Richards, Michael 1949(?)–

views updated

RICHARDS, Michael 1949(?)–

PERSONAL

Full name, Michael Anthony Richards; born July 24, 1949 (some sources cite 1948), in Los Angeles (some sources cite Culver City or Van Nuys), CA; son of William (an electrical engineer) and Phyllis (a medical librarian) Richards; married Cathleen, 1974 (divorced, 1992); children: Sophia. Education: Evergreen State College, B.A.; studied drama at Los Angeles Valley College; also attended California Institute of the in Arts.

Addresses: Agent— Scott Harris, Innovative Artists, 1505 10th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401. Manager— Barry Katz, New Wave Entertainment, 2660 West Olive Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505; Connie Tavel, Tavel Entertainment, 9171 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 406, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

Career: Actor, comedian, writer, and producer. Actor with the San Diego Repertory Company, San Diego, CA; performer of stand–up comedy at clubs like the Comedy Store and the Improv, Los Angeles, beginning 1979. Appeared in commercials for various products. Military service: U.S. Army, served for two years.

Awards, Honors: Emmy awards, outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series, 1993, 1994, and 1997, Actor Award (with others), outstanding ensemble in a comedy series, 1994, 1996, and 1997, Emmy Award nominations, outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series, 1995 and 1996, Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, outstanding performance by a male actor in a comedy series, 1996, 1997, and 1998, American Comedy Award nominations, funniest supporting male performer in a television series, 1996 (with Jason Alexander) and 1999, Screen Actors Guild awards (with others), outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series, 1997 and 1998, and Golden Satellite Award nomination, International Press Academy, best actor in a musical or comedy television series, 1997, all for Seinfeld; American Comedy Award nomination, funniest supporting actor in a motion picture, 1996, for Unstrung Heroes.

CREDITS

Television Appearances; Series:

Multiple roles, including Battle Boy, Fridays, ABC, 1980–1982.

Bill Wolf, a recurring role, St. Elsewhere, NBC, 1984–1985.

Rick, Marblehead Manor, NBC and syndicated, 1987–1988.

Cosmo Kramer, Seinfeld, NBC, 1989–1998.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Second henchman, Fresno, CBS, 1986.

Mr. Wilkins Micawber, David Copperfield, TNT, 2000.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Sal, The Ratings Game (also known as The Mogul), The Movie Channel, 1984.

Mark Ferris, London Suite (also known as Neil Simon's "London Suite"), NBC, 1996.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Chevy Chase as an old man, The Billy Crystal Special, HBO, c. 1979.

"Jonathan Winters: On the Ledge," Showtime Comedy Spotlight, Showtime, 1987.

Behind the Scenes: "UHF," 1989.

Baseball Relief: An All–Star Comedy Salute, Fox, 1993.

Bob Hope: The First Ninety Years, NBC, 1993.

Montreal International Comedy Festival '93, Showtime, 1993.

Host, Aspen Comedy Festival, Comedy Central, 1994.

The Golden Globe's 50th Anniversary Celebration, NBC, 1994.

The Wonderful World of Disney: 40 Years of Television Magic, ABC, 1994.

A Comedy Salute to Andy Kaufman, NBC, 1995.

Canned Ham: Trial and Error, Comedy Central, 1997.

Cosmo Kramer, Seinfeld: The Chronicle, NBC, 1998.

Himself and (in archive footage) Cosmo Kramer, The "Seinfeld" Story, NBC, 2004.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

Presenter, The American Television Awards, ABC, 1993.

Presenter, The First Annual Comedy Hall of Fame, NBC, 1993.

Presenter, 1993 MTV Music Video Awards, MTV, 1993.

Presenter, The 46th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, ABC, 1994.

Presenter, The 1994 MTV Movie Awards, MTV, 1994.

Presenter, The 1997 MTV Movie Awards, MTV, 1997.

Presenter, The 12th Annual American Comedy Awards, Fox, 1998.

Presenter, The 52nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, ABC, 2000.

The British Comedy Awards 2001, Independent Television, 2001.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

The Dating Game, ABC, 1968.

