Growing up in Vernon, British Columbia, the epitome of small-town Canada, Richard has lived in Vancouver, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay area. He has been employed as a computer expert for both large companies such as Sony Computer Entertainment, and for start-ups.

While a mathematics graduate student at UCLA, Richard dabbled in stand-up as a member of the UCLA Comedy Club and performed in several shows. He took a hiatus for a decade, and resumed performing in November of 2004.

He has performed in shows in a variety of locations including The Rose and Crown in Palo Alto, Ron's Farmhouse in Mountain View, Rudy's in Palo Alto, Rooster T. Feathers in Sunnyvale, The Improv in San Jose, and The Canvas Gallery in San Francisco.