BANGOR – Rev. Luther Snow in “Three’s Company.” Lawrence Carson in “Beverly Hills 90210.” C.C. Capwell in “Santa Barbara.”
Following his passing, people are remembering Peter Mark Richman, who also had recurring roles in “Dynasty” and “Longstreet,” by many different names. But to Bangor resident Lucas Richman, he was simply dad.
“My father was probably the antithesis of the regular celebrity,” Lucas Richman said.
Lucas and his family grew up in the suburbs of Los Angeles. He said he and his siblings had a pretty normal childhood, despite often seeing dad on TV.
“We certainly didn’t know that it was different from how other families are,” Lucas said. “That’s just how we grew up.”
When he was young, Lucas got a true behind-the-scenes look at what his father did, visiting the set and getting to know some of his parents’ famous friends.
“Family dinners incorporated a lot of their friends who were notable actors or directors and people in the entertainment industry,” said Lucas. “It helped us understand that people are just people and this happened to be something that they do, and they happened to be more visible than other people in their very important jobs.”
His parents passed down their love for the arts to their children, who all work in the industry in some way. That includes Lucas, who is most known around here as the Music Director for the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, a role he’s held for ten years.
“I’m happy that I chose music because it was something that I could own by myself and it was kind of a mysterious thing to my parents,” Lucas said. “They could appreciate it, but not be over-lording it and telling me what to do.”
Lucas said he loves the support and enthusiasm that surrounds the Bangor Symphony Orchestra.
“The first time I came to Bangor and conducted the orchestra, I could immediately feel this love of music and enjoyment of playing together as a community,” he said.
At times, Lucas and his dad worked together on creative projects, including at the Philadelphia Orchestra in his father’s hometown.
“The memory of us being on stage and the pride he had in introducing his son as the conductor for this program was really, really extraordinary,” said Lucas.
Lucas said his dad was also a painter and a storyteller, but above all, an encouraging and supportive parent.
“He so often played the bad guy. I saw my father be killed hundreds of times on network TV growing up! He was cast in these roles because he had a very stern look and he could be very commanding, but in fact he was just the opposite.
“He was always ‘daddy.’ I called him dad, but he loved being the father and he loved being the grandfather,” Lucas said.
Peter Mark Richman passed away last week in Los Angeles at the age of 93.
Due to the pandemic, not everyone could attend the funeral.
But Lucas said the outpouring of support from folks locally and all over the world has been heartwarming.
“It’s really been touching and lovely to have a chance to think of my dad and know that others are thinking of him as well,” said Lucas.
