Chicago, Illinois. His father was a commercial artist operating his own studio. His mother never had a career outside of
the home. The family moved from one Illinois town to another until finally settling down in Evanston where they re-
mained until coming to Hollywood in 1944.
His oldest brother and sister were twins; Jack and Janet followed by Bob and Barbara. The youngest Long was younger
brother Philip. Even as a teenager Richard had an amazing poise for his years with a sensitive face and a beautiful but
strangely mature voice.
Richard attended grammar school in Evanston, went to the Waller High School in Chicago for a while then the Evanston
Township High School. He was a good, average student. Once relocated in California he attended Hollywood High
School. According to Richard, "I had no intention of becoming an actor. I took senior drama class because it was a snap
course and I needed the credit for my English requirement."
During his thirteenth summer he made bicycle deliveries for a flower shop and the next summer for a grocery store. By
the third summer he was making motorcycle deliveries for a garage. When he came to Hollywood he got an after school job
as a combination copy boy and motorcycle errand runner for the Hollywood Citizen News. During his last summer vacation
he washed dishes at a lodge at Merced Lake, California, in the High Sierras.
It was while he was active in drama at Hollywood High that he caught the eye of a talent scout from Universal-International
by accident. Casting director Jack Murton gave a ride to a couple of Hollywood High School students and asked them if a
school play was scheduled. He learned there was and questioned them about the boys in the cast. They raved about the male
lead, one Richard Long.
Murton asked his passengers to have Richard call him at the studio, but only because of an exceptional set of circumstances.
International had been searching for months for a juvenile to play Drew, the son of Claudette Colbert and George Brent in
"Tomorrow Is Forever." It was an important role requiring considerable ability. Tests were made of professionals in New
York as well as Hollywood; some of them well established featured players. The right boy hadn't been found.
After being interviewed by Murton, Richard read a scene for director Irving Pichel. Pichel was so impressed he arranged a
screen test the following day, and Richard did a scene containing five pages of dialogue in one take without blowing a single
line. When William Goetz and other executives at Universal-International saw the result their favorable opinion was un-
animous and Richard was given a long-term contract.
"Tomorrow Is Forever" became his first film. He spent the next eleven years at Universal with other up-and-coming actors
such as David Janssen, Clint Eastwood, Barbara Rush and Rock Hudson. Early in his career Richard had a recurring role as
the eldest son in the Ma and Pa Kettle movies with Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride.
Critics in England, Australia, Canada and Mexico, as well as in the United States, hailed Richard as one of the real screen
discoveries of the decade. Many compared him to the Lew Ayres of the 1930s.
Before RKO Radio Pictures released "Tomorrow Is Forever" in February of 1946 Richard completed the role of Noah
Longstreet, brother to Loretta Young, in the post-war mystery melodrama, "The Stranger". This role gave the young man
as good an opportunity to show his acting ability as his first film.
After "The Stranger" was completed Richard was given a smaller but standout role in "The Dark Mirror." For a newcomer
to the movie business, Richard more than held his own in scenes with such experienced artists as Claudette Colbert, Orson
Welles, George Brent, Edward G. Robinson, Loretta Young, Olivia de Havilland and Lew Ayres.
He moved to television work in the mid-50s, appearing in many TV series including Maverick, Bourbon Street Beat, 77
Sunset Strip, The Twilight Zone, The Big Valley and Nanny and the Professor.
On April 11, 1954 he married actress Suzan Ball. Suzan had recently had a leg amputated due to cancer but Richard loved
her deeply and was determined to wed her. Suzan was equally determined to not only wed Richard but also to walk down the
aisle. She worked relentlessly and on their wedding day she surprised everyone by achieving her goal. Unfortunately, their
life together was cut short by her tragic death. The cancer returned and in August of 1955 it took her life.
On Janurary 26, 1957 Richard married actress Mara Corday. Mara put her career aside to raise their family. The couple
had three children: two boys, Carey, born September 11, 1957 and Gregory, born September 3, 1960, and a girl, Valerie,
born September 9, 1958.
In 1974 he filmed a TV movie called "Death Cruise", it was to be his last work. He had suffered heart problems throughout
most of his adult life and suffered a heart attack in the late 1950s. As a young boy he had suffered a severe case of pneu-
monia and this probably contributed to the condition of his heart. Certainly his drinking and heavy smoking did nothing to
help his heart. Sadly, on December 21, 1974 he died unexpectedly of a heart ailment just four days after his 47th birthday.
Richard Long was an outstanding actor with the range and ability to play both dramatic and comedic parts. His untimely
death robbed the world of his great talents. He is still fondly remembered by his fans and sorely missed to this day.