Born: Peter Mark Richman on April 16th, 1927 in Philadelphia, PA

Died: at 10:00am on January 14, 2021 in Woodland Hills (Los Angeles County), CA of natural Causes at the age of 93

Peter Mark Richman, the acclaimed actor, author, playwright and artist, died of natural causes at his home in Woodland Hills, California at 10:00 AM on January 14, 2021. He was 93.

A true Renaissance man, Mr. Richman leaves a legacy of creative endeavors spanning over eight decades of work in the performing and visual arts. However, it was for his marriage to actress Helen Richman and for his roles as father and grandfather of which he was most proud.

The son of Benjamin, a painting and paper-hanging contractor and Yetta Dora (Peck), Mr. Richman was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 16, 1927. After graduating from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science as a licensed pharmacist in two states, he found his first opportunities on the New York stage as a member of the Actors Studio, starring in Calder Willingham's “End as a Man.” In addition to tours and productions across the U.S., he appeared on Broadway in “A Hatful of Rain” and “Masquerade” and portrayed Jerry in over 400 performances of Edward Albee's original NY production of “The Zoo Story.”

William Wyler brought him west for the classic film, “Friendly Persuasion,” which led to other films such as “Black Orchid,” “The Strange One,” “Naked Gun 2 _” and “Friday the 13th Part 8.” He starred as Nick Cain in his own NBC series, “Cain's Hundred,” and in over 500 TV guest star appearances on such shows as “The Twilight Zone,” “The Outer Limits,” “Murder She Wrote,” “Fantasy Island,” and “Star Trek the Next Generation.” He had recurring roles on “Three's Company” (as the Reverend Snow) and “Beverly Hills 90210” as well as co-starring roles on series such as “Dynasty” and “Longstreet.”

ANTA and the Actors Studio produced several of his one-act plays and, after mounting his critically-acclaimed one-man play, “4 Faces,” in Los Angeles and New York, he starred in the film version of the piece. His play, “A Medal for Murray,” received its world premiere with the Beit Lessin Theatre in Israel, garnering raves throughout the country during its two-year run. Published novel and short-story collections in Mr. Richman's catalog include “Hollander's Deal” and “The Rebirth of Ira Masters.” Also an accomplished painter, Mr. Richman had seventeen critically acclaimed one-man exhibitions.

Mr. Richman served as a long-time board member for several charities and, in 1990, the Motion Picture and Television Fund awarded the Silver Medallion to him for outstanding humanitarian achievement. He was also honored in that year with the Sybil Brand Humanitarian Award from the Jeffrey Foundation.

In Mr. Richman's own words from his autobiography, I Saw A Molten White Light: “God has been good to me, in everything. Through all the struggle and suffering, progress has been made…God put this sacred and mysterious place inside all of us -- our inner life or soul -- that has the capacity to come alive again -- to wake up from its sleepy torpor once the button is pushed for the door to open. And when the door is open, most of the time the sun is warm, and the birds are singing -- and all things are possible.”

Mr. Richman is survived by his wife of 67 years, Helen Richman; five children, Howard Richman and his wife, Cherie, Kelly Lester and her husband, Loren, Lucas Richman and his wife, Debbie, Orien Richman and his wife, Alevé, and Roger Richman; as well as six grandchildren, Jenny, Lily, Max, Julia, Oliver and Danica. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, funeral services will be held privately and at the convenience of Mr. Richman's family. Memorial contributions in honor of Mr. Richman can be made to the Motion Picture Television Fund (MPTF).

One of Hollywood's Most Notorious On Screen Bad Guys Releases Memoirs.

Peter Mark Richman left a $35 a week job as a pharmacist in PA to take a chance on a life on stage and in film.  Now, with Broadway credits, numerous films, his own series entitled “Cain's Hundred,” over 200 guest appearances and reoccurring roles in both Daytime and Prime time on Santa Barbara, Dynasty, and more, it would appear that the risk paid off.  

Richman has been referred to as one of the ultimate and notorious bad guys in entertainment, who has met his death in just about every conceivable way (shot, stabbed, burned, boiled, poisoned, dismembered, executed, etc).  Now as he joins a long list of nonagenarians' with successful careers including colleagues such as Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, Carol Channing, Norman Lear, Betty White, Kirk Douglas and more, it seemed a good time to complete and release his memoirs, “I Saw A Molten White Light,” through BearManor Publishing in April 2018.

Among the topics that Mr. Richman discusses are …

*** Working with numerous leading ladies, including Florence Henderson, Sophia Loren, Cloris Leachman, Anne Baxter, Tippi Hedren, Janet Leigh, Joan Collins, Eva Marie Saint, June Allyson, Janis Page, Jane Wyman and many more.

*** Working in the golden age of Live TV on Philco TV, Studio One, PlayHouse 90 and more.

*** Guest starring in hundreds of hit series including Twilight Zone, Mission: Impossible, Gunsmoke, The F.B.I., Murder She Wrote, Hawaii Five-O, Wilde Wild West and more.

*** How writers, producers and directors seemed to dream up the most agonizing and numerous ways for him Richman to die on screen

*** One of the few long-term industry marriages, now celebrating their 65th anniversary.

*** An accomplished artist, he has had over 20 one-man exhibitions.

*** Discuss the phenomenon of how supporting roles such as Rev Snow on “Three's Company,” and Ralph Offenhouse on “Star Trek: The Next Generation developed

Website: http://www.petermarkrichman.com