بیوگرافی
Richard Ash was born in 1967 in Nottingham's Historic Meadows area. From an early age, he realized he wouldn't fit in as a team player or blend into the crowd. A very shy child, he preferred solitude over socializing and disliked school, though he maintained excellent attendance, missing only five days in five years. Leaving school in 1983 at age 15, Richard never collected his exam results, stating, "I will prove that I can become super successful without a piece of paper which means nothing, having what most people lack in life, Common Sense." His subsequent success speaks for itself.
After leaving school, Richard trained as a Cabinet Maker through the Government's Youth Training Scheme and then secured a position at Thomas Pearson in Netherfield, Nottingham, a respected furniture maker and restorer. This marked a significant turning point in his life, transitioning from boyhood to manhood and experiencing the harsh realities of the working world, far from the idealized image promoted by the Thatcher Government. The workplace was sexist, racist, homophobic, and politically incorrect. "I worked with real people who taught me what real life was all about; it was survival taken to a whole new level. Every day was a comedy, the best six years a teenage boy becoming a man could experience." In 1990, Richard left Thomas Pearson to start his own Cabinet Making and Joinery business.
Kung-Fu
In 1988, Richard began training in Shaolin Kung-Fu and has since attained the rank of Eighth Dan Grand Master of Shaolin Kung-Fu. Demonstrating great aptitude, he dedicated himself to this ancient art and represented Britain at the 1989 German Open. That summer, he earned his First Dan grading and the Elite Shaolin Red Sash. He went on to teach Kung-Fu and showcase his skills internationally. Through Kung-Fu, Richard transitioned into stunt work, adopting the memorable stage name Riky Ash.
Career
Determined to expand beyond being a Kung-Fu instructor, Riky pursued acting by enrolling in drama school. After graduating, he marketed himself as a Martial Arts Actor but found that obtaining an Equity Card was essential to secure work. To acquire this, he performed as a country singer in working men's clubs across the Midlands alongside a friend established in the entertainment circuit. Once he earned his Equity Card, Riky sought television and film opportunities. A fortuitous call with Equity staff member John Barclay introduced him to the possibility of becoming a Television and Film Stuntman—far beyond what he had imagined. Riky described stunt work as "by far the best job in the world; no other job even comes close." He began training for the Elite Equity Stunt Register in January 1992 and by spring 1993 had mastered all six required skills, normally a three to five-year process, underscoring his dedication and determination.
Riky’s first stunt role came in August 1993 on the BBC series "Casualty," doubling for a 14-year-old boy who walks out on a girder to spray graffiti on a bridge. To date, he has worked on over 700 productions worldwide and appeared in numerous major television commercials, most notably as the "Tango Man" in the 2002 Tango commercial, where he wore a diver’s helmet filled with oranges, was lifted 50 feet by a giant magnet, and then dropped, accompanied by the caption, "You Know When You've Been Tango'ed." In 2009, Riky landed what he called "the stunt job of a lifetime," portraying an Italian racing driver in a Ferrari commercial filmed over three weeks in Sicily. Although his passion leans toward Lamborghini, working on this prestigious commercial was immensely rewarding.
Also in 2009, Riky was honored to be featured alongside business icons Richard Branson and Bill Gates in business journalist Jamie X Oliver’s book "Secret Of My Success" (ISBN 978-185458503-5) as one of the world's most successful businesspeople.
