Keith William Richards
Keith William Richards | |
|---|---|
 Keith William Richards makes a guest appearance at a Howard Ratner lookalike contest in New York City (2024) | |
| Born | Keith William Richards April 11, 1963 New Jersey, U.S |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2019—present |
Keith William Richards (born April 11, 1963) is an American actor, best known for playing Phil in the 2019 film Uncut Gems.
Early life
[edit]Keith Williams Richards was born in New Jersey. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Stuyvesant Town in Manhattan's Lower East Side. Richards spent his early childhood in Stuyvesant Town until the age of 10. His family then relocated to South Brooklyn, where he grew up.[1] During the September 11 attacks, Richards was in Manhattan, where he and his colleagues hurried to help the victims.
Career
[edit]
Richards began his career as a longshoreman, working on the Red Hook Piers for American Stevedore. After several years, he transitioned into the Carpenters Union, a family tradition.[1]
His appearance into acting came about in unexpected manner.[2] One day, while walking toward the L train Street in New York City, he was approached by Michele Mansoor, an associate of casting director Jennifer Venditti. She inquired about his acting experience, and Richards, having been previously approached but never pursued acting, replied that he had none. Despite his initial reluctance, Mansoor persuaded him to attend an audition. This chance encounter eventually led to his debut role in the film Uncut Gems in 2019[3][4] and the film was nominated for multiple awards and won seven of them. Following his debut, he started appearing in a variety of films[5][6][7] In 2024, Richards played his first lead role, in the sports film Eephus.
In 2025, Richards starred in 8:48, a short film and music video directed by Kevin Lombardo. The project, featuring lyrics by attorney and songwriter Matthew Baione, was produced in collaboration with Pitta & Baione LLP and Keep Good Company Records. 8:48 premiered at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum on January 30, 2025, and was filmed at the historic St. George Theatre on Staten Island.
Personal life
[edit]In an interview with Uproxx, Richards revealed that he was diagnosed with throat cancer. Richards explained in the same interview that his cancer came from being exposed to Ground Zero toxic dust. He has since been able to seek medical treatment through benefits of the World Trade Center Health Program.[citation needed]
 | This article may be confusing or unclear to readers. (February 2025) |
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Uncut Gems | Phil | |
| 2024 | Ponyboi | Two-Tone | |
| Eephus | Ed Mortanian | ||
| TBA | Dirty Finger Nails | TBA | |
| Ave U | Tony Bleach | ||
| Lemonade Blessing | Mitch |
Music Videos
[edit]| Year | Title | Artist | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | "Plant Life" | Parquet Courts | Mr. Blue | |
| 2023 | "Monaco" | Bad Bunny | Unknown | Uncredited |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "A Chat With Keith Williams Richards, The Terrifying Mob Heavy From 'Un". UPROXX. December 30, 2019. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ Raja, Norine (February 3, 2020). "Uncut Gems : comment est né le casting fou du film des frères Safdie ?". Vanity Fair (in French). Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ Harris, Hunter (May 25, 2020). "We Cordially Invite You To Meet Uncut Gems' Non-Actors". Vulture. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ "Keith William Richards". Original Release for Netflix. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ "Uncut Gems è pieno di attori che interpretano loro stessi". Rivista Studio (in Italian). May 27, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ Bagnall, Philip (May 28, 2024). "Interview: Carson Lund & Keith William Richards on Eephus". Loud And Clear Reviews. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ Nicoletti, Chiara (May 27, 2024). ""Eephus", interview with director Carson Lund and actor Keith William Richards". Fred Film Radio. Retrieved September 16, 2024.