Richard Reicheg (May 26, 1937 – July 30, 2021) was an American television, stage, and film actor, musician and a Grammy-nominated songwriter. His career spanned a period of over sixty years.
Reicheg wrote the song “For The Sake Of The Children” that is featured in the Robert Altman film Nashville and for which he received a Grammy nomination in 1975.
His songs have been recorded and performed by many top artists, including The Persuasions, Maria Muldaur, Gary Wright, and Jay and the Americans. His song "Everybody's a Masterpiece" was recorded by Three Dog Night. Reicheg's "Looking for an Echo" was recorded by Kenny Vance, The Persuasions (on their album Chirpin'), and by others. The song was also the musical theme of the Martin Davidson film of the same name. Film historian Jan Stewart has called Reicheg's song "For the Sake of the Children" an "ode to marital fidelity [that is] a delicious postmodern balancing act of send up and the real McCoy."
Early years Reicheg was born and raised in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn in the shadow of Ebbets Field. After graduating from Erasmus Hall High School, he served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany from 1956 to 1958. Upon discharge, he attended Brooklyn College, received a B.A. and M.A. degree in speech and theater, and acted in college productions. There he learned to play guitar and joined the burgeoning folk music scene in Greenwich Village. In various folk groups and as a solo performer, he toured extensively, playing coffee houses, cabarets and clubs in the U.S. and Canada, including The Bitter End, Gerde's Folk City, The Blue Angel and The Troubadour. He was a featured performer at the 1964 New York World's Fair, and part of The American Hootenany Festival that toured colleges throughout the US. During those years he recorded for Laurie, 20th Century Fox (as Lenny and Dick) and Decca records (as Sunrise Highway).
Personal life Prior to his death, Reicheg lived in Los Angeles, California with his wife Julie Payne. He died on July 30, 2021, at the age of 84.
Filmography
Film Title Role Director Year Charlie Wilson's War Navy Buddy Mike Nichols Tripper News Anchor David Arquette Monkey Trouble Mr. Big's Henchman Franco Amurri Oh, God! Book II Karl Gil Cates First Family Agent Fowler Buck Henry Dirty Business Albert (Lead) John McCauley Delta Fox Howard Ferd Sebastian Leprechaun III Lucky Brian Trenchard-Smith Americathon Hebrab Terrorist Neil Israel
Television Title Credit Year(s) Betty White's Off Their Rockers Series Regular Alias Co-Star Days of Our Lives Recurring High Incident Guest Star The West Side Waltz MOW) Co-Star Dream On Guest Star Empty Nest (3) Guest Star Beverly Hills 90210 Guest Star The Golden Girls Guest Star Beverly Hills Buntz Guest Star Dallas Guest Star Sledge Hammer! Guest Star What a Country! Guest Star Remington Steele (2) Guest Star The A-Team Guest Star Hardcastle and McCormick Guest Star Faerie Tale Theatre Guest Star Quincy, M.E. Guest Star The White Shadow Guest Star Married to the Mob (pilot) Recurring Brooklyn Bridge Recurring Hill Street Blues Guest Star Long Days of Summer (MOW) Guest Star Superior Court Guest Star General Hospital Recurring The Desperate Miles (MOW) Lead Two Guys from MUCK (pilot) Recurring Monster Manor (pilot) Recurring Police Story (2) Guest Star Newhart Guest Star C.H.I.P.S. Guest Star Rhoda Guest Star The Odd Couple Guest Star Young and the Restless Recurring Kojak (2) Guest Star
Theater
Title Role Theater Year Twilight of the Golds Walter Booth Theater, Broadway (Standby) California Suite Marvin/Mort Drury Lane, Chicago A Bedfull of Foreigners Karak Drury Lane, Union Plaza, Las Vegas Chapter Two Leo Cherry County Playhouse, Michigan Murder at the Howard Johnson's Mitch Cherry County Playhouse A Thousand Clowns Chuckles Arlington Park, Chicago Barefoot in the Park Telephone Man Arlington Park (Joseph Jefferson Award) The Odd Couple Speed/Roy Major Cities Tour Room Service Binion Loretto Hilton, St. Louis Little Murders Alfred Manitoba Theatre Center, Winnipeg Gangster Planet Dad Met Theater, Los Angeles At the Mat Albert Figtree Theater, Los Angeles Prisoner of Venice Swede Zephyr Theatre, Los Angeles Sophie and Willa Leonard Tiffany Theater, Los Angeles
References