Known for Directing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Michael Brunswick Ritchie (November 28, 1938 - April 16, 2001) was an American film director. Ritchie was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, the son of Patricia (née Graney) and Benbow Ferguson Ritchie. His family later moved to Berkeley, California, where his father was a professor of experimental psychology at the University of California at Berkeley and his mother was the art and music librarian for the city. He attended Berkeley High School before becoming interested in film, and was accepted at Harvard University following high school. Ritchie attracted attention in his senior year at Harvard in 1960 by directing the original production of the Arthur Kopit play, Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His work on Kopit's play led to a job offer from Robert Saudek, the producer of the Omnibus television series. Ritchie also directed episodes of Profiles in Courage and such TV series as The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Dr. Kildare and Felony Squad prior to making his Hollywood feature-film debut in 1969 with Downhill Racer. His sister, Elsie Ritchie, acted in two of his films (The Candidate and Smile). In 1994, Ritchie purchased the hacienda-style house at 12305 Fifth Helena Drive, in the Brentwood district of Los Angeles, where Marilyn Monroe died in 1962. He bought it for $995,000. In 1994, Ritchie moved to Manhattan with his wife, Jimmie B. Ritchie, and daughters, Lillian (b. 1986) and Miriam (b. 1988). His additional children include a son, Steven (b. 1973); daughters Lauren (b. 1966) and Jessica (b. 1973), and two stepchildren, Nelly Bly and Billy Bly. Ritchie died at age 62 of complications from prostate cancer, on April 16, 2001, in New York. Description above from the Wikipedia article Michael Ritchie (film director), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Born
November 28, 1938
Died
April 16, 2001 (age 62)
Birthplace
Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA
Filmography
36 films, 7 shows


The Fantasticks
2000 · 1h 26m
country: United States
Widowers Amos and Ben plot to romantically unite Amos' daughter Luisa and Ben's son Matt by pretending to feud and forbidding the teens to associate, knowing they will resist their fathers' interference. As the youngsters fall in love, the fathers plot to end the 'feud' by hiring a travelling showman to fake an abduction and allow Matt to 'rescue' Luisa.


Skip Chasers
1998 · 43m
country: United States
An unsold CBS pilot about a mailman named Deacon, who gets entangled in a mess involving a team of Bail Enforcement Agents (bounty hunters who chase after people who have ‘skipped’ bail).


A Simple Wish
1997 · 1h 29m
country: United States
Murray is a male fairy godmother, and he is trying to help 8-year-old Anabel to fulfil her "simple wish" - that her father Oliver, who is a cab driver, would win the leading role in a Broadway musical. Unfortunately, Murray's magic wand is broken and the fairies convention is threatened by evil witches Claudia and Boots.
Comfort, Texas
Comfort, Texas
1997
country: Unknown


The Scout
1994 · 1h 41m
country: United States
When his star recruit botches a Major League Baseball debut, humiliated talent scout Al Percolo gets banished to rural Mexico, where he finds a potential gold mine in the arm of young phenom Steve Nebraska. Soon, the New York Yankees put a $55 million contract on the table—provided a psychiatrist can affirm Nebraska's mental stability.


Cops & Robbersons
1994 · 1h 33m
country: United States
When the police discover that a mob hitman has moved in next door to the Robbersons, they set up a stakeout in the Robbersons' home. Hard-nosed, tough-as-nails Jake Stone and his young partner Tony Moore are assigned to the stakeout, but now it is a question of whether Jake can last long enough to capture the bad guys. The Robbersons want to help, and by doing so, drive Jake crazy.


The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom
1993 · 1h 39m
country: United States
A Texas housewife plots hire a hit man to kill the girl who beat out her daughter for a place on the cheerleading squad.
Einstein
Einstein
1993 · 52m
country: Unknown


Diggstown
1992 · 1h 38m
country: United States
Gabriel Caine has just been released from prison when he sets up a bet with a business man who owns most of Diggstown, a boxing-mad town. The bet is that Gabe can find a boxer that will knock out 10 Diggstown men, in a boxing ring, within 24 hours. Roy 'Honey' Palmer is that man that, at 48, many say he is too old.


Fletch Lives
1989 · 1h 35m
country: United States
Fletch is a fish out of water in small-town Louisiana, where he's checking out a tumbledown mansion he's inherited. When a woman he flirts with turns up dead, he becomes a suspect and must find the killer and clear his name.


