Richard Carpenter

Biography

Richard Lynn Carpenter (born October 15, 1946) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer, who formed half of the sibling duo the Carpenters alongside his younger sister Karen. He had numerous roles in the Carpenters, including record producer, arranger, pianist, keyboardist, and songwriter, as well as joining with Karen on harmony vocals. Richard Lynn Carpenter was born at Grace-New Haven Hospital (now called Yale New Haven Hospital) in New Haven, Connecticut, the same hospital where his sister, Karen, was later born. His parents were Agnes Reuwer Tatum (a housewife) (March 5, 1915 – November 10, 1996) and Harold Bertram Carpenter (November 8, 1908 – October 15, 1988). Harold was born in China, where his own parents were missionaries, and was educated at boarding schools in England, before working in the printing business. Carpenter was named after his father's younger brother, Richard Lynn Carpenter. Carpenter and his uncle both married women named Mary. Richard and his sister were baptized into the United Methodist Church and as children were part of the Methodist Youth Ministry. Carpenter frequently played the piano while his younger sister, Karen, playe…

Movies & TV Shows

1. E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
2. The Carol Burnett Show (1967) — Self - The Carpenters
3. Carpenters: Yesterday Once More (1985) — Himself
4. Jay Leno's Garage (2015) — Self
5. Herb Alpert Is... (2020) — Self
6. Out of the Unknown (1965) — Inspector Gilliat
7. The Perry Como Christmas Show (1974) — Himself
8. Die Drehscheibe (1964) — Self
9. Carpenters: Gold (2002)
10. The Carpenters... Space Encounters (1978) — Self
11. 60 Songs: BBC Two at 60 (2024) — Self (archive footage)
12. Numéro un (1975) — Self - The Carpenters
13. The Carpenters: A Christmas Portrait (1978) — Self
14. The Carpenters at Christmas (1977) — Self
15. The Carpenters: A World of Music (1976) — self
16. The Carpenters: Live at the BBC (1971) — Self
17. Doris Day: Virgin Territory (2007) — Self
18. Mickey's 50 (1978) — Self
19. Carpenters Very First Television Special (1976) — Self
20. Legends (2006) — Self
21. Karen Carpenter: Starving for Perfection (2023) — Self (archive footage)
22. Only Yesterday: The Carpenters Story (2007) — Self
23. The Carpenters: Live in Australia (1972) — self
24. Carpenters: Christmas Memories (2016) — Himself
25. The Carpenters Concert: Live at the New London Theatre (1976) — Himself
26. The Joy of Easy Listening (2011) — Self
27. The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1 (2001) — Self (archive footage)
28. The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2 (2001) — Self (archive footage)
29. Carpenters: Live at Budokan (1974) — Himself
30. Close to You: The Story of the Carpenters (2002)
31. The Ten Commandments (1971) — Masters

Directed

1. The Karen Carpenter Story (1989) — Director