Richard Speight, Jr.
Richard Speight, Jr. played the archangel Gabriel, who was hiding on Earth as a demi-god called "The Trickster."
Contents
Biography
Born: September 4, 1969 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Parents: Barbara and Richard Speight.
Siblings: Two older sisters, Barby and Lindy.
Spouse: Jaci Kathryn Hays, a dot-com executive in California, married since June 28, 2003.
Children: Three sons; Steve, Fletcher and Frank.
Richard started taking tap lessons when he was about five, then started dancing as an extra in ballets and dance groups.
When he began acting, Richard first he played in local commercials and local plays and films, later he got minor roles in Disney Channel shows and movies. While he started his acting career rather early it was not his only activity in these years. He attended an academic all-boys prep school, so studying second year Latin and doing all the prep school academic requirements, but he was also playing football, and ran track.
After high school, he attended Montgomery Bell Academy and the University of Southern California's School of Theater, graduating cum laude.
Richard also plays the guitar and bass, played in the band Fugitive Pope.
Music
- Richard Speight has recorded an album produced by Jason Manns. A track from the album, "Goin' Straight" was used in 15.08 Our Father, Who Aren't in Heaven, which Richard also directed.
Filmography
He played Sgt. Warren "Skip" Muck in the Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning World War II miniseries Band of Brothers, had a recurring role as Deputy Bill Kohler on Jericho and also previously starred on The Agency and appeared in ER, JAG, Party of Five and Running the Halls.
In 2000 he starred in the short-film In God We Trust. He was in Memphis Beat, a few episodes of Look and had a recurring role on Justified (2011-2012). He appeared in indie films such as AppleBox (2011) and Crave (2011) as well as the lead actor in the comedy movie Three Blind Saints (2011).
Richard has also been seen in several commercials for e.g. Capital One Credit Card, IBM, Disney, Diet Pepsi (2003) and Pepsi Max (2010-2012, see also Pepsi Angel).
#Kings of Con
Richard and Rob Benedict produced a web series titled Kings of Con that takes a comedic look at the convention world. Rob and Rich wrote, starred in and produced the series.
Episodes
- 2.15 Tall Tales
- 3.11 Mystery Spot
- 5.08 Changing Channels
- 5.19 Hammer of the Gods
- 9.18 Meta Fiction
- 13.13 Devil's Bargain
- 13.17 The Thing
- 13.18 Bring 'em Back Alive
- 13.20 Unfinished Business
- 13.21 Beat the Devil
- 13.22 Exodus
Directing
- 11.08 Just My Imagination
- 12.12 Stuck in the Middle (With You)
- 12.20 Twigs & Twine & Tasha Banes
- 13.07 War of the Worlds
- 13.20 Unfinished Business
- 14.02 Gods and Monsters
- 14.06 Optimism
- 15.05 Proverbs 17:3
- 15.08 Our Father, Who Aren't in Heaven
- 15.12 Galaxy Brain
- 15.18 Despair
Richard's role in Supernatural Conventions
Richard serves as emcee for Creation Entertainment's Salute to Supernatural events. He is the first to hit the stage each day, running through the convention's Rules and Regulations with his own style of humor, before introducing each guest. He welcomes and sends off each guest, often finishing up guest Q & As with a 'Lightning Round”.
Richard also hosts the Karaoke Kings Party on Friday night's with fellow convention regular Matthew Cohen. Karaoke is free for anyone who would like to join in. Attendees are persuaded to come in costume based on a predetermined theme. The event started out small but has become a Supernatural convention tradition with a loyal following.
Attendees who are present for the first day of conventions have a special place in Richard's heart. Typically, conventions begin on Fridays, so he has dubbed these con-goers 'Friday People.' Friday People have the opportunity to purchase a shirt adorned with Richard's face, only available on Fridays. This is another example of Richard's mark on the Supernatural convention circuit.
Aside from his hosting duties, you can see Richard onstage for various panels, as well as joining Louden Swain for multiple songs during the band's own convention event – the Saturday Night Special. You can catch him offstage at the autograph table (often signing karaoke memorabilia free of charge) and in various photo ops - including a “Pre-Game” convention kick off op with onstage sidekick Rob Benedict and multiple Karaoke Kings ops, both in costume and out.
