Richard Biggs had a childhood marked by frequent moves between Air Force bases, where his father was stationed. As a result, he made few friends and changed schools often. At the age of seventeen, living at a missile base in North Dakota, he decided to shift his plans for a medical career after playing the lead in a local theatrical production of 'The Wiz'. This experience sparked a passion for acting, and he went on to complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts in performing arts at USC's School of Theatre, with renowned actor John Houseman as one of his drama teachers. He later taught acting classes at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga Canyon.
Despite his best efforts, Richard faced numerous challenges in his early career, including difficulty obtaining membership in the Screen Actor's Guild without experience. He made ends meet by taking on small roles on stage and television, and even worked as a telephone operator for an LA waste disposal company. A standout performance as Romeo at the Ensemble Theatre caught the attention of an agent, who secured him an audition for a part on the daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives. After several auditions, he landed the role and earned his Screen Actors Guild card.
Throughout his television career, Richard predominantly played doctors, an irony that was likely not lost on him. Some of his notable roles include Dr. Tomson in The Twilight Zone, Dr. Lecksis in Beverly Hills, 90210, Dr. Milo Morton in Strong Medicine, and Dr. Marcus Hunter in 1,295 episodes of Days of Our Lives from 1985 to 1992. To prepare for his role, Richard observed a real plastic surgeon at work.
Later, Richard played the complex and flawed character of Dr. Stephen Franklin, the chief medical officer of J. Michael Straczynski's cult sci-fi series Babylon 5. He portrayed the character from 1994 to 1998, also appearing in three made-for-TV movies and the short-lived spin-off series Crusade. His performances were often highly compelling, particularly in the "walkabout" episodes of season three, culminating with 'Shadow Dancing'.
Post-Babylon, Richard took on roles in Any Day Now, Guiding Light, and Tremors, before returning to Strong Medicine, where his character was tragically killed off due to his untimely death at the age of 44. Richard Biggs was eulogized by Babylon 5's creator J. Michael Straczynski as a "consummate professional" and "quite simply, a terrific guy".
