Biography of Evan Richards
AS AN ACTOR:
Evan Richards has been toiling away in this fine industry since he was a wee lad. In legitimate theatre at a very young age, Evan had a chance to portray the starring role in OLIVER at the San Bernardino Civic light Opera. On Broadway he was cast as Young Copperfield in the Charles Dickens adaptation of the Tony nominated DAVID COPPERFIELD. He worked with the venerated theatre/film director James Lapine in TABLE SETTINGS. On television, Evan was cast as the streetwise grandson of famed British actress Lila Kaye in the Terrence McNally (Broadway's RAGTIME, etc.) created CBS sitcom MAMA MALONE.
AS A WRITER / DIRECTOR:
Evan attended writing classes at UCLA under the tutelage of veteran writer/producer Dee Caruso, in addition to separately studying with Neil Simon's brother Danny Simon. Evan's HOLLYWEIRD was a weekly serial he wrote and created that was featured in the local Los Angeles newspaper The Tolucan for over two years. Evan had success with his first produced stage play THE PARANOIA OF LILLY SPRING, at the Egyptian Arena Theatre in Hollywood. At the Stella Adler Theatre, Evan directed a one-act play HIDDEN IN THIS PICTURE written by famed creator of "The West Wing" Aaron Sorkin. The play won a rave review in The Los Angeles Times. Evan divides his time between Los Angeles and London - which affords him great air miles! CLOUD NINE and WOMAN X have been recently picked up for distribution by leading shorts distributor Shorts International.
In an award winning television episode of "The Winners" of THE FALL GUY television series, Evan guest starred as the brother of a Down Syndrome Child. In the highly rated CBS television movie of the week ONE COOKS, THE OTHER DOESN'T, Evan starred as the son of Suzanne Pleshette and Joseph Bologna. For that role, Evan was submitted for an Emmy award and was nominated for a Young Artist Award. The producer of that project was a then neophyte Laura Ziskin, producer of the recent SPIDERMAN movie. Evan is most recognized for his role as Max Whiteman, the son of Bette Midler and Richard Dreyfuss in the now classic Paul Mazursky comedy DOWN AND OUT IN BEVERLY HILLS. Evan recreated his role for the Fox Broadcasting television series of DOWN AND OUT IN BEVERLY HILLS.
Also for Fox Broadcasting, Evan starred as a bleach blonde Bill in the cult hit BILL AND TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURES. Evan also provided the voice of Bill for the animated television series.
He's also starred in the teen favorites DREAM MACHINE with Corey Haim, and ROCK AND ROLL HIGH SCHOOL FOREVER, with Corey Feldman (Comedy Central).
Evan starred in various cult thrillers, including Steven Spielberg's episode of TWILIGHT ZONE - THE MOVIE, Brian Yuzna's (Producer of Re-Animator) SOCIETY, as a mysterious college student in MIDNIGHT FEAR (which also starred David Carradine), and Anthony Waller's MUTE WITNESS, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival and was released by Sony Pictures Classics.
For Producer George Lucas, Evan guest starred in the two hour movie YOUNG INDIANA JONES:TALES OF INNOCENCE, portraying a younger version of the real life journalist Lowell Thomas.
Evan starred in the short film LITTLE FEET (SHOWTIME), and his self-penned short film CLOUD NINE (HBO/CINEMAX).
In London, Evan wrote and hosted THE HSX REPORT, which took an irreverent look at the daily Hollywood news for the NOW network.
Evan's first produced film project was the LA based quirky comedy short film CLOUD NINE. He pulled double duty, writing and starring in it. Nicole Bettauer directed and Lisa Schahet produced. The film was screened in various high profiled film festivals, including the Seattle International Film Festival and the Los Angeles Independent/IFP West Film Festival. It was also one of the four finalists for the 1st Annual Skyy Vodka Short Film Competition, and was subsequently sold around the world including Japan, Canada and the States.
Evan's second foray into the film world as a writer is WOMAN X. WOMAN X also marked his debut as a film director. WOMAN X was shot entirely on location in London.
WOMAN X was screened at over 30 international film Festivals, received rave reviews from Filmthreat.com, HOTDOG magazine (UK), and the New Haven Advocate.
WOMAN X was a finalist for a BAFTA nomination, and has won other awards, including first prize from The Big Issue Film Festival in the North, as well as a special Honorable Mention from the Deep Ellum Film Festival. WOMAN X was picked up for distribution by Hypnotic films and was sold around the world, including Poland, Israel and Latin American. The American broadcast debut was on the major cable network STARZ ENCORE.