Adam Rifkin (born in 1966), sometimes credited as Rif Coogan, is an American film director, producer, actor and writer. Rifkin is claimed to belong to a rare breed of film directors that transited from public access television to Hollywood.

Career

Direction

In 1988, Adam Rifkin directed his first film entitled, Never on Tuesday. After releasing eleven more films since 1988, and one more in post-production (Homo Erectus); Rifkin has directed some relatively memorable films such as, Detroit Rock City (1999) and the lurid, yet idiosyncratic, A Night at the Golden Eagle (2002). He is currently working on Look (2006).

Production

Rifkin began his relatively limited production career in 1999 as he worked on the production of, Touch Me in the Morning by Giuseppe Andrews. Preceding his completion of that project, Rifkin then moved on to produce his film, A Night at the Golden Eagle and Getting Hal by Tony Markes.

Acting

Genuinely acting in films of his own, Adam Rifkin began his acting career in 1988 along with his direction career by appearing in the film, Never on Tuesday. Rifkin later appeared in small roles and cameos in his other films, A Night at the Golden Eagle, Without Charlie, Detroit Rock City, Denial and Psycho Cop 2. Rifkin also appeared as Babes Ahoy in the 1989 film, Going Overboard, starring Adam Sandler and Burt Young.

Writing

Despite the fact that Rifkin served as the writer for a majority of the films he directed and acted in, Rifkin has also independently written screenplays for a few notable Hollywood films: Small Soldiers and Mousehunt starring Nathan Lane.

Trivia

• Adam Rifkin was the basis for the character "Adam Rafkin" on the show "Action" in 1999.
• Rifkin was interviewed as himself in the documentary film, Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy.

Bio

Adam Rifkin is a writer/director/producer whose eclectic career ranges from broad family comedies to cult classics to dark and gritty urban dramas.  As a writer, he made his mark with films like MOUSEHUNT, starring Nathan Lane and SMALL SOLDIERS, starring Tommy Lee Jones for Dreamworks.  Recent credits include Sony's ZOOM, starring Tim Allen and the upcoming Disney film UNDERDOG, starring Jason Lee as the canine hero.   In 1991, Rifkin earned cult status when his film THE DARK BACKWARD, which he wrote and directed, was named one of the top ten films of the year by The New York Post.  Years later, he would be immortalized as the director responsible for New Line Cinema's DETROIT ROCK CITY, a cult classic that introduced a whole new generation of fans to the "hottest band in the world…KISS!!!"   Rifkin gained recognition for his film NIGHT AT THE GOLDEN EAGLE, a film which he not only wrote and directed, but also produced.  The film was an official selection of the London Film Festival and opened to rave reviews.   In October 2007, Rifkin will unleash his latest and most important, film.  Armed with the knowledge that Americans are captured on surveillance cameras at least 200 times a day, mostly without their knowledge, Rifkin wrote and directed LOOK.  The film, which won the Grand Jury prize at the 2007 CineVegas Film Festival, tells its story exclusively through the eyes of the countless security cameras throughout the city, bringing to light the harsh realities of what it means to be watched 24/7.   Additionally, in 2007, Rifkin will add acting to his resume when he stars opposite Ali Larter as an idealistic caveman searching for love and life beyond cave in National Lampoon's HOMO ERECTUS.  Rifkin, who also wrote and directed the film, was inspired by early Woody Allen comedies like SLEEPER, BANANAS and LOVE AND DEATH. The prehistoric comedy will also be responsible for helping re-launch the Lampoon brand.

External links

• Adam Rifkin at the Internet Movie Database