Rick was born in Oakland, California, and raised in Auburn, where he graduated from Placer High School. His dad, Donald, is retired from the CHP, and resides near Yosemite National Park with his second wife and children. Rick has one sister Lori, and three half-sisters, Jessica, and Suzi; plus a half-brother, Jonathan. Jessica is currently a Cadet at the US Military Academy, West Point. Suzi and Jon attend public schools in Central California. Lori resides somewhere in Northern California.Rick's first love was music. He organized several local bands, and was an excellent lead guitarist and song writer. It appears that movies were a fun way for him to earn income, but not an occupation he pursued as a career. His closest friend at the time of the senseless car accident that took his life was Producer, Jimmy Maslon, with whom he had been residing in Hollywood. The driver of the vehicle, a so-called "friend" of his, was under the influence and actually fled the scene on foot after impacting a fixed object, leaving Rick to die. A passenger in the rear seat nearly died from major injuries.