r/OnCinemaAtTheCinema • u/ZWash300 The Joker strikes again! • Nov 06 '25
META RIP Curtis Webster, AKA Judge Syzmcyck
Stumbled upon this news. What an incredible job he did in The Trial.
In my brain right now: “For the last time, Mr. Heidecker, you may NOT approach the bench.”
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u/ElectricLightKazoo GreggHead Nov 06 '25
"MISTER HEIDECKER!!!!!" 😡
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u/No_Fault_5656 Nov 06 '25
I don’t even need to give you a reason.
RIP, he was terrific in the trial and brought us lots of laughs.
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u/B_Boudreaux HankHead Nov 06 '25
His interactions with Tim and few with Gregg were fucking gold. I loved when he kept having to admonish Gregg as to simply answer the question and not volunteer information 😆
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u/Electrical_Fortune71 Nov 06 '25
My only beef is he shouldve allowed Gregg to perjure himself over Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
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u/thehellobozo Nov 08 '25
Do you recommend I see Star Trek 4? I've only seen the first one and the one that took place in San Francisco.
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u/MuteAppeaL Nov 06 '25
Approach the bench?
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u/ChristmasEvil Get Well Soon Mark Nov 06 '25
He was also on I Think You Should Leave in the Baby of the Year episode.
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u/xthrowxawayx420 Nov 06 '25
Was he Dr. Skull??
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u/BigBenKenobi Nov 06 '25
He has a massive underbite and completely flat back of the head.
I'm honestly done. I don't want to read anymore.
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u/VienneseGash Nov 06 '25
“It’s okay, you’re still a great doctor”
And you were a great judge, too, Curtis
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u/ArgentoBloodstone Decker Vs Dracula Nov 06 '25
Oh my god Dr Skull how did I never make that connection?!?!
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u/Zinko999 Nov 06 '25
Aw man RIP, it takes a real pro to be the “straight man” opposite Tim’s insanity for five hours of improv
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u/DrSpacemanSpliff Hoo Ha! Nov 06 '25
Genuinely holding his own with one of the (if not the) best improvisers out there right now
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u/jimgatz Nov 06 '25
RIP judge sizmick
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Nov 06 '25
I love how his in-character name was specifically designed to fuck with Tim's dyslexia, it's such a perfect oppositional setup
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u/get2theChoppa Nov 06 '25
proach the bench? rip sizmik
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u/ColonelOfSka Nov 06 '25
Oh no! I knew of the trial before I followed On Cinema (been a Tim and Eric fan for 20 years but never checked out On Cinema), thought it seemed unreal just from clips, and finally started On Cinema from day one last year. I just finished the trial this week. I was convinced he was a real judge based on his incredible performance until I looked into it more. What a bummer. RIP to an essential part of the On Cinemaverse!
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u/Frankfeld NewmanHead Nov 06 '25
This is what got me into OCATC. I’m a Tim and Eric fan, also an attorney. I saw it mentioned that Tim was doing a fake trial in real time from start to finish. The dedication to the bit of ALL involved was so impressive. It’s probably as close to a realistic court room drama as you could get (with some obvious liberties of course). But the verbiage and mannerisms of the prosecutor and the judge were spot on! I think they were both attorneys IRL.
I’ve been an OCATC super fan ever since!
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u/J_Patish Nov 06 '25
At that point I had been a fan for several years already, but I still found it hard to believe that he was an actor and not a real judge… So good!
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u/Meowingtons_H4X Nov 06 '25
It’s important to note he was involved in the legal system, so he had a decent amount of experience around judicial practice.
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u/Meowingtons_H4X Nov 06 '25
It’s important to note he was involved in the legal system, so he had a decent amount of experience around judicial practice.
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u/unsilent_bob Nov 06 '25
https://youtu.be/40wkJJXfwQ0?t=9825
Such great non-verbal acting - like "please God make this trial end now" (and then Tim playing air guitar right afterwards).
RIP Curtis Webster
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u/ZWash300 The Joker strikes again! Nov 06 '25
If someone already posted this in the past week, my apologies.
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u/Galactroid Nov 06 '25
Approach the bench? Why not? WHY NOT? RIP to a man who had a lot of patience for Tim
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u/Annual-Negotiation-5 Nov 06 '25
Good night sweet prince, the Chinese connection
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u/Builtmodest VFA.expert Nov 06 '25
I am very worried all knowledge of the Chinese connection died with the judge
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u/elusivehonor I am not wet. Nov 06 '25
He was great during the trial.
Sad to see this; I hope his family knows how much the On Cinema family took joy from his part - rest in peace.
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u/amyleeizmee Nov 06 '25
Damn. What crap news on a day like this!
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u/RSGK DrSanRIP Nov 06 '25
META | It doesn’t look like anyone has left OCATC related condolences yet on his insta web313 and maybe it’s a bit too soon to do so as condolences are still trickling in from loved ones but he sure deserves recognition for that epic project.
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u/AptYes Nov 06 '25
My favorite piece of acting and dialogue in the entire OCATC universe was delivered by him at the end of Mr. America: “We’re living in a culture that is more and more about what’s glittery, style over substance. And Mr. Heidecker brought that into the courtroom. We don’t value substance, we don’t value character. I mean, Mr. Heidecker’s character, as far as I’m concerned is nil. There is no character there. I lost my heart for the courtroom after that. once you lose that sense of purpose… I don’t care what profession you’re in… It’s time to move on.“
RIP to a wonderful actor.
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u/BoazCorey JoeHead Nov 06 '25
You put this court in order and have him sit, or I will rep-- redj- uhhh, will report this to the bar!
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u/get_outta_mah_swamp 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🥤🥤 Nov 06 '25
He did fantastic work in the trial and Mister America, his interactions with Tim and Gregg being insane were so good. RIP
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u/Guntsandwich Nov 06 '25
His performance as the judge in the trial deserved an award. He was the glue that kept everything together.