Richard in Fandom
- Richard on Twitter as @dicksp8jr
- Richard's Facebook Page
- Richard on TheGermane
Convention Appearances
- Salute to Supernatural Chicago 2008
- Salute to Supernatural New Jersey 2009
- Salute to Supernatural L.A. 2009
- Asylum 3 2009
- Salute to Supernatural Vancouver 2009
- Salute to Supernatural Chicago 2009
- Salute to Supernatural L.A. 2010
- Jus In Bello Italy 2010
- Salute to Supernatural Vancouver 2010
- Salute to Supernatural Chicago 2010
- Salute to Supernatural San Francisco 2011
- Salute to Supernatural L.A. 2011
- Jus In Bello Italy 2011
- Asylum 6 2011
- Asylum Europe 2 - 2011
- Asylum Europe 2 2011
- Salute to Supernatural Nashville 2011
- Salute to Supernatural New Jersey 2011
- Salute to Supernatural Boston 2011
- Salute to Supernatural Vancouver 2011
- Salute To Supernatural Toronto 2011
- Salute to Supernatural Chicago 2011
- Salute to Supernatural Nashville 2012
- Salute to Supernatural L.A. 2012
- Jus In Bello Italy 2012
- Roadhouse Con Brasil 2012
- All Hell Breaks Loose 3 Sydney/Melbourne 2012
- Supernatural: The Apocalypse
- Salute to Supernatural New Jersey 2012
- Salute to Supernatural Vancouver 2012
- Salute to Supernatural Dallas 2012
- Salute to Supernatural Toronto 2012
- Salute to Supernatural Chicago 2012
- Salute to Supernatural New Jersey 2012
- Asylum 9 2012
- Salute to Supernatural Las Vegas 2013
- Salute to Supernatural Burbank 2013
- Salute to Supernatural Chicago 2013
- Salute to Supernatural Dallas 2013
- Salute to Supernatural New Jersey 2013
- Salute to Supernatural Toronto 2013
- Salute to Supernatural Vancouver 2013
- Asylum 10 2013
- Asylum Europe 4 - 2013
- Jus In Bello Italy 2013
- All Hell Breaks Loose 4 Sydney/Melbourne 2013
- Salute to Supernatural Las Vegas 2014
- Salute to Supernatural Washington DC 2014
- Jus In Bello Italy 2014
- All Hell Breaks Loose 5 Sydney/Melbourne 2014
- Salute to Supernatural Vancouver 2014
- Salute to Supernatural New Jersey 2014
- Salute to Supernatural Dallas 2014
- Salute to Supernatural Toronto 2014
- Salute to Supernatural Chicago 2014
- Asylum 13 2014
- Salute to Supernatural Burbank 2014
- Salute to Supernatural San Francisco 2015
- Salute to Supernatural Houston 2015
- Salute to Supernatural Phoenix 2015
- Salute to Supernatural Las Vegas 2015
- Salute to Supernatural Seattle 2015
- Jus In Bello Italy 2015
- All Hell Breaks Loose 5 Sydney/Melbourne 2015
- Comic Con 2015
- Salute to Supernatural Washington DC 2015
- Salute to Supernatural Minneapolis 2015
- Salute to Supernatural Vancouver 2015
- Salute to Supernatural Dallas 2015
- Salute to Supernatural Toronto 2015
- Salute to Supernatural Chicago 2015
- Salute to Supernatural Denver 2015
- Salute to Supernatural Pasadena 2015
- Salute to Supernatural Jacksonville 2016
- Salute to Supernatural Houston 2016
- Salute to Supernatural Nashville 2016
- Salute to Supernatural Las Vegas 2016
- Salute to Supernatural Seattle 2016
- Salute to Supernatural Washington DC 2016
- Asylum 16 2016
- Jus In Bello Italy 2016
- All Hell Breaks Loose 7 Sydney/Melbourne 2016
- Salute to Supernatural Phoenix 2016
- Salute to Supernatural Pittsburgh 2016
- Comic-Con 2016
- Salute to Supernatural Minneapolis 2016
- Salute to Supernatural Chicago 2016
- Salute to Supernatural Dallas 2016
- Salute to Supernatural Toronto 2016
- Salute to Supernatural Atlanta 2016
- Salute to Supernatural New Jersey 2016
- Salute to Supernatural Burbank 2016
- Salute to Supernatural San Francisco 2016
- All Hell Breaks Loose Christmas Sydney/Melbourne 2016
- Salute to Supernatural Jacksonville 2017
- Salute to Supernatural Houston 2017
- Salute to Supernatural Las Vegas 2017
- Salute to Supernatural Nashville 2017
- Salute to Supernatural Seattle 2017
- All Hell Breaks Loose 8 - 2017
- Purgatory 3 - 2017
- Jus In Bello Italy 2017
- Salute to Supernatural Phoenix 2017
- Salute to Supernatural Chicago 2017
- Salute to Supernatural Vancouver 2017
- Salute to Supernatural Minneapolis 2017
- Salute to Supernatural Pittsburgh 2017
- Salute to Supernatural Toronto 2017
- Salute to Supernatural New Orleans 2017
- Salute to Supernatural Washington DC 2017
- Salute to Supernatural Honolulu 2017
- All Hell Breaks Loose Christmas Sydney/Melbourne 2017
- Salute to Supernatural San Francisco 2017
- Salute to Supernatural Las Vegas 2018
- Salute to Supernatural Seattle 2018
- Salute to Supernatural Montreal 2018
- Salute to Supernatural Nashville 2018
- Salute to Supernatural Birmingham, UK 2018
- Jus In Bello Italy 2018
External links
Fugitive Pope
- Fugitive Pope - "Snow" Video Clip
- Download the album Dumb and Uncomfortable from Mediafire with Richard's permission.
