Mike Richards
He played in Hakan Gunnarson’s Dollar Baby Harvey’s Dream as Frank Freidmans.
SKSM: Could you start with telling me a little bit about yourself? Who are you and what do you do?
Mike Richards: I’m an actor and I live in Vancouver, BC, Canada. My professional name is Michael Karl Richards, but you’re welcome to call me Mike.
SKSM: When did you know you wanted to become an actor?
Mike Richards: I remember being young, I guess around 7 or 8 and my mom had a party. All the children were hanging out upstairs. I decided to perform my version of a comedy tape I’d been listening to. I felt at home. I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since.
SKSM: How did you become involved in Harvey’s Dream Dollar Baby film?
Mike Richards: It’s been a long time, but I seem to remember auditioning.
SKSM: What do you think it is about the story that attracts people so much?
Mike Richards: There’s darkness and light inside all of us and Stephen King has a magical way of helping us get in touch with that.
SKSM: Did you have to audition for the part or was it written directly for you?
Mike Richards: It defiantly wasn’t written for me, so I’m pretty sure I auditioned.
SKSM: You worked with Hakan Gunnarson on this film, how was that?
Mike Richards: It’s been a few years since we did it, but I remember enjoying it a great deal. I remember calling him Hawk.
SKSM: Was there any funny or special moment when they made the movie that you would like to tell me about?
Mike Richards: There’s a moment where I get stabbed near the end and on one of the takes the actor playing Harvey got a little too excited and actually jabbed the letter opener in my shoulder. I was fine, but I remember Mark, the actor playing Harvey, being mortified and feeling terrible for the rest of the shoot. I thought it was funny.
SKSM: Do you still have any contact with the crew/cast from that time? If so with who?
Mike Richards: I do not.
SKSM: What are you working on nowadays?
Mike Richards: I work on a television show on the Hallmark Network called Chesapeake Shores and I recently shot a movie called Gates Of Paradise that should be on Lifetime soon.
SKSM: Are you a fan of Stephen King’s work?
Mike Richards: Of course. Of his work and of him as an artist. I recently listened to his audiobook version of On Writing. A master class on the artistic mind. I also particularly enjoyed Duma Key.
SKSM: What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Mike Richards: My mom is a novelist (Linda L. Richards). So I have a deep love of reading.
SKSM: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Is there anything you want to say to the fans that read this interview?
Mike Richards: Thanks to all of you for being fans. You are the reason anything gets made. Keep going to the cinema. There’s magic there.
SKSM: Do you like to add anything else?
Mike Richards: Just to thank you. So, thanks.
