Richard Grieco was a ’90s hunk who starred on the show 21 Jump Street.
The 60-year-old actor from Watertown, New York played Detective Dennis Booker alongside Johnny Depp on the hit series. He was also in the spin-off Booker.
Grieco reprised his role as Booker in the 2014 film 22 Jump Street, starring alongside Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill.
In 1991 he was in the big ensemble mafia movie called Mobsters with Christian Slater and Patrick Dempsey.
Grieco also had an interesting love life as he dated Christina Applegate, Kimber Sissons, Katie Wagner, Terry Farrell, Yasmine Bleeth or Stephanie Niznik.
Since 2009, he worked as a painter who specializes in ‘abstract emotionalism.’
Earlier this week, Grieco attended the premiere of Sketch in Los Angeles. He wore a black cap over his dark hair with a black shirt and slacks for a rocker style.
Richard Grieco was a ’90s hunk who worked in both movies and TV; seen in 1987
He had a bad boy look; pictured in 1989 in West Hollywood
The star shared a photo from the event on Instagram with the caption, ‘Thank you @angelstudios_inc for the invite for @thesketchmovie @terrycrews great seeing you …and what a #wonderful #family and uplifting #film it’s a movie to bring the whole family to ❤️.’
Grieco worked as a model for Armani, Calvin Klein and Chanel before he landed the role of Rick Gardner on One Life to Live in the ’80s.
In 1988, Grieco began appearing as Detective Dennis Booker on the shows 21 Jump Street and its spinoff Booker.
Grieco’s feature film debut was as Michael Corben in If Looks Could Kill (1991) and played the young mobster Benjamin Bugsy Siegel in the film Mobsters.
He also appeared in the TV series Marker in 1995.
He played himself in the 1998 film A Night at the Roxbury as well as in an episode of the FX comedy It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
His guest stint on 21 Jump Street ultimately led to his promotion to a regular cast member in 1988, coinciding with Johnny Depp’s decision to reduce his involvement in the series
From left: Christian Slater, Patrick Dempsey, Costas Mandylor, Grieco in Mobsters in 1991
The star wearing black eyeliner, with a phone receiver to his ear in a scene from the film If Looks Could Kill in 1991
With Christina Applegate in 1989, left, and Terry Farrell in 1994, right
He also dated Baywatch beauty Yasmine Bleeth. Seen in 1998
The star with actress Stephanie Niznik from the TV series Everwood
Grieco began a singing career in 1994 with the Dunmire Band. He signed to a German label and released a CD, Waiting for the Sky to Fall, in 1995.
In 2009, after being encouraged to do so by Dennis Hopper, Grieco publicly revealed that he had been painting since 1991.
According to Grieco’s website, he has dedicated himself fully to his art.
His style, which he calls ‘Abstract Emotionalism,’ blends elements of abstract art with hints of expressionism, surrealism, and cubism, drawing fans from around the world.
‘And over the years he has kept a very low profile to aggressively concentrate on his art work,’ the site notes.
Grieco leaving the nightclub Roxbury in West Hollywood in 1990
The star stepped out on July 28 in Los Angeles
He was at the premiere of Angel Studios’ Sketch at Cinemark Playa Vista and XD
In 2019 Grieco was taken into custody for public intoxication after allegedly yelling at airline employees and exhibiting slurred speech.
Grieco was brought to the attention of police officers by an agent who denied the actor boarding at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, according to TMZ.
The actor allegedly smelled of alcohol as he hunched over the counter, shouted at employees, and displayed slurred speech, law enforcement sources told the site.
The actor reportedly admitted to police officers he drank two cranberry vodkas before his flight.