King Geoffrey, "The Tale of the Frog Prince," Faerie Tale Theater (also known as Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theater), Showtime, 1982.

Mario's friend, "Pinocchio," Faerie Tale Theater (also known as Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theater), Showtime, 1983.

Kidnapper, "Brunettes Are In," Scarecrow and Mrs. King, CBS, 1984.

Eddie Gordon, "Bar Bet," Cheers, NBC, 1985.

Eugene Sleighbough, "Take My Wife, Please," Night Court, NBC, 1985.

Hager, "Desperate Hours," It's a Living, syndicated, 1985.

Petronus, "Car Wars," Scarecrow and Mrs. King, CBS, 1985.

Special agent Dupre, "An Oy for an Oy," Hill Street Blues, NBC, 1985.

Pagone, "The Fix," Miami Vice, NBC, 1986.

Sneaky Pete, "Darlin' Clementine," Tall Tales and Legends (also known as Shelley Duvall's Tall Tales and Legends), Showtime, 1987.

Voice of director, Dinosaurs, ABC, 1991.

Guest, Late Night with David Letterman, NBC, 1991, 1997.

Cosmo Kramer, "The Apartment," Mad about You (also known as Loved by You), NBC, 1992.

Himself, "The Flirt Episode," The Larry Sanders Show, HBO, 1992.

Surly photographer, "Wesayso Knows Best," Dinosaurs, ABC, 1992.

Guest, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, 1992.

Himself, "End of the Season," The Larry Sanders Show, HBO, 1994.

Guest, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated, 1997.

Himself, Full Mountie (also known as Jack Dee's Full Mountie), [Great Britain], c. 2000.

Guest, V Graham Norton, Channel 4 (England), 2002, 2003.

Appeared in "Jerry Seinfeld: Master of His Domain," Biography, Arts and Entertainment; and in Celebrity Profile (also known as E! Celebrity Profile), E! Entertainment Television.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Dr. Herndon Pool (some sources cite Dr. Herndon P. Stool), Herndon and Me (also known as Herndon), ABC, 1983.

Rick the gardener, At Your Service, NBC, 1984.

Mike Blade, Slickers, NBC, 1987.

Kessler, The Seinfeld Chronicles (pilot for the series Seinfeld), NBC, 1989.

Vic Nardozza, The Michael Richards Show, NBC, 2000.

Television Work; Series:

Creator and co–executive producer, The Michael Richards Show, NBC, 2000.

Film Appearances:

Malamud Callahan, Young Doctors in Love, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1982.

Dr. Pinkus, The House of God, 1984.

Fejos, Transylvania 6–5000, New World, 1985.

Lacrobat, Whoops Apocalypse, ITC Entertainment, 1987.

Himself, Choice Chance Control (musical documentary), 1987.

Stanley Spadowski, UHF (also known as The Vidiot from UHF), Orion, 1989.

Martin Beck, Problem Child, Universal, 1990.

Motel clerk, Coneheads, Paramount, 1993.

Obituary employee, So I Married an Axe Murderer, TriStar, 1993.

Doug Beech, Airheads, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1994.

Danny Lidz, Unstrung Heroes, Hollywood Pictures, 1995.

(Uncredited) Caveman discovering fire, Ellen's Energy Adventure, 1996.

Good Money, 1996.

Richard "Ricky" Rietti, Trial and Error, New Line Cinema, 1997.

Voice of the Wolf, Redux Riding Hood (animated short film), 1997.

Wah–Wah, The Works, 2005.

Stage Appearances:

Montreal International Comedy Festival, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 1993.

Appeared in productions of The American Clock and Wild Oats, Los Angeles.

RECORDINGS

Videos:

(In archive footage as Stanley Spadowski from the film UHF) Alapalooza: The Videos, BMG Music, 1994.

(In archive footage as Stanley Spadowski from the film UHF) "Weird Al" Yankovic: The Videos, 1996.

(In archive footage as Stanley Spadowski from the film UHF) "Weird Al" Yankovic: The Ultimate Video Collection, Volcano Entertainment Group, 2003.