Patricia Richardson - Beyond "Home Improvement" Quiz

Answer: 1

Patricia directed one episode ("Neighbors") during the eighth season of "Home Improvement". The episode was originally broadcast in the United States on March 16, 1999, and was Pat's first venture into the directorial arena.

Answer: 4

Although she never won the coveted award, Patricia received four Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (1994, 1996, 1997 and 1998). Patricia's work on "Home Improvement" also earned her two Golden Globe nominations for Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series - Comedy/Musical (1994 and 1995).

Answer: Riptide

Patricia played Beth McConnell on "Double Trouble", her first regular television role. "Double Trouble" was a 1984 mid-season replacement series on NBC; the show was canceled during its second season in 1985 after filming a total of 23 episodes. In 1988, Pat portrayed Kay "K. K." Dunne on the CBS series "Eisenhower and Lutz", which was canceled after only 13 episodes. Her last regular television role prior to "Home Improvement" was as Lee-Ann Plunkett on the 1989 NBC series "FM", another 13-episode failure.

"Riptide" was an NBC action series starring Perry King, Joe Penny and Thom Bray. The trio worked together as private detectives, headquartered on a boat from King Harbour (Redondo Beach) in Los Angeles. "Riptide" ran for three seasons from 1984 to 1986, but Patricia never appeared on the show.

Answer: Andy Campbell

When Patricia joined the cast of "Strong Medicine" as Dr. Andy Campbell, her character was hired to replace Dr. Dana Stowe (portrayed by Janine Turner during the first two seasons of the series). Rosa Blasi played Dr. Luisa "Lu" Magdalena Delgado. Jenifer Lewis filled the supporting role of Lana Hawkins, the receptionist.

The series centered around a women's clinic at Rittenhouse Hospital in Philadelphia, founded by Dr. Luisa Delgado.

Answer: Arby's

Pat did voice-overs for several Arby's commercials in 2000. Earlier in her career, she also made commercials for Frito-Lay (Ruffles potato chips) and McNeil-PPC (o.b. tampons) during the 1980s.

Arby's is a fast food chain specializing in roast beef sandwiches and other non-hamburger fare. The chain was founded in Ohio in 1964 by two brothers, Forrest and Leroy Raffle, and has since grown to over 3,000 restaurants worldwide. The name of the chain was devised from "R.B.", the initials for "Raffel Brothers".

Answer: Ulee's Gold

Patricia appeared in all four films. "Ulee's Gold" was her first lead role in a motion picture, and she starred opposite Peter Fonda (Ulysses "Ulee" Jackson). The film was written, directed and edited by noted independent filmmaker Victor Nunez. Pat's performance in "Ulee's Gold" earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Female.

In a review published in the "Chicago Sun-Times" newspaper, film critic Roger Ebert wrote, "The scenes between Fonda and Richardson are charged with quiet tension."

Answer: Keanu Reeves

Patricia appeared with Bruce Willis in the motion picture "In Country", and with Donald Sutherland in the film "Lost Angels". Both were released in the United States in 1989, before Pat attained stardom on "Home Improvement".

The 2001 release "Viva Las Nowhere" (also known by the alternate video title "Dead Simple") was the second film in which Pat shared the screen with Daniel Stern. Many years earlier, they also appeared together in "C.H.U.D.", a 1984 sci-fi/horror cult thriller.

Answer: Gypsy

After graduating from Southern Methodist University in 1973 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, Patricia moved to New York to pursue her theatrical career. Her first audition landed her the understudy role as Gypsy Rose Lee in the Angela Lansbury production "Gypsy".

During this era of her career, Patricia had numerous roles in both Broadway and off-Broadway productions. Her stage credits include "Cruise Control", "Hooters", "Loose Ends", "Vanities", "The Miss Firecracker Contest", and "The Wake of Jamey Foster".

Answer: Henry, and twins Roxanne and Joseph

Patricia's son Henry was born in 1985; her twins Roxanne and Joseph were born in 1991. Pat and Ray married in June of 1982, and were divorced in August of 1995.

During their married years, Patricia and Ray appeared together in the 1984 science fiction thriller "C.H.U.D." and in a 1989 TV movie, "Parent Trap III". Baker also made an uncredited appearance on "Home Improvement", portraying a building inspector in the 1991 episode "The Eve of Construction".

Answer: Castle

Pat was born Patricia Castle Richardson on February 23, 1951 in Bethesda, Maryland. She was the third of four sisters. Her father was an aviator in the United States Navy, and by her own description, Patricia spent her childhood living the life of a "Navy brat".