Willy Switkes, a character actor who appeared in the classic films "Taxi Driver" "French Connection" and "Tootsie" died Thursday at a hospice in Rockville, Md. at the age of 83.

Will Switkes (SWIT'-kehs) cause of death was colon cancer his niece Ellen Switke told the Washington Post.

Although Willy Switkes was often not identified by name in many of his cinematic roles (he is "man at cab" in "Tootsie" so named because he is thrown out of a cab when he tries to get in Dustin Hofffman's character's way) the actor dies leaving behind an impressive body of work that also includes the 1971 Woody Allen comedy "Bananas."

Switkes grew up in Washington, D.C. but spent a majority of his life in New York City.

A onetime understudy for early film legend Buster Keaton during the comedy genius's 1960 tour of "Once Upon a Mattress," Switkes also appeared in Broadway productions of "The Cherry Orchard" and "A Thousand Clowns."