Adam Rifkin
Encyclopedia
Adam Rifkin sometimes credited as Rif Coogan, is an American
film director
, producer
, actor
and writer
. Rifkin is claimed to belong to a rare breed of film directors that transited from public-access television
cable TV to Hollywood.
His eclectic career ranges from broad family comedies to cult classics to dark and gritty urban dramas. Rifkin is best known in Hollywood circles for writing family-friendly comedies like MouseHunt and 2007's Underdog
.
Most recently Rifkin wrote, executive produced and directed all 11 episodes of Look
for Showtime. Based on his award winning film of the same name, LOOK is a drama that takes the viewer into the foreboding world of hidden cameras. Armed with the knowledge that Americans are captured on
surveillance cameras more than 300 times a day, the topical series, like the film, tells its story exclusively through the eyes of the security cameras, web cams, and cell phone cameras Americans live in front of everyday, bringing to light the realities of what it means to be watched in a camera consumed culture.
As a screenwriter, Rifkin has a penchant for family fare. He wrote Knucklehead
for WWE Studios, starring WWE superstar Big Show
, Underdog
for Walt Disney Animation Studios, a tent pole comedy based on the iconic 1960's cartoon show, Zoom
, starring Tim Allen
and two hits for DreamWorks, Mousehunt and Small Soldiers
. Continuing in the family film genre, he scribed the big screen version of He-Man
for John Woo
and 20th Century Fox
.
Rifkin gained popularity when his film The Dark Backward
, which he wrote and directed, was named one of the top ten films of its year by The New York Post. He was then the director responsible for New Line Cinema
’s Detroit Rock City
, a cult film that continues to be watched by rock fans around the world. Rifkin gained critical recognition for Night at the Golden Eagle, a film which he not only wrote and directed, but also produced.
(1994), Detroit Rock City
(1999) and the lurid yet idiosyncratic A Night at the Golden Eagle
(2002). The dark drama was an official selection of the London Film Festival in 2001.
by Giuseppe Andrews
. Preceding his completion of that project, Rifkin produced his own film A Night at the Golden Eagle
as well as Getting Hal by Tony Markes.
s in his other films, A Night at the Golden Eagle
, Without Charlie, Detroit Rock City
, The Dark Backward
, Denial
and Psycho Cop 2
. Rifkin also appeared as Babes Ahoy in the 1989 film, Going Overboard
, starring Adam Sandler
and Burt Young
.
He also wrote, directed and acted in the 2007 film Homo Erectus, in which he portrays a wimpy caveman called Ishbo, the main character in the film, who everyone calls an idiot, inventing things like pants, a visor, a ladder, etc., which the tribe finds completely useless. The film's ensemble cast includes Ali Larter
, David Carradine
, Talia Shire
, Gary Busey
, and Ron Jeremy
.
of a majority of the film
s he direct
ed, Rifkin has also written screenplay
s for a few notable Hollywood films, including Small Soldiers
and MouseHunt starring Nathan Lane
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. Rifkin is claimed to belong to a rare breed of film directors that transited from public-access television
Public-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
cable TV to Hollywood.
His eclectic career ranges from broad family comedies to cult classics to dark and gritty urban dramas. Rifkin is best known in Hollywood circles for writing family-friendly comedies like MouseHunt and 2007's Underdog
Underdog (film)
Underdog is a 2007 American live-action comedy film based on the cartoon series of the same name. The film was directed by Frederik Du Chau and stars Peter Dinklage as Dr. Simon Bar Sinister, Patrick Warburton as Cad Lackley, and Jason Lee as the voice of Underdog. The film also stars Jim Belushi,...
.
Most recently Rifkin wrote, executive produced and directed all 11 episodes of Look
Look (series)
LOOK: The Series is an American television drama series that premiered on September 10, 2010. It is written, produced, and directed by Adam Rifkin. Based on the 2007 film of the same title, LOOK is shot entirely from the point of view of security cameras.LOOK follows several interweaving storylines...
for Showtime. Based on his award winning film of the same name, LOOK is a drama that takes the viewer into the foreboding world of hidden cameras. Armed with the knowledge that Americans are captured on
surveillance cameras more than 300 times a day, the topical series, like the film, tells its story exclusively through the eyes of the security cameras, web cams, and cell phone cameras Americans live in front of everyday, bringing to light the realities of what it means to be watched in a camera consumed culture.
