Richard Grieco Explained

Richard Grieco
Birth Name:Richard John Grieco Jr.
Birth Date:23 March 1965
Birth Place:Watertown, New York, U.S.
Years Active:1985–present
Children:Tony Grieco

Richard John Grieco Jr. (born March 23, 1965) is an American actor, artist, and former fashion model. He played Detective Dennis Booker in the popular Fox series 21 Jump Street (1988–89) and its spin-off Booker (1989–90). He has also starred in various films, including If Looks Could Kill and Mobsters (both 1991). He has voiced characters in several video games and appeared as either himself or his 21 Jump Street character in several films and television shows. Since 2009, he worked as a painter, working in a style he calls abstract emotionalism.[1]

Early life

Richard Grieco was born in Watertown, New York, the son of Richard and Carolyn (née O'Reilly) Grieco. He is of Italian and Irish descent.[2]

Career

Modeling, TV and film

Grieco worked as a model for Armani, Calvin Klein and Chanel.[3] His first television role was as Rick Gardner on One Life to Live from February to August 1987. In 1988, Grieco began appearing as Detective Dennis Booker on the shows 21 Jump Street and its spinoff Booker. Grieco's feature film debut was as Michael Corben in If Looks Could Kill (1991) and has appeared in numerous films since then. Later in 1991, he played the young Jewish bootlegger and mobster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel in the film Mobsters. He also appeared in the TV series Marker in 1995. He played himself in the 1998 film A Night at the Roxbury as well as in an episode of the FX comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Music

Grieco began a singing career in 1994 with the Dunmire Band. He signed to a German label and released a CD, Waiting for the Sky to Fall, in 1995;[4] [5] he re-released the album in 2011, making it available on streaming services such as iTunes and Spotify. In 2004, he formed the band Wasteland Park with music manager Cheryl Bogart.

Art

In 2009, several years after being encouraged to do so by Dennis Hopper, Grieco publicly revealed that he has been painting since 1991 and sold his first painting for $10,900.[6] He calls his work "Abstract Emotionalism."[7]

In popular culture

In the WB sitcom Off Centre, Grieco is idolized by Chau Presley, a character played by John Cho. In the show, Chau meets Grieco at the Department of Motor Vehicles and trades him an Oingo Boingo shirt for the one he is wearing. Several references are made to Grieco and his films (especially Point Doom).

In A Night at the Roxbury, Grieco is idolized by the main characters. His lifestyle ("Clothes, Cars, Women") was what Doug and Steve Butabi were trying to achieve.

In 2016, he appeared as himself in an episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1991If Looks Could KillMichael Corben
MobstersBenny "Bugsy" Siegel
1993Born to RunNicky DonatelloTelevision film
Tom
Nick's GameDel Pizzo, NickTelevision film
1994Sin and RedemptionJim McDanielsTelevision film
BoltBoltVideo
1995A Vow to KillEricTelevision film
The Demolitionist'Mad Dog' Burne
Suspicious AgendaTony Castagne
It Was Him or UsGene ShepardTelevision film
1996InhumanoidAdamTelevision film
Heaven or VegasNavy
1997When Time ExpiresTravis BeckTelevision film
Against the LawRex
The Journey: AbsolutionSergeant Bradley
Mutual NeedsBrandon Collier
1998Sinbad: The Battle of the Dark KnightsSinbad
A Night at the RoxburyHimself
CaptiveJoe GoodisTelevision film
Garden of EvilDean
BlackheartRay
1999Ultimate DeceptionBobby WoodkinTelevision film
2000The ApostateMichael Killan
Point DoomRick Hansen
2001Vital PartsTy Kinnick
Sweet Revenge Frank
Final PaybackJoey Randall
Manhattan MidnightMidnight
Death, Deceit and Destiny Aboard the Orient ExpressJack Chase
Last CryJ.C. GaleVideo
2002Fish Don't BlinkPete
2003Book of DaysMr. FinchTelevision film
Mark
WebsDean
2004Phantom ForceMark DupreeTelevision film
Dead EasySimon Storm
2005Kiss Kiss Bang BangB-Movie Actor
2006Forget About ItAnthony Amato
2007Raiders of the DamnedDr. Lewis
2011Almighty ThorLokiTelevision film
2013AE Apocalypse EarthCaptain Sam CroweVideo
201422 Jump StreetDennis Booker
After MidnightDr. Sam Hubbard
Viral VideoFishyKillerShort
2015Cats Dancing on JupiterDerek Stockton
A House Is Not a HomeRafkin
Viral Video 2FishyKillerShort
2016The ChemistStone
2017Eliza Sherman's RevengeHimself
Halloween Pussy Trap Kill! Kill!Dale
2018Loan Me a DimeWalter Stone
Fury of the Fist and the Golden FleeceThe Albanian
Minutes to MidnightSheriff Wyatt
Dick DicksterHimself
Impact EventJustice Outlaw
2019Clinton RoadGhost Truck Driver
Art of the DeadDouglas Winter
I'm OffendedRichardTelevision film
2020Dream RoundSean McLaw
Attack of the UnknownVernon
Stay Off the AppBrooks
2021Whack the DonNick
Jungle RunNicholas Kiri
Desert MoonSheriff Del
2022Night of the TommyknockersDirk

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987One Life to LiveRick GardnerEpisode: "Episode #1.4786"
Rags to RichesBilly GallentoEpisode: "Hunk in the House"
1988Who's The Boss?MauritzioEpisode: "All in the Famiglia"
The Facts of LifeBenEpisode: "Big Apple Blues"
1988–8921 Jump StreetDetective Dennis BookerRecurring cast (seasons 3-4)
1989–90BookerDetective Dennis BookerMain cast
1994–96Gargoyles Anthony "Tony" DraconVoice, recurring role
1994Sin and Redemptionmade-for-television movie[8]
1995MarkerRichard DeMorraMain cast
Fantastic FourVoice, episode: "When Calls Galactus"; credited as Richard Greico
1996The Incredible HulkGhost RiderVoice, episode: "Innocent Blood"
2006–07Veronica MarsSteve BotandoRecurring cast (season 3)
2009Gone Country 3HimselfMain cast (season 3)
2010GigolosN/ACreator and executive producer
2016It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaHimselfEpisode: "Dee Made a Smut Film"
2021Paper EmpireSantiago OchoaEpisode: "Digital Limbo"

Web

YearTitleRoleNotes
2014Viral VideoFishykillerShort film on Trisha Paytas' YouTube channel
2015Viral Video 2FishykillerShort film on Trisha Paytas' YouTube channel

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rocker-chic guests celebrate actor artist Richard Grieco. Sewing. Joy. 2012-10-01. Houston Chronicle. 2019-03-04.
  2. "Richard Grieco; '21 Jumpstreet' adds a Handsome Rebel", "The Washington Post, 7 May 1989
  3. https://www.msn.com/en-za/entertainment/people/richard-grieco/AA4hD3G
  4. Web site: Richard Grieco - Waiting For The Sky To Fall. Discogs. 1995 . en. 2019-03-04.
  5. Web site: When Acting Is Not Enough: Waiting For The Sky To Fall - Richard Grieco. Mila. 2013-05-07. When Acting Is Not Enough. 2019-03-04.
  6. Web site: Strip Tips: Actor Richard Grieco showcasing art. 2012-11-02. Las Vegas Review-Journal. en-US. 2019-03-04.
  7. Web site: www.griecoart.com. griecofineart. Nov 21, 2019.
  8. News: Marko . Michele . 1993-12-24 . Faces of '93: What's in the stocking for our stars of tomorrow? . 105 . The Vancouver Sun . 2023-05-28.