Biography
Richard-John Seikaly, (R-J) was born in Syracuse, New York, to Claudine Saunal and Richard Seikaly. He is of French, Lebanese, Italian, Palestinian, Greek, and Native American-Incan-Andean-Peruvian descent. He is fluent in French and a novice in Arabic and Spanish. He holds dual citizenship with the U.S and France. He grew up in the Washington D.C. area, where he found his true passion for acting.
R-J has always been drawn to the cathartic experience of film and theatre. During his final semester in Business School at American University in Washington D.C., he performed in his first role on stage in Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing". This earned him an encouraging review from the Washington Post, citing Seikaly as delivering "A very strong performance".
He then moved to New York City after being accepted into the Actors Studio MFA program at Pace University. There, he developed his stage work, culminating with his thesis performance as "Edmund Tyrone" in Eugene O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey into Night".
R-J became a lifetime member of the Actors Studio following a final audition before a panel headed by Academy Award Winner, Ellen Burstyn. He's also a member of The Actor's Gym, led by Academy Award Winner, Bobby Moresco.
R-J instinctively brings the depths of his layered characters to life through his vulnerability and strength. He has starred in several independent films, one of which earned him a Best Actor nomination in a leading role, for the film "Soulmates". In Television, credits include NCIS: LA.
In Theatre, on the New York stage, he starred in "Macbeth" directed by Geoffrey Horne and Alec Baldwin with Shakespeare Downtown. On the Los Angeles stage, he starred in "No Exit" by Jean-Paul Sartre at the Lee Strasberg Institute. He also appeared in the world premiere of "The Spanish Prayer Book" by Angela Davis at the Road Theatre Company.
In recent times, he's consistently rehearsing his passion project, Shakespeare's "Hamlet", at The Actors Studio, with the past and present guidance of luminary mentors, Penny Allen, Elizabeth Kemp, Lou Antonio, Martin Landau, Alec Baldwin, Estelle Parsons, and Ellen Burstyn.