Career
Rifkin's multi-faceted career spans directing, production, acting and screenwriting in the film industry.As a screenwriter, Rifkin has a penchant for family fare. He wrote Knucklehead
Knucklehead (film)
Knucklehead is a comedy film starring WWE Superstar Big Show , Mark Feuerstein, Melora Hardin and Dennis Farina. Its was released on October 22, 2010 in select theatres...
for WWE Studios, starring WWE superstar Big Show
Paul Wight
Paul Donald Wight, Jr. , better known by his ring name, Big Show, is an American professional wrestler and actor, currently signed to WWE on its Raw brand....
, Underdog
Underdog (film)
Underdog is a 2007 American live-action comedy film based on the cartoon series of the same name. The film was directed by Frederik Du Chau and stars Peter Dinklage as Dr. Simon Bar Sinister, Patrick Warburton as Cad Lackley, and Jason Lee as the voice of Underdog. The film also stars Jim Belushi,...
for Walt Disney Animation Studios, a tent pole comedy based on the iconic 1960's cartoon show, Zoom
Zoom (film)
Zoom is a comedy-superhero film released on August 11, 2006. It is based upon the children's book Amazing Adventures from Zoom's Academy by Jason Lethcoe...
, starring Tim Allen
Tim Allen
Tim Allen is an American comedian, actor, voice-over artist, and entertainer, known for his role in the sitcom Home Improvement...
and two hits for DreamWorks, Mousehunt and Small Soldiers
Small Soldiers
Small Soldiers is a 1998 American action/science fiction film directed by Joe Dante starring Gregory Smith and Kirsten Dunst. The film revolves around two teenagers , who get caught in the middle of a war between two factions of sentient action figures, the Gorgonites and the Commando...
. Continuing in the family film genre, he scribed the big screen version of He-Man
Masters of the Universe (film)
Masters of the Universe is a 1987 science-fiction fantasy film based on the toy line by the same name. The movie stars Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor...
for John Woo
John Woo
John Woo Yu-Sen SBS is a Hong Kong-based film director and producer. Recognized for his stylised films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion, Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard...
and 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
.
Rifkin gained popularity when his film The Dark Backward
The Dark Backward
The Dark Backward is a 1991 satirical comedy film directed and written by Adam Rifkin.-Plot summary:A man pursues stand-up comedy encouraged by his fellow garbage man. Though his friend, who accompanies him on accordion, continues to tell him how great he is, he actually stinks...
, which he wrote and directed, was named one of the top ten films of its year by The New York Post. He was then the director responsible for New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema, often simply referred to as New Line, is an American film studio. It was founded in 1967 by Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne as a film distributor, later becoming an independent film studio. It became a subsidiary of Time Warner in 1996 and was merged with larger sister studio Warner...
’s Detroit Rock City
Detroit Rock City (film)
Detroit Rock City is a 1999 film about four teenagers in a Kiss cover band who try to see their idols in Detroit in 1978. Comparable to Rock 'n' Roll High School, Dazed and Confused, The Stöned Age, and I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Detroit Rock City tells a coming of age story through a filter of 1970s...
, a cult film that continues to be watched by rock fans around the world. Rifkin gained critical recognition for Night at the Golden Eagle, a film which he not only wrote and directed, but also produced.
Directing
Adam Rifkin directed his first film Never on Tuesday in 1988. As of this writing he has directed eleven others, including The ChaseThe Chase (1994 film)
The Chase is a 1994 action comedy film starring Charlie Sheen and Kristy Swanson. Released a few months before the real-life O. J. Simpson chase that also took place in California, the film includes Henry Rollins as a police officer and features cameos from Ron Jeremy and both Anthony Kiedis and...
(1994), Detroit Rock City
Detroit Rock City (film)
Detroit Rock City is a 1999 film about four teenagers in a Kiss cover band who try to see their idols in Detroit in 1978. Comparable to Rock 'n' Roll High School, Dazed and Confused, The Stöned Age, and I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Detroit Rock City tells a coming of age story through a filter of 1970s...
(1999) and the lurid yet idiosyncratic A Night at the Golden Eagle
A Night at the Golden Eagle
Night at the Golden Eagle is a 2002 American film written and directed by Adam Rifkin.-Plot:Two elderly criminals spend their final night in Los Angeles, California at the Golden Eagle Hotel prior to their departure to Las Vegas, Nevada, to lead a life without crime...
(2002). The dark drama was an official selection of the London Film Festival in 2001.
