Bio
Richard Reicheg is an American actor and songwriter best known for his starring role as one of the regular pranksters in the reality comedy hidden camera television series Betty White's Off Their Rockers, in which senior citizens prank members of the younger generation.
Reicheg was born and raised in Brooklyn and served in the U.S. Army in Germany as post-WWII occupation forces. He received B.A. and M.A. degrees in speech and theatre from Brooklyn College.
In the '60s, Reicheg played guitar, recorded and toured his original folk/comedy act, sharing the bill with artists like Bill Cosby, Woody Allen, Peter, Paul and Mary, Simon and Garfunkel and blues legends like John Lee Hooker.
Later, he wrote comedy for magazines, industrial shows and stand-up comics like Tom Poston and Jackie Kannon. Next came stage acting with the Broadway show Twilight of the Golds, several off-Broadway productions and touring regional theatres with performers like Vicki Lawrence, Tony Randall, Jack Klugman, Art Carney, Don Knotts and James MacArthur.
He won the Joseph Jefferson Award in Chicago for Barefoot in the Park. In 1973, Reicheg moved to Los Angeles, where he continues to pursue acting and songwriting.
He has appeared in over 100 guest-starring roles on television in both dramas and sitcoms, including The Golden Girls, Beverly Hills, 90210, Dallas, Remington Steele, Hill Street Blues, Newhart, Rhoda and The Odd Couple.
On the big screen, Reicheg appeared in Charlie Wilson's War, Trippers, Leprechaun 3, Oh God, Book 2, First Family and Monkey Trouble.
His songs have been recorded and performed by many artists, including Three Dog Night, The Persuasions, Maria Muldaur, Gary Wright, and Jay and the Americans.
He received a Grammy nomination in 1975 for Best Score in a Motion Picture for his song For the Sake of the Children, featured in Robert Altman's feature film Nashville.
He is married to actress Julie Payne, whom he met while performing with L.A. Cabaret in Los Angeles.