Adam Rifkin (born December 31, 1966), sometimes credited as Rif Coogan, is an American filmmaker and actor. His career ranges from broad family comedies to dark and gritty urban dramas. He is best known for writing or co-writing family-friendly comedies like Mouse Hunt and 2007's Underdog.
Early life and education A native of Chicago, Illinois, Rifkin graduated from the Chicago Academy for the Arts in 1984, after which he moved to Los Angeles. He attended the University of Southern California for one year before dropping out. He then began writing scripts and collaborating with Brad Wyman.
Career As a screenwriter, Rifkin has written several family-friendly movies. He wrote Knucklehead for WWE Studios, starring WWE star Big Show, Underdog for Walt Disney Pictures, Zoom, starring Tim Allen and two films for DreamWorks, Mouse Hunt and Small Soldiers. Continuing in the family film genre, he wrote an unmade big screen version of He-Man for John Woo and 20th Century Fox, that was abandoned by Fox 2000 Pictures. He also wrote the unused draft of Planet of the Apes in 1988.
Rifkin's film The Dark Backward was named one of the top ten films of its year by The New York Post. He was then the director responsible for New Line Cinema's Detroit Rock City.
Directing Rifkin directed his first film Never on Tuesday in 1989. As of December 6, 2007, he has directed eleven others, including The Chase (1994), Detroit Rock City (1999) and the Night at the Golden Eagle (2002).
Production Rifkin began his production career in 1999 on the production of Touch Me in the Morning by Giuseppe Andrews. Preceding his completion of that project, Rifkin produced his own film Night at the Golden Eagle as well as Getting Hal by Tony Markes.
Acting Rifkin began his acting career in 1989 with his directorial debut Never on Tuesday. Rifkin has appeared in small roles and cameos in his other films, Night at the Golden Eagle, Without Charlie, Detroit Rock City, The Dark Backward, Denial and Psycho Cop 2. Rifkin also appeared as Croaker/Miss Spain in the 1989 film, Going Overboard, starring Adam Sandler and Burt Young.
He also wrote, directed and acted in the 2007 film Homo Erectus, in which he portrays a wimpy caveman called Ishbo, the main character in the film. The film's ensemble cast includes Ali Larter, David Carradine, Talia Shire, Gary Busey, and Ron Jeremy.
Filmography Film Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes1989 Never on Tuesday Going Overboard Tale of Two Sisters 1990 The Invisible Maniac Credited as "Rif Coogan" 1991 The Dark Backward 1992 The Nutt House 1993 Psycho Cop 2 Credited as "Rif Coogan" 1994 The Chase 1997 Mouse Hunt 1998 Denial Small Soldiers Welcome to Hollywood Co-directed with Tony Markes 1999 Detroit Rock City 2001 Without Charlie Night at the Golden Eagle 2006 Zoom 2007 Homo Erectus Look Underdog 2010 Knucklehead 2011 Chillerama Segment "Wadzilla" 2015 Shooting the Warwicks 2016 Director's Cut 2017 The Last Movie Star 2021 Willy's Wonderland 2023 The Adam Rifkin Film Festival Compilation of short films made from 1975 to 1987 2025 Last Train to Fortune
Acting credits Year Title Role Notes 1984 Sixteen Candles Head Nerd Uncredited 1989 Never on Tuesday William Going Overboard Croaker / Miss Spain 1990 Disturbed Gary 1991 The Dark Backward Rufus Bing Bikini Island Desk Boy Credited as Rif Coogan 1992 Last Dance Mark1993 Psycho Cop 2 Man with Video Camera The Flesh Merchant Man In Bondage Room Bikini Squad Singing Teacher Credited as Rif Coogan 1998 Denial Reuben Susan's Plan Gambler #1 Welcome to Hollywood Himself1999 Detroit Rock City It's Raining Men Billboard Model Uncredited2001 Without Charlie Norman Night at the Golden Eagle Man in Private Booth Uncredited 2007 Homo Erectus Ishbo 2011 Chillerama Miles Munson Segment "Wadzilla" 2015 Shooting the Warwicks Mickey Wagner 2016 Director's Cut Himself
Documentary film Year Title Director Producer 1999 Touch Me in the Morning 2004 Babysitter 2006 Jacuzzi Rooms 2007 Garbanzo Gas 2014 Giuseppe Makes a Movie
Television Year Title Director Writer ExecutiveProducer Creator 1996 Bone Chillers 2010 Look: The Series 2012 Reality Show
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