Filmography

When it came out, "Tootsie" was the highest-grossing comedy of all time, and is still regarded as one of the great movies ever made. Dustin Hoffman plays an unemployed actor with a reputation for being difficult, who disguises himself as a woman to land a role in a soap opera. Richards developed and produced the film, which earned 10 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture for Richards and director Sydney Pollack, and won the Golden Globe for Best Picture - Comedy.

Widely considered to be one of the best adaptations of Raymond Chandler’s work, “Farewell, My Lovely” stars Robert Mitchum as the iconic detective Philip Marlowe. Set against a gritty backdrop of police corruption, cheap hotels, gambling, and jewel heists, Marlowe is shot, drugged, and beaten as he searches for the lost love of a misguided convict. Richards’ work has been hailed as one of the finest examples of film noir, and cemented his legacy as a filmmaker.

In his directorial debut, Richards created a gritty and visually arresting film with "The Culpepper Cattle Company," a coming-of-age story about a young cowboy, played by Gary Grimes. Now a cult classic, this innovative western was Richards’ first collaboration with Bruckheimer, and won several awards, including Best Film at the San Sebastian Film Festival, where Richards was honored by one of his favorite directors, Howard Hawks.

With a cast of thousands, this classic French Foreign Legion epic takes place in 1920’s Paris and Morocco as Gene Hackman’s Major Foster leads a force assigned to defending an archeological dig against El Krim, the fearsome leader of the Bedouin tribes committed to driving the French out of Morocco. Legendary Catherine Deneuve is Hackman’s love interest who drives a wedge between him and one of his key men. This was a grueling production during which shooting was interrupted for several weeks after Hackman was involved in an accident with a horse. The film was a blockbuster in Europe.

Showcasing Richards’ talent for blending humor and character-driven storytelling, "Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins" is a road trip journey filled with misadventures and scams. Alan Arkin is a driving instructor who is car-jacked by two women, Sally Kellerman & Mackenzie Philips, on their quest to reach New Orleans. Another collaboration with associate producer Jerry Bruckheimer, the movie received positive reviews for its engaging narrative and Richards' deft directorial touch, with Richard F. Shepard of The New York Times highlighting its "belly laughs and lots of chuckles."

Based on Erich Segal’s bestseller and written for the screen by Segal (Love Story) and David Zelag Goodman, this family drama brought Richards back to his roots as a storyteller and actor’s director. Martin Sheen and Blythe Danner both turned in memorable performances as a couple who have to deal with the trio of circumstances that Sheen’s character had an affair 10 years prior and a son was conceived whose mother has now passed away. Sheen and Danner’s family, including two daughters of their own decide to welcome the boy into their home. This film follows the family’s journey through the complex emotions that ensue when Sheen’s incredibly likeable 10 year old French son enters their household.

A nice family roadtrips through Death Valley and runs afoul of a local serial killer. Wilford Brimley is the local sheriff and “Messy Marvin” himself, Peter Billingsley, is the little boy being terrorized by the killer. Catherine Hicks is Billingsley’s character’s mom and Paul LeMat plays her well-meaning boyfriend. This classic horror movie helped move the genre from its campy 70’s era into a more sophisticated style. Even the film was largely looked over domestically, it played to large audiences throughout the Far East. This also marked the beginning of a longtime collaboration between Richards and Brimley.

Written by William Goldman based on his own novel, “Heat” has Reynolds crossing lines from private eye to vigilante who could use a few rounds of therapy - for various ailments, including gambling. The New York Times wrote: “So you think Charles Bronson is the most lethal object on two feet? That’s because you haven’t seen Heat.” Jason Statham stars in a 2016 remake directed by Simon West.