Production
Rifkin began his relatively limited production career in 1999 on the production of Touch Me in the MorningTouch Me in the Morning (film)
Touch Me in the Morning is a 1999 Independent film written and directed by Giuseppe Andrews. Andrews, who is better known for his roles in films such as Cabin Fever and Detroit Rock City, made the film with his friends and neighbors from the trailer park community he lives in, he has since made...
by Giuseppe Andrews
Giuseppe Andrews
Giuseppe Andrews is an American film actor, writer, and director known for his roles as Lex in the 1999 film Detroit Rock City, a bizarre sheriff's deputy in Cabin Fever , a small role in Never Been Kissed , as well as appearances in The Smashing Pumpkins videos "1979" and "Perfect".Andrews has...
. Preceding his completion of that project, Rifkin produced his own film A Night at the Golden Eagle
A Night at the Golden Eagle
Night at the Golden Eagle is a 2002 American film written and directed by Adam Rifkin.-Plot:Two elderly criminals spend their final night in Los Angeles, California at the Golden Eagle Hotel prior to their departure to Las Vegas, Nevada, to lead a life without crime...
as well as Getting Hal by Tony Markes.
Acting
Adam Rifkin began his acting career in 1988 his directorial debut Never on Tuesday. Rifkin has appeared in small roles and cameoCameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
s in his other films, A Night at the Golden Eagle
A Night at the Golden Eagle
Night at the Golden Eagle is a 2002 American film written and directed by Adam Rifkin.-Plot:Two elderly criminals spend their final night in Los Angeles, California at the Golden Eagle Hotel prior to their departure to Las Vegas, Nevada, to lead a life without crime...
, Without Charlie, Detroit Rock City
Detroit Rock City (film)
Detroit Rock City is a 1999 film about four teenagers in a Kiss cover band who try to see their idols in Detroit in 1978. Comparable to Rock 'n' Roll High School, Dazed and Confused, The Stöned Age, and I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Detroit Rock City tells a coming of age story through a filter of 1970s...
, The Dark Backward
The Dark Backward
The Dark Backward is a 1991 satirical comedy film directed and written by Adam Rifkin.-Plot summary:A man pursues stand-up comedy encouraged by his fellow garbage man. Though his friend, who accompanies him on accordion, continues to tell him how great he is, he actually stinks...
, Denial
Denial (1998 film)
Denial is a 1998 film written and directed by Adam Rifkin. It was released to video under the title Something About Sex. The plot revolved around couples as they struggle with the hardships of maintaining a monogamous relationship. It starred Jonathan Silverman, Leah Lail, Patrick Dempsey,...
and Psycho Cop 2
Psycho Cop 2
Psycho Cop 2, also known as Psycho Cop Returns, is a 1993 horror film that follows the exploits of the psychopathic cop Joe Vickers as he kills the attendees of a bachelor party. The film was first released on videocassette in 1993 in Germany and later on in the United States in 1994 by Columbia...
. Rifkin also appeared as Babes Ahoy in the 1989 film, Going Overboard
Going Overboard
Going Overboard is a 1989 American comedy film released on May 11, 1989. It was Adam Sandler's first starring role, It features Burt Young, Allen Covert, Billy Zane, Terry Moore, Milton Berle, and a small role by Billy Bob Thornton. The movie frequently ranks very "high" on the top 100 worst...
, starring Adam Sandler
Adam Sandler
Adam Richard Sandler is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, musician, and film producer.After becoming a Saturday Night Live cast member, Sandler went on to star in several Hollywood feature films that grossed over $100 million at the box office...
and Burt Young
Burt Young
Burt Young is an American actor, painter and author. He is best known for his Academy Award-nominated role as Sylvester Stallone's brother-in-law and friend Paulie in the Rocky film series.-Personal life:...
.
He also wrote, directed and acted in the 2007 film Homo Erectus, in which he portrays a wimpy caveman called Ishbo, the main character in the film, who everyone calls an idiot, inventing things like pants, a visor, a ladder, etc., which the tribe finds completely useless. The film's ensemble cast includes Ali Larter
Ali Larter
Alison Elizabeth "Ali" Larter is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for playing the dual roles of Niki Sanders and Jessica Sanders on the NBC science fiction drama Heroes as well as her guest roles on several television shows in the 1990s.Larter's screen debut came in the 1999 film...
