Ariana Clarice Richards debuted on screen in 1987, performing in an episode of The Golden Girls before securing roles in television and cinema. While widely recognized for her portrayal of Lex Murphy in the 1993 film Jurassic Park, she shifted her professional focus toward a dedicated career in fine art during her adulthood.
Early Acting Career
Born in 1979 in Healdsburg, California, Richards began her performing career in the late 1980s. Her initial screen appearances included a role in the television film Into the Homeland alongside Powers Boothe. Her portrayal of Lex Murphy in the 1993 film Jurassic Park remains a significant credit in her filmography, and she later reprised the role in The Lost World: Jurassic Park. Additional television work includes guest spots on Boy Meets World and Empty Nest, as well as a 1997 appearance in the music video for the song Brick by Ben Folds Five.
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In December 1993, Richards issued an album titled First Love through the Pony Canyon label in Japan. The release featured a selection of teen-pop songs and dance-oriented ballads. She collaborated with her mother to compose the lyrics for the track You're the Reason. This recording remains out-of-print, though the songs were later documented on a YouTube channel managed by Philip Jennelle. Following this release, she returned to music in 2008 to record a duet version of The Prayer by David Foster with Chris M. Allport.
Transition to Fine Art
Richards engaged in painting, sketching, and sculpting from her childhood. She pursued formal artistic training at Skidmore College, the Art Center College of Design, and Western Oregon University. Her current practice centers on oil painting, with a stylistic focus that bridges realism and impressionism. Her portfolio features landscapes, seascapes, and figurative subjects. In October 2005, she achieved recognition by winning first place in a National Professional Oil Painting Competition sponsored by American Artist magazine for her work titled Lady of the Dahlias.
Family and Personal Life
Richards holds citizenship in the United States and is the sister of actress Bethany Richards. Her family history includes an ancestral connection to the Renaissance painter Carlo Crivelli through her maternal grandmother and to the boxer John L. Sullivan. In January 2013, she married Mark Bolton in Oregon. As of April 2013, she maintained a residence in Salem, Oregon. She continues to manage a gallery website to exhibit her paintings.
Fast facts
- Born: 1979, Healdsburg, California
- Citizenship: United States
- Notable Film Role: Lex Murphy, Jurassic Park
- Education: Skidmore College; Art Center College of Design; Western Oregon University
- Primary Artistic Style: Impressionism and Realism
- Award: First place, 2005 National Professional Oil Painting Competition
- Spouse: Mark Bolton
- Residence: Salem, Oregon (as of 2013)
Questions readers ask
Did Ariana Richards retire from acting?
She focused primarily on her painting career as an adult, though she appeared in the 2013 film Battledogs.
What subjects does Richards paint?
Her oil paintings primarily feature landscapes, seascapes, and figurative subjects.
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