Richard was born in Bethesda, Maryland, the middle child of three sons to Edward, a real estate lawyer, and Charlotte, a cable TV and publishing executive. His parents divorced when he was 12 years old, a significant life event that would shape his future. He dropped out of high school and opted for night school, recognizing that he could complete his education sooner with less effort. This unconventional approach allowed him to focus on his future goals.
In 1973, Richard enrolled at the City College of New York (CCNY),where he stumbled upon the drama program and, by chance, landed a spot in the Professional Acting Training Program. His good fortune was largely due to Earle Gister, a renowned acting coach who had recently graduated from Carnegie-Melon and was on his way to Yale School of Drama. Gister stopped at CCNY for three years to direct the Davis Center for Performing Arts, providing Richard with an exceptional learning environment.
After failing to attend his finals, Richard left New York and headed to Colorado, where he lived a counterculture lifestyle, cutting firewood and embracing his hippie tendencies. However, he returned to New York in 1975 and resumed his studies at CCNY, this time focusing on acting. Despite initially disliking the craft, Richard eventually became fascinated with directing and went on to direct several off-Broadway plays, including a 1983 production of "Antigone" featuring a young Angela Bassett. It was during this time that he met his future wife, Sheila Kelley, while auditioning for the same play.
In the mid-1980s, Richard overcame his fears and decided to pursue an acting career. He landed several television roles, but it was his appearance in an episode of the TV drama High Incident (1996) that caught the attention of Steven Spielberg. The renowned director subsequently cast Richard in The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997),marking the beginning of a successful and long-lasting career. This breakthrough role led to his co-starring role in The West Wing (1999),cementing his status as a talented and versatile actor.