, David Carradine
David Carradine
David Carradine was an American actor and martial artist, best known for his role as a warrior monk, Kwai Chang Caine, in the 1970s television series, Kung Fu, which later had a 1990s sequel series, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues...
, Talia Shire
Talia Shire
Talia Shire is an American actress most known for her roles as Connie Corleone in The Godfather films and Adrian Balboa in the Rocky series.-Personal life:...
, Gary Busey
Gary Busey
William Gary Busey , best known as Gary Busey, is an American film and stage actor and artist. He has appeared in a large variety of films, as well as making regular appearances on Gunsmoke, Walker, Texas Ranger, Law & Order, and Entourage...
, and Ron Jeremy
Ron Jeremy
Ronald Jeremy Hyatt , usually called Ron Jeremy, is an American pornographic actor. Nicknamed "The Hedgehog", he was ranked by AVN at number one in their "The 50 Top Porn Stars of All Time" list...
.
Writing
Besides being the authorAuthor
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of a majority of the film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s he direct
Direct
Direct may refer to:* Direct current, a direct flow of electricity* Direct examination, the in-trial questioning of a witness by the party who has called him or her to testify...
ed, Rifkin has also written screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
s for a few notable Hollywood films, including Small Soldiers
Small Soldiers
Small Soldiers is a 1998 American action/science fiction film directed by Joe Dante starring Gregory Smith and Kirsten Dunst. The film revolves around two teenagers , who get caught in the middle of a war between two factions of sentient action figures, the Gorgonites and the Commando...
and MouseHunt starring Nathan Lane
Nathan Lane
Nathan Lane is an American actor of stage and screen. He is best known for his roles as Mendy in The Lisbon Traviata, Albert in The Birdcage, Max Bialystock in the musical The Producers, Ernie Smuntz in MouseHunt, Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to...
.
Filmography
Rifkin has acted, produced, directed, and produced a number of films over the years.| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Never on Tuesdsay | Writer, Director, Actor |
| 1989 | Going Overboard Going Overboard Going Overboard is a 1989 American comedy film released on May 11, 1989. It was Adam Sandler's first starring role, It features Burt Young, Allen Covert, Billy Zane, Terry Moore, Milton Berle, and a small role by Billy Bob Thornton. The movie frequently ranks very "high" on the top 100 worst... |
Co-Producer |
| 1989 | Tale of Two Sisters Tale of Two Sisters Tale of Two Sisters is a 1989 drama film about two sisters who, having not seen each other for 5 years, catch up and relive childhood experiences. It directed by Adam Rifkin, narrated by Charlie Sheen and starring Claudia Christian and Valerie Breiman as two sisters... |
Director |
| 1990 | The Invisible Maniac (a.k.a The Invisible Sex Maniac) | Director and Screeplay & Story Writer (All as Rif Coogan) |
| 1990 | Disturbed | Actor |
| 1991 | The Dark Backward The Dark Backward The Dark Backward is a 1991 satirical comedy film directed and written by Adam Rifkin.-Plot summary:A man pursues stand-up comedy encouraged by his fellow garbage man. Though his friend, who accompanies him on accordion, continues to tell him how great he is, he actually stinks... |
Writer, Director, Actor (All as Rif Coogan) |
| 1991 | Bikini Island | Actor |
| 1992 | Last Dance | Actor (As Rif Coogan) |
| 1992 | The Nutt House (a.k.a The Nutty Nut) | Director |
| 1993 | The Flesh Merchant | Actor |
| 1993 | Bikini Squad | Actor |
| 1993 | Psycho Cop 2 Psycho Cop 2 Psycho Cop 2, also known as Psycho Cop Returns, is a 1993 horror film that follows the exploits of the psychopathic cop Joe Vickers as he kills the attendees of a bachelor party. The film was first released on videocassette in 1993 in Germany and later on in the United States in 1994 by Columbia... |
Director (As Rif Coogan), Actor |
| 1994 | The Chase The Chase (1994 film) The Chase is a 1994 action comedy film starring Charlie Sheen and Kristy Swanson. Released a few months before the real-life O. J. Simpson chase that also took place in California, the film includes Henry Rollins as a police officer and features cameos from Ron Jeremy and both Anthony Kiedis and... |
Writer, Director |