The Couch Trip
1988 · 1h 37m
country: United States
The escaped mental patient and delinquent John W. Burns Jr. replaces Dr. Maitlin on a radio show, saying he's the psychiatrist Lawrence Baird.


The Golden Child
1986 · 1h 34m
country: United States
After a Tibetan boy, the mystical Golden Child, is kidnapped by the evil Sardo Numspa, humankind's fate hangs in the balance. On the other side of the world in Los Angeles, the priestess Kee Nang seeks the Chosen One, who will save the boy from death. When Nang sees social worker Chandler Jarrell on television discussing his ability to find missing children, she solicits his expertise, despite his skepticism over being "chosen."


Wildcats
1986 · 1h 46m
country: United States
High school track coach Molly McGrath knows just as much about football as anyone else on the planet. When a football coach's position becomes vacant, she applies for the job, despite snickers from fellow staff members and her former husband.


Fletch
1985 · 1h 38m
country: United States
When investigative reporter Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher goes undercover to write a piece on the drug trade at a local beach, he's approached by wealthy businessman Alan Stanwyk, who offers him $50,000 to murder him. With sarcastic wit and a knack for disguises, Fletch sets out to uncover Stanwyk's story.


The Survivors
1983 · 1h 43m
country: United States
Having both lost their jobs, two strangers become unlikely friends after a run in with a would be robber, who is actually a hitman with a grudge against the two.


Student Bodies
1981 · 1h 26m
country: United States
This zany send-up of teen slasher flicks features a maniacal psycho known as the Breather, who stalks –and murders– promiscuous students at a suburban high school. The fanatical killer's unusual weapons include paper clips, blackboard erasers and eggplants.


Divine Madness
1980 · 1h 35m
country: United States
Divine Madness is a 1980 concert film directed by Michael Ritchie, and featuring Bette Midler during her 1979 concert at Pasadena's Civic Auditorium. The 94-minute film features Midler's stand-up comedy routines as well as 16 songs, including "Big Noise From Winnetka," "Paradise," "Shiver Me Timbers," "Fire Down Below," "Stay With Me," "My Mother’s Eyes," "Chapel of Love/Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," "Do You Want to Dance," "You Can’t Always Get What You Want/I Shall Be Released", "The E-Street Shuffle/Summer (The First Time)/"Leader of the Pack" and "The Rose".


The Island
1980 · 1h 54m
country: United States
David Nau leads a band of modern day pirates who raid yachts and sail boats of people on vacation in the Caribbean. When reporter Blair Maynard and his son arrive to investigate the mystery of the disappearing boats, Nau and his band of raiders decide to induct them into their tribe.


An Almost Perfect Affair
1979 · 1h 31m
country: United States
An idealistic first-time director lives for his art — until he meets a wife of an Italian producer at the Cannes Film Festival. A passionate affair begins, but the couple's romance is tested as they face the temptations of fame and fortune.


Semi-Tough
1977 · 1h 48m
country: United States
A three-way friendship between two free-spirited professional football players and the owner's daughter becomes compromised when two of them become romantically involved.


The Bad News Bears
1976 · 1h 42m
country: United States
An aging, down-on-his-luck ex-minor leaguer coaches a team of misfits in an ultra-competitive California little league.


Smile
1975 · 1h 53m
country: United States
It's time again for California's "Young American Miss" beauty pageant, the biggest event of the year for Big Bob Freelander and Brenda DiCarlo, who give their all to put on a successful pageant. But Brenda is having marital difficulties and Bob's son is up to some mischief. Could this year's pageant be in jeopardy?


The Candidate
1972 · 1h 50m
country: United States
Bill McKay is a candidate for the U.S. Senate from California. He has no hope of winning, so he is willing to tweak the establishment.


Prime Cut
1972 · 1h 28m
country: United States
A group of ruthless Chicago mob enforcers are sent to Kansas City to settle things with the owner of a slaughterhouse who has taken money that is not his to keep.


Downhill Racer
1969 · 1h 41m
country: United States
An ambitious young skier, determined to break all existing records, is contemptuous of the teamwork advocated by the US coach when they go to Europe for the Olympics.


The Sound of Anger
1968 · 1h 40m
country: United States
Two teenagers who have been engaged in pre-marital sex become the prime suspects when the girl's disapproving father is mysteriously murdered.


The Outsider
1967 · 2h
country: United States
Darren McGavin is David Ross, a private investigator playing a game of follow the money. A simple case of embezzling turns bad quickly when bodies start dropping and the savvy P.I. is the primary suspect in an attractive woman's death. This NBC TV movie served as a pilot for the later series.