Ricky_Schroder

Ricky Schroder

Richard Bartlett “Ricky” Schroder, Jr. (born April 13, 1970) is a Golden Globe Award-winning American actor who began his career as a child.

Biography

Early life and career

Schroder was born in Staten Island, New York, the son of Diane, a telephone company employee, and Richard Bartlett Schroder, Sr., a telephone company district manager. He has a sister, Dawn. Schroder debuted in the 1979 remake of the movie The Champ, winning the Golden Globe Award for Best New Male Star of the Year in a Motion Picture at the age of nine. In the following year, he made a Walt Disney feature film called The Last Flight of Noah's Ark with Elliott Gould. Although Schroder’s performance is generally recognized as good, the film bombed at the box office.

He also starred as the title character in the film Little Lord Fauntleroy alongside Alec Guinness in 1980. He became well-known as the star of the television series Silver Spoons, when he played the lead character Ricky Stratton. After Silver Spoons ended, he attended Calabasas High School for his senior year. As he grew older, he struggled to become known as a serious actor. He changed his name credit from Ricky to Rick and preferred to take roles which helped him to stretch as an actor.

Schroder was ranked #18 in VH1’s list of the 100 Greatest Kid Stars and #33 in VH1’s list of the 100 Greatest Teen Stars.

Adult career

Schroder’s co-starring role in the Western mini-series Lonesome Dove and its sequel, Return to Lonesome Dove, helped in his attempt to be recognized in more mature roles. His roles as Danny Sorenson on three seasons of NYPD Blue, Dr. Dylan West on Strong Medicine and Mike Doyle on the 2007 season of the Fox show 24 worked to cement that perception with the viewing audience.

Schroder is an active celebrity ambassador for the child abuse prevention and treatment non-profit organization Childhelp.

Personal life

Schroder married Andrea Bernard on September 26, 1992. Together, they have four children: sons Holden (born 1992) and Luke (born 1993) and daughters Cambrie (born 1997) and Faith Anne (born 2001). Andrea Bernard-Schroder is an interior designer and was a contestant on Season Two of Top Design on Bravo.

Politically, Schroder is a Republican who supported George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004. He spoke at the 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. He is also a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.