Ric's acting career began at the tender age of eleven, with numerous film, short, commercial, and video appearances under his belt. As he entered his twenties, he shifted his focus to writing and directing for film, commencing with a documentary titled "Overcoming Grief" and the short film "Choices" for the Jason Foundation, a teen-age suicide prevention group, which was distributed globally. He subsequently penned and directed the feature comedy "Heaven Admittance", the popular suspense thriller "The Bell Witch Haunting", and the thriller drama "Nightmares from the Mind of Poe", which incorporates four of Edgar Allan Poe's stories.
Prior to transitioning to film, Ric honed his skills in the theater by studying acting, music, and film at the University of Maryland (Europe),Belmont University, and Tennessee State University, as well as attending countless private and group classes and seminars. With a career spanning over four decades, Ric has performed in over fifty productions, including leading roles in shows such as "Becket", "Glass Menagerie", "Good Doctor", "Boys Next Door", and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". He has also acted in numerous functions, including several one-man shows, and has written countless scenes, skits, and ten produced plays, including "Where's the Love?" performed at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, and the one-man shows "The Disciple" and "An Evening with Poe" performed throughout the Southeast US.
As a director, Ric has overseen over forty play productions, and as a producer, he has overseen over sixty. He has served as the Artistic Director of the Tennessee Theater Company since 1998. Additionally, Ric has been the lead singer of several bands, performing a diverse range of music, from country to blues, R&B, oldies, and Top 40 rock, which has allowed him to utilize various vocal styles. This versatility has also influenced his songwriting, resulting in his unique country sound. In 2002, his CD "Someday, Someway", featuring all original songs, was voted the best independent album in the Scene's readers poll. Ric also placed third in the poll behind Vince Gill and Garth Brooks as best male artist, and third behind Vince Gill and Pat Green as best songwriter.
Ric has spent years touring and performing with different bands throughout the southern US and Europe, performing both covers and original music. His extensive experience in theater and the performing arts has enabled him to create high-energy shows that captivate audiences with his impressive performing abilities. These abilities have been honed since childhood, when Ric would entertain family and friends with his hip-shaking Elvis impersonation at the tender age of five. His passion for entertaining led him to the theatrical stage as a student, where he won numerous forensic and acting awards, and continued through college performances and production work, to touring, singing, and songwriting as an independent music artist and filmmaker. Throughout his career, Ric has strived to challenge himself, touch the hearts of his audience, and inspire those around him.
