loving energy could be felt by all. We are sending our heartfelt sympathies to his family & loved ones at this time.”
Biff Wiff Was Everything, Everywhere (All at Once)
In 2022, Wiff completed a modest role in the multiverse-spanning Everything Everywhere All at Once, portraying a customer at the laundromat. The movie’s director, Daniel Kwan, shared, “Biff was a passionate, lovely, hardworking collaborator. It was a treat to have him with us for our whole laundromat portion of the film, which audiences know is the heart of our movie.” In 2024’s Self Reliance, Wiff starred opposite Jake Johnson in the role with his most screentime; he was heartfelt and hilarious as an unhoused man who Johnson befriends. Watch MovieWeb’s interview with the two men at the bottom of this article.
A good casting team will recognize an engaging screen presence and a good director can see where that presence will slot nicely into the finished product. Wiff was a dedicated contributor to entertainment who proved performers can shine at any stage of life. Biff Wiff’s tale is an inspiration for working actors who pursue their dream with dedication, regardless of fame or recognition, and will be remembered fondly. Watch our interview with him and Jake Johnson below:
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2025-03-16 06:38