Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the hotheaded Sgt. Norris in "The Savage" (1952). After beginning his career in stock companies, he was introduced to director Nick Grinde while attending a social function at the prestigious Radio City Music Hall. Impressed by his dark good looks, slim physique, and distinctive voice, he took notice of his potential and arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him being under his supervision in "Before I Hang" (1940). From there, he would go on to flourish as a notable character actor in over 160 features. Although, primarily cast as thugs and henchmen, he equally found a niche in performing in parts of boyfriends, working-class guys, cowboys, sheriffs, policemen, city slickers, bodyguards, chauffeurs, waiters, retail clerks, curmudgeons, landlords, neighbors, mechanics, plumbers, bartenders, butlers, mailmen, and groundskeepers. He appeared in such feature films as "Arizona" (1940), "Hold That Ghost" (1941), "Reap the Wild Wind" (1942), "Redhead from Manhattan" (1943), "The House on 92nd Street" (1945), "A Double Life" (1947), "Appointment with Murder" (1948), "I Cheated the Law" (1949), "Western Pacific Agent" (1950), "South of Caliente" (1951), "Love Is Better Than Ever" (1952), "The Caddy" (1953), "Tennessee Champ" (1954), "New York Confidential" (1955), "The Killing" (1956), "Escape from Red Rock" (1957), "Teacher's Pet" (1958), "Arrest for Hire" (1959), "Bell's Are Ringing" (1960), "The Hook" (1963), "The Greatest Story Ever Told" (1965), and "A Woman Under the Influence" (1974). During the advent of television, he became an even more familiar face appearing in various guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Gang Busters," "Racket Squad," "Martin Kane," "Ramar of the Jungle," "Stories of the Century," "The Colgate Comedy Hour," "The Lone Ranger," "Damon Runyon Theatre," "Brave Eagle," "TV Readers Digest," "Playhouse 90," "Annie Oakley," "Adventures of Superman," "State Trooper," "The Red Skelton Hour," "Sky King," "26 Men," "Bachelor Father," "Wanted: Dead or Alive," "Maverick," "M Squad," "Death Valley Days," "Shotgun Slade," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The Twilight Zone," "Whispering Smith," "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet," "Follow the Sun," "Cain's Hundred," "The Beverly Hillbillies," "Fantasy Island," and "Diff'rent Strokes". During his career, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, had been supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, was an honorary member of Actors Equity, had been a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, was one of the founding members of the Canyon Theatre Guild, had been a member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, was an active parishioner of the Temple Israel of Hollywood, had been a male model for the Forbes Agency, and he presided as a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and the Boys Scouts. Following his 1984 retirement, Richards spent the final years of his life painting in oils, being a regular attendee at autograph conventions, and was a generous benefactor for several libraries and public schools, until his death from the complications of undisclosed causes.