Richard Priem Obituary, Native Of Long Island NY Has Passed Away: Ricky was born on August 4, 1957, on Long Island, New York, to Marilyn and Roger Priem. He is survived by his wife Sandy, his three siblings R.J., Meg, and Karen and their spouses, his niece Michelle, grandnieces Avery and Emma, nephew Tim and his wife Tierra and grandnephew Cal, nephew Michael, cousins Laurie, LeeAnn, and Leslie, and his beloved dog Molly Mae.
Ricky graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Vermont in May 1979. From there, he studied abroad at the London School of Acting. He returned to New York City in 1981, where he lived in Manhattan and worked as a bartender at the Raccoon Lodge, making several close friends. He continued with his acting classes and went to auditions whenever they were offered, aspiring to become an actor.
In 1997, Ricky moved out to California and began his career as a grip, working for more than 30 years as a member of the crew union IATSE, Local 80. He became a Best Boy and was described as a legend in the industry. Ricky had an unparalleled work ethic with a positive attitude, leading with his heart and respect for all. He truly loved his job and the people he worked with, always prioritizing the safety of his crew. A fellow grip and friend described Ricky as a “wonderful man, charismatic, vibrant…a writer’s dream of a working man” (“Nina Moskol”). His notable accomplishments as a key grip and best boy included work on Deadpool, Scandal, CSI, The Closer, Major Crimes, Curb Your Enthusiasm, This Is Us, Six Feet Under, Star Trek, Dr. Dolittle, As Good as It Gets, and most recently 9-1-1, among many others.
Ricky loved to travel. He and Sandy were married in Italy on July 7, 2011. They enjoyed several vacations and Christmas celebrations back in New York. Ricky planned on retiring in August of this year, looking forward to spending more time with his family, watching his grandnieces and grandnephew grow, riding his Harley, and staying close with all his grip friends.
In 2021, a very special bond was formed between Ricky and his nephew Tim. They were cut from the same cloth—hardworking, honest, able to get along with everyone, and knew how to laugh, make others laugh, and enjoy life. They became work buddies and best friends, with Ricky becoming Tim’s mentor. Despite their 14-hour workdays together, Ricky made a point to spend as much free time as he could at Tim and Tierra’s.
On May 11, 2024, Ricky was prematurely and tragically taken in a rollover accident while on his way back home from working an early morning shift on the series 9-1-1. This tragedy struck a blow to the industry and especially to his family and friends. Ricky was caring, loving, and had an infectious personality that made you feel special whenever he was around. Words cannot express the huge hole left in all our hearts. Ricky, we know you are with Gigi and Poppi in heaven, in their loving arms. We will feel you in the warmth of the sun and the gentle breeze. You are forever in our hearts and in the memories we share.
