Richard Price

Richard Price Headshot

Writer • Producer

Birth Date: October 12, 1949

Age: 74 years old

Birth Place: New York City, New York

Sometimes dubbed "the voice of the Bronx," Price is primarily known for streetwise sagas like his 1976 novel "Blood Brothers" (filmed in 1978), a coming-of-age story set in the world of construction workers, and "The Wanderers" (published in 1974, filmed in 1979), a gritty look at the world of Bronx housing-project gangs. After both of these popular novels had been adapted for film, Price embarked on a successful career as an original screenwriter, notably with "The Color of Money" (1986), which earned him an Oscar nod, and the thoughtful crime drama-cum-character study "Sea of Love" (1989), which revitalized Al Pacino's film career.

As a novelist and screenwriter, Price has favored stories about tough guys, losers, and people desperate for a second chance. His world view comfortably coincides with that of Martin Scorsese, with whom he collaborated on "The Color of Money," the "Life Lessons" segment of "New York Stories" (1989), and an ambitious extended Michael Jackson music video, "BAD" (1987).

Several of Price's screenplays in the 1990s were high-profile remakes of film noir classics. Both "Night and the City" (1992) and "Kiss of Death" (1995) opened to mixed reviews and tepid box office. Price segued to producing as the executive producer on the unsuccessful romantic crime drama "Mad Dog and Glory" (1992), which he also scripted and appeared in. He also served as a co-producer on "Kiss of Death" and "Clockers" (both 1995). The latter was the hugely anticipated adaptation of Price's gritty fact-based 1991 novel of life amongst low-level Jersey City crack dealers.

Price was reportedly paid $1.9 million while "Clockers" was still in manuscript form ($1 million for the film rights; $900,000 to write a screenplay). Scorsese and De Niro were soon attached to the project but eventually dropped out to make Scorsese's "Casino." Writer-director Spike Lee came aboard and rewrote Price's script to emphasize the African American characters over the white policeman protagonist of the original. Lee's "Clockers" opened to respectful reviews and solid box office, though a number of reviewers quibbled about its deviations from Price's original story.

Credits

The OutsiderStream

Executive Producer
Miniseries
2020
91%

The OutsiderStream

Writer
Miniseries
2020
91%

HannaStream

Actor
Shop Assistant
Series
2019
80%

The DeuceStream

Writer
Series
2017
93%

The Night OfStream

Creator
Miniseries
2016
94%

The Night OfStream

Executive Producer
Miniseries
2016
94%

Child 44

Screenwriter
Movie
2015

NYC 22

Executive Producer
Show
2012

NYC 22

Writer
Show
2012

Arjun & Alison

Actor
SU President
Movie
2011

Boffin & Boffin

Actor
Curly Boffin
Movie
2010

FreedomlandStream

Writer
Movie
2006
24%

Doctor WhoStream

Actor
Cyberman
Series
2005
90%

The WireStream

Guest Star
Book Group Leader
Series
2002
94%

The WireStream

Writer
Series
2002
94%

ShaftStream

Screenwriter
Movie
2000
67%

Oklahoma!

Producer
Movie
1999

Neville's Island

Executive Producer
Movie
1998

Ransom

Writer
Movie
1996
74%

Kiss of Death

Writer
Movie
1995

ClockersStream

Screenwriter
Movie
1995
73%

Mad Dog and GloryStream

Screenwriter
Movie
1993
78%

Night and the City

Writer
Movie
1992

New York Stories

Screenwriter
Movie
1989

Arena Brains

Actor
The Critic
Movie
1987

Arena Brains

Screenwriter
Movie
1987

The Color of MoneyStream

Writer
Movie
1986
88%

Streets of Gold

Screenwriter
Movie
1986

The Wanderers

Writer (Novel)
Movie
1979

Masterpiece

Producer
Franchise
1971

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