William Richert
William Richert (born 1942) is an American film director, film producer, screenwriter and actor. He is known for writing and directing the feature films Winter Kills, The American Success Company, and A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon.
William Richert | |
---|---|
Born | 1942 (age 77–78) |
Occupation | Film Director, Film Producer, Screenwriter, Actor, Author |
Years active | 1961–present |
Notable work | Winter Kills, The American Success Company, A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon |
Spouse(s) | Gretchen Richert |
Website | WilliamRichert.com |
Biography
Richert was born in Florida. At age 17, he hopped a bus to Hollywood. At the age of 19, he interviewed Richard Nixon's daughters Tricia and Julie, as part of a planned documentary titled Presidents' Daughters. He directed several other documentaries (including Derby and A Dancer's Life) and the feature films Winter Kills, The American Success Company, A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, and The Man in the Iron Mask (also known as The Mask of Dumas).
In 1982, Richard co-founded Invisible Studio, re-acquiring the rights to The American Success Company and Winter Kills, and re-editing and re-releasing both films.[1]
Richert's film A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon was originally distributed by 20th Century Fox, but was later re-cut and re-issued independently under the title Aren't You Even Going To Kiss Me Goodbye?
As an actor, Richert played Bob Pigeon in the 1991 Gus van Sant film My Own Private Idaho. He played Aramis in his 1998 production of The Man in the Iron Mask. He played Patrick McKennan in the 1999 television movie A.T.F.
Controversy
Richert sued the Writers Guild of America over not being credited on the screenplay of the 1995 film The American President. Richert claimed Sorkin's screenplay was a thinly veiled plagiarism of Richert's 1981 screenplay The President Elopes.[2] After Guild arbitration, Aaron Sorkin was awarded full credit on American President. Richert also claimed that the television series The West Wing was derived from part of the same screenplay.
Richert also sued the Directors Guild of America over its collection of overseas levies for American directors who are not members.[3]
Filmography
- 1971 Derby (documentary) (Producer)
- 1972 A Dancer's Life (a.k.a. First Position; documentary) (Writer/Director)
- 1974 Law and Disorder (with Kenneth Harris Fishman and Ivan Passer) (Writer)
- 1975 The Happy Hooker (Writer)[4]
- 1976 Crime and Passion (a.k.a. Ace Up My Sleeve, with Ivan Passer and Pat Silver) (Writer)
- 1979 Winter Kills (Writer/Director)
- 1980 The American Success Company (a.k.a. American Success and Success) (Writer/Director)
- 1988 A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (a.k.a. Aren't You Even Gonna Kiss Me Goodbye?) (Writer/Director)
- 1998 The Man in the Iron Mask (a.k.a. The Face of Alexandre Dumas: The Man in the Iron Mask, with Edward Albert, Dana Barron, Rex Ryon and Timothy Bottoms)[5] (Writer/Director)
References
- Harmetz, Aljean. "WHEN INDEPENDENTS TRY TO RESURRECT MOVIES THAT FAILED," New York Times (September 9, 1982).
- Wines, Michael. "Hollywood Finds a Presidential Role Model," New York Times (November 12, 1995).
- McNary, Dave. "Suit slams DGA’s foreign take: Webb sues guild over non-member fees," Variety (MAY 21, 2006).
- "The Happy Hooker Overview". The New York Times.
- "The Face of Alexandre Dumas: The Man in the Iron Mask," IMDb.com. Accessed Nov. 24, 2017.