Clips, Articles and Interviews
Interviews
- Winchester, Nate. 2020 Richard Speight, Jr.'s Movie "Driven" Review for The Winchester Family Business, August
- Lindsey. 2020. Interview: Richard Speight, Jr. Talks Directing Experiences, 'Supernatural', and More! Nerds and Beyond, April 18; archive link
- Fisher, Natalie. 2018. ‘Supernatural’ legacy Richard Speight, Jr. on acting and directing Gabriel’s origin story. Hypable. April 26; archive link
- Hurley, Laura. 2018. How Supernatural Filmed That Epic Gabriel Fight Scene, According To Richard Speight Jr. Cinemablend. April 27; archive link
- Turchiano, Danielle. 2018. ‘Supernatural’ Director on Jensen Ackles’ Advice, Juggling Two Characters and That Fight Scene. Variety, April 26; archive link
- spnfans. 2018. Behind the Scenes of Supernatural with Director Richard Speight Jr. Fangasm, January 3; archive link
- spnfans. 2017. Behind the Scenes of Supernatural with Director Richard Speight Jr. Fangasm, March 21; archive link
- Fisher, Natalie. 2017. Exclusive: Richard Speight, Jr. chats ‘Kings of Con’ and his return to the ‘Supernatural’ director’s chair. Hypable, January 13; archive link
- spnfans. 2015. From Trickster to Director: An SPN Family Journey With Richard Speight Jr. Fangasm, December 3; archive link
- Jacobs, Meredith. 2015. 'Supernatural': Richard Speight Jr. on directing, what Gabriel's up to and more. examiner.com, December 2; archive link
- Prudom, Laura. 2015. 'Supernatural' Star Richard Speight Jr. Talks Returning for Directorial Debut. Variety, December 2; archive link
- Ratcliff, Amy. 2015. Supernatural: Richard Speight Jr. Discusses Directing and Previews the Next Episode. Nerdist, December 2; archive link
- spnfans. 2014. Richard Speight, Jr. – On Gabriel’s Return to Supernatural, Ad-Libbing with Misha Collins, and Lots of Cons! Fangasm, September 5; archive link
- spnfans. 2014. Fantasy Camp For All of Us – A Chat With Supernatural’s Richard Speight, Jr. Fangasm, February 13; archive link
- WinchesterBros. 2011. Exclusive Interview with Richard Speight, Jr on his new movie and Supernatural, December 5; archive link
- Sablegreen. 2011. Sablegreen's Exclusive Interview with Richard Speight Jr. The Winchester Family Business, August 19; archive link
- spnfans. 2011. It’s All About The Brothers – Richard Speight Jr on Gabriel, Nude Scenes and Sam’nDean Envy. Fangasm, January 31; archive link
- spnfans. 2010. “Gabriel Went Out Like a Man, Not a Weenie” – Richard Speight Jr. On His Character’s Exit. Fangasm, April 27; archive link
- spnfans. 2009. Catching Up With Richard Speight Jr. in Chicago. Fangasm, November 20; archive link
- Bekakos, Liana. 2009. Supernatural: An Unique Must-See Episode and an Exclusive Chat with Richard Speight, Jr. Eclipse Magazine, November 4; archive link
- ‘Supernatural’ Star Richard Speight Jr. Talks Returning for Directorial Debut by Variety
- 'Supernatural': Richard Speight, Jr. Returns, But Not As You Think by MTV
- Richard Speight Jr. previews his Supernatural directorial debut by EW
Richard Speight posted a great image of him from his new movie, a Western called Old Henry.
Podcasts
- Not About the Weather Podcast
Videos
- In God We Trust (Jason Reitman's award winning short film: Starring Richard Speight Jr. and Jeff Witzke)
- TheCWSource - Interview