Rich Wilkes

Richard "Rich" Wilkes (born 1966) is an American filmmaker. His work is noted for its rooting in contemporary music and youth culture.

Works

As screenwriter

Wilkes' major-studio debut was as screenwriter of the 1994 film Airheads. The story revolves around a group of loser musicians called The Lone Rangers who take a radio station hostage to get their song played on the radio. Airheads was directed by Michael Lehmann and distributed by 20th Century Fox.

This was followed by a co-writer credit (alongside director James Melkonian) for the 1994 comedy The Stoned Age, set in the stoner subculture of Southern California during the 1970s.

The same writing and directing team then collaborated with The Jerky Boys to create the 1995 production The Jerky Boys: The Movie, featuring the eponymous comedians (self-described as "low-lifes from Queens") as New York City youths who get into trouble with the Mafia when one of their prank calls leads them into a money laundering business.

Wilkes is credited as the sole screenwriter for the 2002 action-adventure film XXX and a "based on characters created by" credit as being as the creator of the XXX franchise.

Wilkes co-wrote the Mötley Crüe biopic The Dirt, based on the New York Times bestselling book by Neil Strauss and Mötley Crüe. The film took 17 years to get made.

As writer/director

In 1995, Wilkes debuted as a director with Glory Daze, a semi-autobiographical tale based on his experiences as a student at the University of California, Santa Cruz.[1]

Other film work

Wilkes has also appeared as an actor in the majority of his productions, primarily in minor roles. He has also appeared as himself in several documentaries, including the 1998 production Independent's Day, 2003's The Blockbuster Imperative and 2006's Punk Like Me.

Personal life

Wilkes was born in Princeton, New Jersey. He attended El Camino High School in Oceanside, California. He got a BA at the University of California, Santa Cruz, then studied screenwriting at the American Film Institute.

Filmography

Films

YearTitleRoleNotes
2019 The Dirt Co-Writer
2017XXX: Return of Xander CageWriter (characters)
2013XXXShort film

Writer (characters)

2008Art House, Vol. 1: Basic Shapes and AnimalsExecutive Producer
2006Punk Like MeDocumentary film

Executive producer

2005XXX: State of the UnionWriter (characters)
2003Men of ActionThe DirectorActor
2002XXXTall GuyWriter
1995Glory DazeDirector and Writer
The Jerky Boys: The MovieWriter
1994The Stöned Age
AirheadsCorduroy Rocker

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2003Vegas DickTelevision film

Writer

2001Beer MoneyNick the Hollywood SnakeWriter and Executive Producer
1999Fear of a Punk PlanetTelevision series

Director

References

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