Here is Richard Paul's biography:
Richard Paul was a native Californian who earned a BA in public affairs from Claremont Men's College and an MA in psychology from California State University at Los Angeles. He then began working towards a Ph.D. at the University of Arizona.
Richard's early career was a mix of psychology and acting, including playing Doolittle in "My Fair Lady" and working as a staff psychologist at Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk, California. It was during this time that he met his future wife Patty, a student worker at the hospital, and developed a unique program of acting lessons for the patients.
Richard also worked on two albums with the Firesign Theater and appeared on their radio show KPFK. He spent his summers performing at the Pomona Valley Shakespeare Festival, playing a variety of roles including Falstaff, Toby Belch, and Bottom.
In 1968, Richard married Patty and they spent several years struggling to make a living, with Richard working on commercials, voice-overs, and his doctorate. The turning point came when he accepted a nine-month road engagement starring in "W.C. Fields, 80 proof," a two-man show.
Richard went on to have a successful acting career, including voice-overs for cartoons, early on-camera roles, and a number of stage and television roles. He is perhaps best known for his role as Mayor Teddy Burnside in the ABC-TV series "Carter Country," where his catchphrase "Handle it! Handle it!" became a national phenomenon.
Richard also had a number of notable film roles, including "The People vs. Larry Flynt," "The Glass Cage," and "Mind Games." He worked with a number of notable directors, including Milos Forman and Paul Bartel.
In addition to his acting career, Richard was a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and served on the Mental Health Advisory Board to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor. He was also a Universal Life Church minister and volunteered his time to a number of charitable organizations, including the Braille Institute's Recording program and Actors and Others for Animals.
