Richard Paul (June 6, 1940 – December 25, 1998) was a versatile American actor hailing from Los Angeles, California. Renowned for his ability to mimic a vast array of American and international accents, he possessed a tenor voice that he honed under the guidance of Lee Sweetland. Paul earned a Bachelor’s degree in public affairs from Claremont Men's College and a Master’s in psychology from California State University, Los Angeles. Although he was on the verge of completing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Arizona, he chose to pursue a career in the performing arts full-time.
Nicknamed "Pige Paul" by Slim Pickens during the filming of *The Love Boat* (1977), Richard became a familiar face on television, notably as Mayor Teddy Burnside in *Carter Country* from 1977 to 1979, and as Sam Booth, the mayor in *Murder, She Wrote.* He also made his mark as a frequent panelist on *Match Game* throughout the 1980s. His film credits include the cult classic *Eating Raoul* (1982) and appearances in the short film *The Secret Cinema,* part of the *Amazing Stories* series.
Beyond acting, Paul was dedicated to community service, volunteering with Organizations such as Actors and Others for Animals and serving on the Mental Health Advisory Board of Los Angeles County. He was married to Patty Oestereich for three decades until his passing at the age of 58 due to cancer on Christmas Day, 1998, at his home in Studio City, California.
