OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY

Richard DeFonzo is an American Actor/Singer/Writer/Producer. He has performed Off- Broadway, internationally, and across the US.

Before Covid hit, he wrote and produced his third cabaret act entitled “DeFonzo Sings Minnelli Untucked!” A tribute to the legendary icon herself, Richard told the story through comedy, song, and dance.

DeFonzo grew up in Upstate, NY. He received his professional training at West Chester University where he was a double major studying music and theatre. Wanting to be in the hustle and bustle, he moved to New York to study. He graduated from The American Musical And Dramatic Academy (NY). He got his first acting job right out of school.

After working out of town for a few years, he came back to New York to study acting with Zina Jasper—something that would change his career and life forever. Learning to be a great actor you have to live with common humanity. After working for many years in musical theatre, dramas, television and film, Richard stopped auditioning for about 20 years. During this time, DeFonzo found himself putting on his first pair of eye lashes when he took the stage as the legendary Liza Minnelli. And though it was only for a New York minute, it was a very exciting time.

DeFonzo was featured on the VH-1 special Boys Will Be Girls. He also did a commercial for A&E when Liza’s biography aired. Richard entertained at Bette Midler’s annual Hulaween gala at the Marriot Hotel. They received great press for performing at David Gest’s bachelor party in Atlantic City, Vegas, London, and Hawaii. Life under the wig wasn’t always easy, so he decided to write a screenplay entitled Maybe This Time, a rom com that tells about that chapter of his life. He is currently in pre-production with Tony award winner Sue Vaccaro.

Now in the second act of his career (in pants), Richard has taken this past year’s lemons and made lemonade. He studies in Ted Brunetti’s TV/Film self-tape audition class and recently took a website seminar with Tony Howell. Richard is currently into rehearsals to bring back “DeFonzo Sings Minnelli.” He looks forward to some day working in the next Emmy award Netflix series with Laverne Cox.