Saturday, May 7, 2016

Bruce Ritchey

It's rare that a child star makes a smooth transition to adult stardom. Jody Foster and Patty Duke are two of the rare ones. It's usually more common for a young actor to become instantly famous only to see his/her star fade with age. Bruce Ritchey does not fall into either of those categories.

He only had one major film role, that being in the Judy Garland / Burt Lancaster drama, A Child Is Waiting, but what a role it was. As Reuben, the abandoned, mentally challenge boy searching for a parents love, Bruce Ritchey steals the movie away from its stars with his heartbreaking portrayal of a desperate boy caught up in a broken system - a system designed to help, but too old-fashioned to do so.


The movie itself is Not Very Famous...but should be. It takes place in a home for mentally challenged children and most of the child performers in the film, excluding Bruce Ritchey, were actual victims of mental retardation. Released in 1963 and dated by the standards of today, A Child Is Waiting is a powerful look at the attitudes and beliefs of another era.

Even though it's been done in the past, this blog does not generally post on an actor based on one role, but the performance of Bruce Ritchey in this movie deserves to be seen and talked about. And after viewing, one will wonder as this author has as to what happened to this wonderful actor. So Mr. Ritchey, if you should stumble on to this site, please let us know where you've been. We'd be honored to hear from you.

ADDENDUM 
Bruce Ritchey has passed away. I don't have any other information except what was posted in the comments by his son. He was a talented child actor and his performance in A Child Is Waiting deserves to be seen.

55 comments:

  1. Thank you for posting this...just watched A Child Is Waiting and came upon this. Hope you do hear from him. Will be checking back from time to time.

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  2. I just finished the movie and was trying to read more about it afterward. I came across your site and really like your mission of honoring the excellent work of underappreciated actors. There's an interesting old book I have from a thrift store that contains actor bios of forgotten Old Hollywood actors. Can't find it at the moment but when I do I'll report back to you since I think you'd appreciate it! Anyway, keep up the great work. Most noble of you!

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    1. Thank you Elsie. I'm glad you enjoy my blog. Your book on old Hollywood actors sounds like something right up my alley. Look forward to hearing your report when you find it.

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    2. Hey Mike, I found it! It's called Whatever Became Of... by Richard Lamparski, published in 1970. This is volume three, apparently.

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    3. so elise, did it have bruce ritchey in it? if so, what did it have to say about him?

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    4. Bruce lived across the street from me on Lull street in Sun Valley California. A very middle class neighborhood. His mother rarely let him come out and play but I do remember his German Shepard and him calling him Yo Ronnie

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  3. Sure thing! And thank you for creating such an awesome site. It's SUCH noble work on your part to honor the societal contributions of all these lesser-known folks.

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  4. Amazing work, just watched the movie for the first time.

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  5. A brilliant film. As a retired special education teacher it is amazing to watch Bruce Ritchy's performance.

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  6. I watched the film yesterday, November 5,2017. It is a brilliant film and Bruce Ritchey is brilliant also. Thank you for this and keep up the great work! I love it.

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    1. Me too! Loved all the actors especially Bruce Ritchey.

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  7. Just watched this movie, very powerful.

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  8. My name is Rosa Joy, Bruce Ritchey is my uncle, he has lived an extrodinary life, he currently is not conscious and unresponsive, but we are praying for a miracle. It's such a honor that he is my uncle.

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    1. Thank you for your response, Rosa Joy. I am sorry to hear that he is in this condition. Peace.

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    2. Thank you Rosa Joy. I’m sorry he has passed from this life. But he’s with family who’ve gone before him. He held his own with Mr. Lancaster & Ms. Garland. Thank you for this update.

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  9. I have seen this film several times. The performances are amazing. A very touching film.

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  10. Bruce Ritchey was my father. I has passed on last year. He was in a few TV sitcoms such as "My Three Sons" and "Have Gun Will Travel". He decided he did not like acting and his parents did not force him to continue. I want to thank you for the review and the awesomely kind words spoken about him.
    Thank You,
    Jeremy Ritchey.

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    1. I just saw the movie...amazing performance, especially by a child. May he rest in peace.

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    2. BLESSINGS to you, Jeremy! You're dad was so brilliant in "A Child is Waiting," it was a loss to us that he didn't didn't take his gift further. But GOOD FOR HIM to decide acting wasn't for him and choose another road. 🕊⚘🕊⚘🕊

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    3. Your father was a gifted actor. Truly deserves more recognition for his role in “A Child is Missing.”

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    4. I knew Bruce when growing up in Burbank, Ca.. I always wondered what happened to him over the years. Ozzie Gerro.

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  11. dear Mr Ritchey
    thank you for the update.
    your father's performance in A CHILD IS WAITING
    was remarkable .............
    i have watched the film more times than i can count
    and i never fail to be moved by it.

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  12. Bruce passed away on March 7 2018. God Rest his soul. As a child actor, did a remarkable job in "A Child is Waiting". Warning--if you decide to view this film from 1963, it is a tearjerker--have plenty of kleenex

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  13. Would someone with know-how post Bruce's March 7, 2018, death on IMDB, please?

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  14. I just gave a lecture on this film yesterday at a conference (online). I must admit that i dismissed the film on first viewing (20 years ago) but came to appreciate very much on watching it again. It seems to be dull considering the methods applied for education (they were very modern in 1963) but these stunning portraits of isolation and remoteness turn that film into an extraordinary reflection on disability and stigmatization. Great perfomance by Bruce Ritchey (the best in this film), but also of all the other children in the film.

