Born in Avoca, Iowa and moved with his parents to Hollywood, California in the late 1940s, Richard Beymer acted in various films while attending North Hollywood High School. He enjoys making his own films and has a film used in a PBS series on the civil rights movement.


Is probably best remembered for playing Tony in West Side Story (1961). He has played the love interest of both Natalie Wood and her sister Lana Wood in 2 separate films: Tony opposite Natalie's Maria in West Side Story (1961), and Dean opposite Lana's Karen in Scream Free! (1969) (aka Free Grass). He hated his performance in West Side Story (1961) and left the London premiere half way through the film's screening, before he could be presented to Queen Elizabeth II.