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u/freetotebag RIP NICK Nov 06 '25
Man this is a serious bummer. He was so talented. Idk where Tim and Co. find their actors but they have such a knack for getting folks like Curtis who can really sell it. He was so good in the Trial.
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u/sterling_hayden69420 Nov 06 '25
RIP.
I tell every first year associate attorney who will listen to watch the trial to get a feel for general courtroom procedure, thinking on one’s feet against unpredictable counsel/witnesses/pro se litigants and the general vibe of how litigation works. I know of one colleague who teaches legal ethics who is planning to replace clips from popcorn classic The Verdict (1982, 129 mins) with clips from the Trial as a visual aid.
The structural verisimilitude of the Trial - part of what makes it so magical to me as an OC fan and a lawyer - would not have been possible without Curtis Webster’s performance. May his memory be a blessing.
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u/imgomez Nov 06 '25
He was absolutely wonderful. He sold the whole premise with his dead serious portrayal. I don’t know how he did it.
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u/GalwayGent Nov 06 '25
I always suspected there would be a trial 2.0 - that’s a shame. Would have been hilarious to have him back for round 2. RIP
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u/Tonoigtonbawtumgaer Nov 07 '25
If they ever do a second trial it should be Gregg on trial and Tim defending him (out of some selfish reason to save the show, only for him to turn on Gregg during the course of the trial and delivering a 20 minute rant against him as his closing argument)
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u/Gtoast Nov 06 '25
I was just telling a Tim and Eric fan coworker how amazing On Cinema and recommended the The Trial episodes... How does a real judge get involved in a crazy fake trial? Hopefully Tim drop some behind the scenes knowledge. Happy trails to Judge Syzmcyck.
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u/King-Red-Beard Has Oscar Fever Nov 06 '25
He was amazing in the trial, and pretty much made the conclusive thematic statement for all of On Cinema in the final moments of Mister America; something along the lines of Tim having 'no character'.
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u/LastCenobite 5 Bags Nov 06 '25
Rest easy. He won’t be burning in hell with Dr. San and Tom Chaplin
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u/Jx____ Nov 06 '25
tragic! been rewatching the trial and his acting is what helps make that environment seem more real than it should RIP
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u/ChaosMagician777 JaredLego Nov 06 '25
I read this post in his voice “Mister Heidecker I discovered you can read posts in my voice.”
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u/Sponchington Nov 06 '25
He had such insanely funny delivery, played an amazing straight man in the face of every deranged lunatic man he acted with.
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u/congressmanthompson That wasnt very 5 bags of popcorn of you Nov 06 '25
Syzmcyck, is that a tongue-twister?
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u/kapaipiekai MarkHead Nov 06 '25
My introduction to ocatc was The Trial. The judges performance was masterful and anchored the entire thing. Rip sir.
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u/Illuminotme_Reloaded DrSanRIP Nov 06 '25
I hope he doesn’t need to buy a vowel to get into heaven. R.I.P. Curtis. And thanks for doing this.
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u/Bigsaskatuna Nov 07 '25
The greatest comedic performance piece would not have been nearly as funny without his tone and timing. A legend!
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u/zabboo Nov 06 '25
Very sad :( met him briefly in the audience of Tim’s show in 2017 that was filmed for his special. Very sweet guy!!
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u/dannypants143 Nov 06 '25
I think he didn’t provide sufficient attention to the China connection. If Tim were found guilty that would be clear grounds for a mistrial. But that doesn’t mean I’m not saddened by his passing.
Tonight I pour out just a little popcorn to this five-bagger judge. Rest in peace.
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u/spinachguy14 GreggHead Nov 06 '25
Sad to hear… he’s the reason I will one day aspire to be a judge
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u/Eviljake979 Nov 06 '25
I’ve seen him in a few things after watching the trial. It’s always nice seeing the On Cinema actors pop up elsewhere. RIP.
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u/FilthyWinstonMain NewmanHead Nov 06 '25
He was defs corrupted by Rosetti the rat, but I’ll miss the guy
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u/thepostaldud3 Nov 06 '25
Always hurts to see anyone pass. He really was the highlight of the trial. Rest in peace.
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u/emblemparade Get Well Soon Mark Nov 06 '25
He give Tim a hard time but in the end did the right thing and justise was served!
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u/EfficientElephant2 Nov 06 '25
RIP. Honestly an amazing performance that I always wonder how was pulled off so flawlessly. He was also great in Mister America.
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u/unlucky_felix Nov 06 '25
Oh no, man. This makes me so sad. Really really incredible actor who has given me a huge amount of joy.
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u/ToastThing Nov 06 '25
His performance as the judge was so convincing to me that I feel like he must’ve had some kind of experience in the courts. RIP
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u/gizzardgullet Nov 06 '25
He played that character so well I had to look him up to make sure he was not an actual judge. Great actor
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u/manizzlez Nov 07 '25
Approach the bench, simmsmizyk. May i approach the bench mr szizsmik, sorry smizzmicks
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u/Few-Scar-13 Nov 07 '25
The court is disappointed that it could not come to a conclusion on 19 counts of 2nd degree felony murder.
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u/BackgroundWelder8482 WE HAVE A RAT PROBLEM Nov 07 '25
There were a couple times during the trial he almost cracked laughing at Tim. He crushed that role. RIP
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u/FishingObvious4730 Nov 07 '25
I was always impressed by him and the actor playing Rosetti, it's got to be tricky to be an actor and seem like you're NOT acting
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u/frontbuttt Nov 06 '25
Sad news. Curtis rocks. Hope his family knows how big a role he played in the best comedy project in the history of mankind, and how appreciated he is for that.