| 1996 | Bone Chillers | Writer, Creator/Co-Creator, Director, Co-Executive Producer |
| 1997 | MouseHunt | Writer |
| 1998/1 | Denial Denial (1998 film) Denial is a 1998 film written and directed by Adam Rifkin. It was released to video under the title Something About Sex. The plot revolved around couples as they struggle with the hardships of maintaining a monogamous relationship. It starred Jonathan Silverman, Leah Lail, Patrick Dempsey,... |
Writer, Actor |
| 1998 | Small Soldiers Small Soldiers Small Soldiers is a 1998 American action/science fiction film directed by Joe Dante starring Gregory Smith and Kirsten Dunst. The film revolves around two teenagers , who get caught in the middle of a war between two factions of sentient action figures, the Gorgonites and the Commando... |
Writer |
| 1998 | Susan's Plan {a.k.a Dying to Get Rich | Actor |
| 1998 | Welcome to Hollywood Welcome to Hollywood Welcome to Hollywood is a mockumentary about a young man trying to make it in Hollywood as an actor. Tony Markes is the young man trying to pursue the means to become an actor. Various attempts to get him noticed and in roles in film and television fail... |
Writer, Director, Actor |
| 1999 | Touch Me in the Morning Touch Me in the Morning (film) Touch Me in the Morning is a 1999 Independent film written and directed by Giuseppe Andrews. Andrews, who is better known for his roles in films such as Cabin Fever and Detroit Rock City, made the film with his friends and neighbors from the trailer park community he lives in, he has since made... |
Producer |
| 1999 | Detroit Rock City Detroit Rock City (film) Detroit Rock City is a 1999 film about four teenagers in a Kiss cover band who try to see their idols in Detroit in 1978. Comparable to Rock 'n' Roll High School, Dazed and Confused, The Stöned Age, and I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Detroit Rock City tells a coming of age story through a filter of 1970s... |
Director, Actor (Both as Rif Coogan) |
| 1999 | Miscellaneous Shit: Behind the Scenes of Detroit Rock City | Actor |
| 2001 | Without Charlie | Writer, Director, Actor |
| 2001 | Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy (a.k.a The Legend of Ron Jeremy) | Actor |
| 2001 | Night at the Golden Eagle | Writer, Director, Actor, Producer |
| 2003 | Getting Hai | Producer |
| 2005 | Grandpa | Producer |
| 2006 | Zoom Zoom (film) Zoom is a comedy-superhero film released on August 11, 2006. It is based upon the children's book Amazing Adventures from Zoom's Academy by Jason Lethcoe... |
Writer |
| 2007 | Homo Erectus (a.k.a National Lampoon's The Stoned Age) | Writer, Director, Actor |
| 2007 | Garbanzo Gas | Producer |
| 2007 | Look | Writer, Director |
| 2007 | Underdog Underdog (film) Underdog is a 2007 American live-action comedy film based on the cartoon series of the same name. The film was directed by Frederik Du Chau and stars Peter Dinklage as Dr. Simon Bar Sinister, Patrick Warburton as Cad Lackley, and Jason Lee as the voice of Underdog. The film also stars Jim Belushi,... |
Writer |
| 2007 | Blump's Squeezable Documentary | Producer, Actor |
| 2008 | Entertainment Tonight: Episode dated 11 July 2008 | Actor |
| 2008 | Spread TV: Episode #4.2 | Actor |
| 2008 | Starz Inside: In the Gutter (TV Episode) | Actor |
| 2008 | Trailers From Hell Trailers From Hell Trailers From Hell! is a web series featuring trailers from cinema classics ranging from silent comedy to the splatter flicks of the 1980s, with a particular focus on horror and exploitation films. Trailers are accompanied by commentaries from Hollywood screenwriters, producers and directors... |
Actor |
| 2008 | Fairy Tail Police | Actor |
| 2009 | Starz Inside: Sex and the Cinema (TV) | Actor |
| 2010 | Advice for New Screenwriters | Actor |
| 2010 | Knucklehead Knucklehead (film) Knucklehead is a comedy film starring WWE Superstar Big Show , Mark Feuerstein, Melora Hardin and Dennis Farina. Its was released on October 22, 2010 in select theatres... |
Writer |
| 2010 | Look Look (series) LOOK: The Series is an American television drama series that premiered on September 10, 2010. It is written, produced, and directed by Adam Rifkin. Based on the 2007 film of the same title, LOOK is shot entirely from the point of view of security cameras.LOOK follows several interweaving storylines... |
Writer, Director (2010), Executive Producer |
| 2011 | Chillerama | Actor, Executive Producer |