Adam Rifkin

Adam Rifkin (born December 31, 1966), sometimes credited as Rif Coogan, is an American filmmaker and actor.[1] His career ranges from broad family comedies to dark and gritty urban dramas. He is best known for writing family-friendly comedies like Mouse Hunt and 2007's Underdog.[2] Most recently, Rifkin directed The Last Movie Star (2017).

Adam Rifkin
Born (1966-12-31) December 31, 1966
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Other namesRif Coogan
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter, producer, actor

Early life and education

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Rifkin graduated from the Chicago Academy for the Arts in 1984, after which he moved to Los Angeles. He attended the University of Southern California for one year before dropping out. He then began writing scripts and collaborating with Brad Wyman.[3]

Career

As a screenwriter, Rifkin has written several family-friendly movies. He wrote Knucklehead for WWE Studios, starring WWE star Big Show, Underdog for Walt Disney Animation Studios, Zoom, starring Tim Allen and two films for DreamWorks, Mouse Hunt and Small Soldiers. Continuing in the family film genre, he wrote the big screen version of He-Man for John Woo and 20th Century Fox. He also wrote the unused draft of Planet of the Apes in 1988.

Rifkin's film The Dark Backward was named one of the top ten films of its year by The New York Post. He was then the director responsible for New Line Cinema's Detroit Rock City.

Directing

Rifkin directed his first film Never on Tuesday in 1989. As of December 6, 2007, he has directed eleven others, including The Chase (1994), Detroit Rock City (1999) and the Night at the Golden Eagle (2002).

Production

Rifkin began his production career in 1999 on the production of Touch Me in the Morning by Giuseppe Andrews. Preceding his completion of that project, Rifkin produced his own film Night at the Golden Eagle as well as Getting Hal by Tony Markes.

Acting

Rifkin began his acting career in 1989 with his directorial debut Never on Tuesday. Rifkin has appeared in small roles and cameos in his other films, Night at the Golden Eagle, Without Charlie, Detroit Rock City, The Dark Backward, Denial and Psycho Cop 2. Rifkin also appeared as Croaker/Miss Spain in the 1989 film, Going Overboard, starring Adam Sandler and Burt Young.

He also wrote, directed and acted in the 2007 film Homo Erectus, in which he portrays a wimpy caveman called Ishbo, the main character in the film. The film's ensemble cast includes Ali Larter, David Carradine, Talia Shire, Gary Busey, and Ron Jeremy.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
1989 Never on Tuesday Yes Yes No
Going Overboard No Uncredited Co-producer
Tale of Two Sisters Yes No No
1990 The Invisible Maniac Yes Yes No Credited as "Rif Coogan"
1991 The Dark Backward Yes Yes No
1992 The Nutt House Yes No No
1993 Psycho Cop 2 Yes No No Credited as "Rif Coogan"
1994 The Chase Yes Yes No
1997 Mouse Hunt No Yes No
1998 Denial Yes Yes No
Small Soldiers No Yes No
Welcome to Hollywood Yes Yes No Co-directed with Tony Markes
1999 Detroit Rock City Yes No No
2001 Without Charlie Yes Yes No
Night at the Golden Eagle Yes Yes Yes
2006 Zoom No Yes No
2007 Homo Erectus Yes Yes No
Look Yes Yes No
Underdog No Yes No
2010 Knucklehead No Yes No
2011 Chillerama Yes Yes Executive Segment "Wadzilla"
2014 Giuseppe Makes a Movie Yes No Yes Documentary
2015 Shooting the Warwicks Yes Yes Yes
2016 Director's Cut Yes No Yes
2017 The Last Movie Star Yes Yes Yes

Acting credits

Year Title Role Notes
1984 Sixteen Candles Head Nerd Uncredited
1989 Never on Tuesday William
Going Overboard Croaker / Miss Spain
1990 Disturbed Gary
1991 The Dark Backward Rufus Bing
Bikini Island Desk Boy Credited as Rif Coogan
1992 Last Dance Mark
1993 Psycho Cop 2 Man with Video Camera
The Flesh Merchant Man In Bondage Room
Bikini Squad Singing Teacher Credited as Rif Coogan
1998 Denial Reuben
Susan's Plan Gambler #1
Welcome to Hollywood Himself
1999 Detroit Rock City It's Raining Men Billboard Model Uncredited
2001 Without Charlie Norman
Night at the Golden Eagle Man in Private Booth Uncredited
2007 Homo Erectus Ishbo
2011 Chillerama Miles Munson Segment "Wadzilla"
2015 Shooting the Warwicks Mickey Wagner
2016 Director's Cut Himself

Television
Year Title Director Writer Executive
Producer		 Creator
1996 Bone Chillers Yes Yes Co-Executive Yes
2010 Look: The Series Yes Yes Yes No
2012 Reality Show Yes Yes Yes No

References
  1. "Detroit Rock City + Christmas on Mars" (Podcast). April 15, 2010. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  2. Hugh Hart (December 13, 2007). "Sneaky Sex, Spooky Scenes: Look Flick Eyes Voyeuristic Surveillance". Wired.
  3. Admin (June 16, 2010). "STORMBLOG: RIFFIN' WITH RIFKIN". STORMBLOG. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
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