He attended General Brown Junior/Senior High School in Dexter, New York, where he excelled in sports, particularly hockey, lacrosse, and football. Grieco continued his athletic pursuits in college, playing as a middle linebacker and fullback for his college football team. He later earned a degree in Political Science from Central Connecticut State University.

Modeling and Entry into Acting

In addition to his athletic talents, Grieco developed an early interest in acting. He initially entered the entertainment industry as a fashion model, working for renowned brands such as Armani, Chanel, and Calvin Klein. This exposure led to acting opportunities, eventually shifting his professional focus from modeling to performance.

Grieco's acting career began in 1985 when he landed a role as Rick Gardner on the soap opera One Life to Live. He gained further recognition in 1988 for his portrayal of Detective Dennis Booker on the hit series 21 Jump Street. Due to the popularity of the character, he starred in its spin-off Booker in 1989.

Television Career Highlights

Throughout his career, Richard Grieco has appeared in numerous television series. In 1987, he played Billy Gallento in Rags to Riches, followed by the role of Mauritzio in a 1988 episode of Who’s the Boss?. He also voiced the character Anthony Dracon in the animated series Gargoyles in 1994.

His voice work continued with roles as Ghost Rider in The Marvel Action Hour: The Fantastic Four (1995) and again in The Incredible Hulk (1996). Later appearances include Steve Botando in Veronica Mars (2006) and an appearance as himself in an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia in 2016.