Charles Richard "Ritch" Brinkley
March 18, 1944 - November 5, 2015
The Raleigh News & Observer
November 14, 2015
Charles Richard Brinkley "Ritch" was born in Colorado City, TX to Sarah & Charles B. Brinkley. Most who knew him remember him for his extraordinary acting talent (backed up by diligent work and superior educational credentials – M.F.A. in Acting from the Asolo Conservatory of FSU as well as other degrees in the entertainment field such as a B.S. in Communications UT). He held professional ranking in the Screen Actors' Guild, Actors Equity Association, and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. He is also remembered for his talented singing and theatre work particularly at The Milwaukee Repertory Theater and in New York. He is probably best remembered by audiences for his work on the TV series Murphy Brown and Beauty and the Beast and for movies such as Breakdown, Cabin Boy and The Man With One Red Shoe. He took his craft seriously and was himself an educator at several times during his life including being Artist-in-residence at Sweetbriar College, Amherst, VA and Visiting Artist at University of Wisconsin – Stephens Point. Although not known primarily for his writing, he was exceptionally gifted in that area and wrote a film critic column for "The Beachcomber" (FL) and numerous stories for different venues, some published, many not. He was professionally versed in all areas of the entertainment arena.
Ritch was a man of extraordinary courage, compassion, and integrity. He valued intelligent conversation, imagination, loyalty, his friends, (2 & 4 legged), and the truth - no matter where they took him. He loved nature, the well-crafted word, traveling, great conversation, and kayaking He had a voice that would melt rock, and a vocabulary that challenged Noah Webster. Our lives are greatly diminished with his passing.
BRINKLEY, Ritch (Charles Richard Brinkley)
Born: 3/18/1944, Colorado City, Texas, U.S.A.
Died: 11/5/2015, Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.A.
Ritch Brinkley’s westerns – actor:
Wild Horses (TV) – 1985 (Wedge Smithfield)
Houston: The Legend of Texas (TV) – 1986 (Senator Buckley)
Timestalkers (TV) – 1987 (barman)
Dead Man’s Revenge (TV) – 1994 (Valdez Sheriff)
Walker, Texas Ranger (TV) – 1995 (Sheriff Norman Decker)