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Richard Grieco

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Richard Grieco
Richard Grieco, 2006
Born
Richard John Grieco Jr.

(1965-03-23) March 23, 1965 (age 59)
Watertown, New York, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • painter
  • former fashion model
Years active1985–present
ChildrenTony Grieco
Websitewww.griecoart.com

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][2][3]

Early life

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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.[4]

Career

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Modeling, TV and film

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Grieco worked as a model for Armani, Calvin Klein and Chanel.[5] 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

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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;[6][7] he re-released the album in 2011, making it available on streaming services such as iTunes and Spotify.[8][9] In 2004, he formed the band Wasteland Park with music manager Cheryl Bogart.[citation needed]

Art

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In 2009, several years after being encouraged to do so by Dennis Hopper,[2] Grieco publicly revealed that he has been painting since 1991 and sold his first painting for $10,900.[10] He calls his work "Abstract Emotionalism."[11]

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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

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1991 If Looks Could Kill Michael Corben
Mobsters Benny "Bugsy" Siegel
1993 Born to Run Nicky Donatello Television film
Tomcat: Dangerous Desires Tom
Nick's Game Del Pizzo, Nick Television film
1994 Sin and Redemption Jim McDaniels Television film
Bolt Bolt Video
1995 A Vow to Kill Eric Television film
The Demolitionist 'Mad Dog' Burne
Suspicious Agenda Tony Castagne
It Was Him or Us Gene Shepard Television film
1996 Inhumanoid Adam Television film
Heaven or Vegas Navy
1997 When Time Expires Travis Beck Television film
Against the Law Rex
The Journey: Absolution Sergeant Bradley
Mutual Needs Brandon Collier
1998 Sinbad: The Battle of the Dark Knights Sinbad
A Night at the Roxbury Himself
Captive Joe Goodis Television film
Garden of Evil Dean
Blackheart Ray
1999 Ultimate Deception Bobby Woodkin Television film
2000 The Apostate Michael Killan
Point Doom Rick Hansen
2001 Vital Parts Ty Kinnick
Sweet Revenge Frank
Final Payback Joey Randall
Manhattan Midnight Midnight
Death, Deceit and Destiny Aboard the Orient Express Jack Chase
Last Cry J.C. Gale Video
2002 Fish Don't Blink Pete
2003 Book of Days Mr. Finch Television film
Evil Breed: The Legend of Samhain Mark
Webs Dean
2004 Phantom Force Mark Dupree Television film
Dead Easy Simon Storm
2005 Kiss Kiss Bang Bang B-Movie Actor
2006 Forget About It Anthony Amato
2007 Raiders of the Damned Dr. Lewis
2011 Almighty Thor Loki Television film
2013 AE Apocalypse Earth Captain Sam Crowe Video
2014 22 Jump Street Dennis Booker
After Midnight Dr. Sam Hubbard
Viral Video FishyKiller Short
2015 Cats Dancing on Jupiter Derek Stockton
A House Is Not a Home Rafkin
Viral Video 2 FishyKiller Short
2016 The Chemist Stone
2017 Eliza Sherman's Revenge Himself
Halloween Pussy Trap Kill! Kill! Dale
2018 Loan Me a Dime Walter Stone
Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece The Albanian
Minutes to Midnight Sheriff Wyatt
Dick Dickster Himself
Impact Event Justice Outlaw
2019 Clinton Road Ghost Truck Driver
Art of the Dead Douglas Winter
I'm Offended Richard Television film
2020 Dream Round Sean McLaw
Attack of the Unknown Vernon
Stay Off the App Brooks
2021 Whack the Don Nick
Jungle Run Nicholas Kiri
Desert Moon Sheriff Del
2022 Night of the Tommyknockers Dirk

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1987 One Life to Live Rick Gardner Episode: "Episode #1.4786"
Rags to Riches Billy Gallento Episode: "Hunk in the House"
1988 Who's The Boss? Mauritzio Episode: "All in the Famiglia"
The Facts of Life Ben Episode: "Big Apple Blues"
1988–89 21 Jump Street Detective Dennis Booker Recurring cast (seasons 3-4)
1989–90 Booker Detective Dennis Booker Main cast
1994–96 Gargoyles Anthony "Tony" Dracon Voice, recurring role
1994 Sin and Redemption made-for-television movie[12]
1995 Marker Richard DeMorra Main cast
Fantastic Four Ghost Rider Voice, episode: "When Calls Galactus"; credited as Richard Greico
1996 The Incredible Hulk Ghost Rider Voice, episode: "Innocent Blood"
2006–07 Veronica Mars Steve Botando Recurring cast (season 3)
2009 Gone Country 3 Himself Main cast (season 3)
2010 Gigolos N/A Creator and executive producer
2016 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Himself Episode: "Dee Made a Smut Film"
2021 Paper Empire Santiago Ochoa Episode: "Digital Limbo"

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2011 Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Ghost Rider

Web

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Year Title Role Notes
2014 Viral Video Fishykiller Short film on Trisha Paytas' YouTube channel
2015 Viral Video 2 Fishykiller Short film on Trisha Paytas' YouTube channel

References

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  1. ^ Michaela Jackson (February 21, 2018), Richard Grieco on FOX Studio 11 LA | Abstract Emotionalism, retrieved March 4, 2019
  2. ^ a b Sewing, Joy (October 1, 2012). "Rocker-chic guests celebrate actor artist Richard Grieco". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  3. ^ Kai63485 (March 4, 2012), Richard Grieco on Painting with Abstract Emotionalism, Gigolos and Men Pleasing Women For a Change, archived from the original on December 13, 2021, retrieved March 4, 2019{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Richard Grieco; '21 Jumpstreet' adds a Handsome Rebel", "The Washington Post, 7 May 1989
  5. ^ [1][dead link‍]
  6. ^ "Richard Grieco - Waiting For The Sky To Fall". Discogs. 1995. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  7. ^ Mila (May 7, 2013). "When Acting Is Not Enough: Waiting For The Sky To Fall - Richard Grieco". When Acting Is Not Enough. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  8. ^ Waiting For The Sky To Fall by Richard Grieco, July 6, 2011, retrieved March 4, 2019
  9. ^ Waiting For The Sky To Fall, July 6, 2011, retrieved March 4, 2019
  10. ^ "Strip Tips: Actor Richard Grieco showcasing art". Las Vegas Review-Journal. November 2, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  11. ^ "www.griecoart.com". griecofineart. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  12. ^ Marko, Michele (December 24, 1993). "Faces of '93: What's in the stocking for our stars of tomorrow?". The Vancouver Sun. p. 105. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
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