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  15. I am watching it again now. Mr. Ritchey is brilliant! I am glad to see him acknowledged, and sad to learn he has died.

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  16. This film is very touching. I found this blog when looking for information about actor Bruce Richey.

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  17. I finally satcdiwn to watch this film, having been a huge fan of both Burt Kancaster and Judy Garland. It was a pleasant surprise to see one of my favorite actresses, Gena Rowlands, in it, as well as tge marvelous Steven Hill. But Bruce Ritchie did indeed give a marvelous, very poignant performance.

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  18. I was so glad to finally see this film on TCM after so many years. I decided to research as much as I could about it & I was hoping to get some information on the youngster (at the time) who played Julius Phillips, the son of Juanita Moore's character. I'm stunned that there is no info on him, especially since he had more dialogue than the other children in the cast. If anyone has some information, could you please post it? Thank~You so very much.

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  19. One the most powerful films ever made.
    So powerful, I had to purchase a DVD.
    Will probably view it again, soon!

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  20. Supposed to be a heart & 2 thumbs up,
    Not question marks.

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  21. saw this gem back in 66 or so when i was a small child of 6 or 7. great heart touching movie drove to tears!

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  22. I've never watched more than 30 minutes of this film. I watched to see it because Lawrence Tierney had a small role and played a role other than a tough guy. But I got caught up watching Bruce Ritchey's performance and the very moving story. He was a wonderful child actor and am glad he left us with this gem!!

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  23. Very emotionally moving film with incredible performances.

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  24. What the heck, no academy award for Bruce Ritchey? He was brilliant. Sad that he passed away.

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  25. My mom just found this movie on tv. I watched it, and the acting was superb by Burt Lancaster, Judy Garland, Bruce Ritchey, and all of the kids portrayed in this amazing story. Very emotional at times, but so poignant. All of the acting felt as though you were in that moment. A movie worth watching again and again.

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    1. In regards to the exceptional activity, I forgot to mention Steven Hill and Gena Rowland.Directed by John Cassavetes.

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  26. I just watched this awesome movie... with some of the most talented actors.
    Loved Bruce Ritcheys performance... he was so good I had to look him up n just see if he was truely mentally handicapped... what an actor... sad he didn't like acting 😔 he was very talented. As for Judy Garland... Burt Lancaster... Gena Rowland n Steven Hill wonderful as always.
    Rest in peace Bruce Ritchey... thanks for the great movie!
    June 24, 2022 @ 1130pm

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  27. I just saw the movie A Child Is Waiting. Bruce Ritchey was so talented. So sorry about his passing. While watching the story I grew very attached to him. R.I.P. Bruce. Thank you for sharing your many talents. I would have seen more of Bruce.

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  28. Great blog Mike. Thank you.

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  29. Hi I just watched the movie in the middle of it I found myself googling him there is not enough information about him so sad thanks for this information I would like to know why he died who was his wife was he acting till he passed🙏

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  30. Just saw "A Child is Waiting"last night on TCM and was especially impressed with the performance of. Bruce Richey and by his long soulfull gazes toward Judy Garland as his teacher. He showed such depth of the human spirit that is rarely seen in cinema. He deserved a great deal more credit as an actor than he received. There is too little information about him on the web, so I appreciate finding this site.

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  31. watching agsin also looking up bruce richey / recently saw a commercial he did - cassavetes must have seen this remarkable sadness and ability to convey itvwithout words - i think of this movie often prob judy garland's best dramatic role

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  32. Just just watch this movie with my husband can't believe it never got recognition. No Oscar nominees know nothing. All the lead performers were wonderful. As good as any of the other performances by Judy Garland and Burt Lancaster. It's a shame this film has been hiding. Why have we never heard about it before now? And of course the child Bruce Ritchie was wonderful

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  33. Like so many others here, I watched TCM's recent broadcast of "A Child is Waiting" in tears. Of course, the talented adult lead actors were excellent in their roles in this moving but dated film, but young Bruce Ritchey was an absolute revelation. This handsome young man with his soulful, pain-filled eyes and eternally sad, down-turned mouth was riveting, heartbreaking and totally believable. I had to research whether he was actually what we would today call autistic or a simply a very gifted actor--and I was shocked that he was the latter. I'm so sorry to learn that he passed several years ago. I hope he had a happy and satisfying life.

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  34. I just saw A Child Is Waiting on the television (UK) and I was sorry to read that Bruce passed away. You could tell he would of been a great actor if he was given more roles

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  35. Bruce Ritchey was a name I didn't know until now. Thanks for sharing this with us. I had no idea he was an actor. Usually when I hear the name Bruce I think of Bruce Dern, Bruce Willis, the shark from "Finding Nemo" and that rock band from England that keeps saying, "Don't Bring Me Down". It wasn't until now that I learned there was a Bruce Ritchey. Rest in peace, Bruce. You're one Bruce that never brought me down.

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  36. Marvellous film …. Great acting by Bruce Ritchey …. Such a stark difference compared to todays language I worked with adults with a learning disability and every day was a true blessing and joy

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  37. I've just watched A Child Is Waiting and, what a tearjerker it was. I felt for all of those children from start to finish, especially the part of "Reuben" Bruce Ritchey was brilliant. The other children done so well in their acting roles too. I could watch this film over and over and never get fed up .

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    1. Yes, "A Child is Waiting," is a real gem. And Bruce Richey's performance is outstanding.

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  38. Stumbled upon this film today and was also amazed by the acting talent of young Mr Ritchey. I'm so sorry to learn that he died relatively young :( I would love to know what happened to the other young people who were in the film; they also played a big part and appeared to enjoy it

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