In the second grade, around 1970, Rick was handpicked by his homeroom teacher, Mrs. Vicini, to play the esteemed role of King Pumpkin in a musical she created, revolving around a vegetable garden and the devastating effects of DDT on its inhabitants. This pioneering school production marked the beginning of Rick's lifelong passion for acting.
Prior to his senior year in high school, Rick was hired by a Pittsburgh-area dinner theatre to portray the charismatic Mercutio in William Shakespeare's timeless classic, Romeo and Juliet. At the tender age of 17, he took on the role of Mercutio, who was also 17, and was compensated for his performances. Unfortunately, Rick had to break the news to his high school football coach that he would be unable to attend the first scrimmage of the season under the lights at home, as he was committed to acting in a play. The coach was less than thrilled, and Rick was relegated to the bench for the remainder of his senior year, except for his exceptional ability to snap the football back to the punter, which proved to be a valuable asset as they punted frequently that season. Despite his coach's disapproval, Rick still managed to earn a letter in football that year.
Rick's acting career began at the tender age of 12, when he started performing in community theatres. He went on to pursue a degree in Theatrical Performance in college and continued to hone his craft on the stages of various western Pennsylvania theatres. In 2017, Rick organically entered the Pittsburgh film industry scene.
In 2019, Rick tied the knot for the second time with the love of his life and his partner, Stephanie Swift, a talented Pittsburgh-area actress. Rick is a devoted father to his three children, who are all currently enrolled in college, so please consider hiring him!
