Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in the Maryland suburb of Bladensburg, Richards discovered his love for acting at an early age, enrolling in a performing arts high school and appearing in several plays a year. Academically confident and determined to move out to Los Angeles to pursue his acting aspirations, Richards applied to only one college. Not only was he accepted into the University of Southern California, he also won numerous scholarships and grants to study theater.

Upon graduation, Richards began working steadily in film, television and theater. Playing a rapping bike messenger who believes he is an alien abductee, it was the role of Taj Mahal in the Mark Taper Forum's production of Space that first brought recognition and rave reviews to the young actor.

On the big screen, Richards has appeared in the feature films Why Do Fools Fall in Love? and Good Burger. He starred in the television movies Ground Zero, The Temptations and Mutiny. Richards has also guest-starred on The West Wing, The Practice, Chicago Hope, The Cosby Show and Any Day Now.

In his free time, Richards enjoys painting and has developed an interest in astronomy since working on Space. He traveled throughout the United States while on tour with the production and enjoys visiting his parents' native country of Panama as well as other regions of Central America.

Richards currently lives in Los Angeles, Calif.