Rick Springfield is an Australian-born singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and writer. He was the lead guitarist of the pop-rock band Zoot and started his solo career in 1972 after the group split up. As a solo artist, Springfield released his debut single, which was a top 10 hit in Australia, and also recorded his debut album Beginnings (1972), after which he moved to the United States.
After the release of his worldwide hit single “Jessie’s Girl”, which was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and also earned the singer a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, he came to the fore. The success of the single and her album was followed by several top 10 hits in the USA and two more Grammy nominations for the singer.
Read on to learn more about Rick Springfield Bio, Age, Wife (Barbara Porter), Net Worth, Is He Dead?
Rick Springfield Bio, Age
The singer Rick Springfield, best known under his stage name Rick Springfield, was born Richard Lewis Springthorpe on August 23, 1949, in Guildford, a suburb in the west of Sydney, Australia. His parents are Eileen Louise (née Evennett) and Norman James Springthorpe, an army officer. He learned to play the guitar as a teenager and then played in various bands in his home country and also in England. In September 1969 Springfield joined Melbourne-based pop-rock band Zoot as lead guitarist and backing vocalist. He also wrote several hit singles for the group during their 2-year career.
Rick Springfield began his solo career in October 1971 when he was signed to Sparmac Records. His first solo track “Speak to the Sky” reached its peak at number 5 on the Australian Go-Set singles charts. In 1972 he recorded his first studio album “Beginnings”, after which he moved to the United States.
Springfield was bought by Columbia Records in 1973 and with them, he released his second album Comic Book Heroes. The multi-talented musician also lent his voice to a character in the animated series Mission: Magic! He released 2 more albums Mission: Magie! (1974) and Wait for Night (1976), after which he shifted his attention to acting.
ALSO READ: Who is John Boyega, What is His Net Worth, Age, Height, Who is The Girlfriend?
In 1981, Springfield returned to music with a bang with the release of a fifth album, Working Class Dog. The long wait paid off, as Working Class Dog reached number 7 on the Billboard 200 and also included the world-hit single “Jessie’s Girl”, which led the US Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks.
The album also included a top 10 cover version of Sammy Hagar‘s “I’ve Done Everything for You”. Jessie’s Girl won Springfield a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, and the single remains his biggest hit to date.
Since then, Springfield has released several other successful albums. He received a second Grammy nomination for the single “I Get Excited,” which is included in Success Hasn’t Spoiled Me Yet (1982), followed by a third nomination for “Affair of the Heart,” which is included in his album Living in Oz (1983).
Also as an actor, Rick Springfield is best known for his role as Dr. Noah Drake in the long-running medical drama General Hospital and for a starring role in the series High Tide (1994-1997). He also played the lead role and recorded the soundtrack for the movie Hard to Hold (1984). Springfield also had a guest role in the 3rd season of the successful comedy-drama series Californication (2009). Recently he played a recurring role as Vince Vincente/Lucifer in the 12th season of the dark fantasy series Supernatural (2016).
Who is Rick Springfield’s Wife?
Rick Springfield is currently married to his wife Barbara Porter, who is over three decades old. The couple met in 1981 when the singer was recording his fifth album in the same studio where Porter worked as a receptionist. They dated each other for several years and finally formed the bond of marriage on October 27, 1984. They have 2 children together. Their first son, Liam, was born in 1985 and their second son, Joshua, was born in 1989.
ALSO READ: Who Is Mischa Barton Dating? Her Boyfriend, Husband And Net Worth
Net Worth
Since he shot into the limelight in 1981, Rick Springfield has remained consistent in his music career. 4 of his more than 20 albums have achieved platinum certification, coupled with several sold-out concerts and tours. The multi-talented singer and actor currently has an estimated net worth of $12 million as of 2024.
Is Rick Springfield Dead?
Rick Springfield is very much alive and well. However, the Australian-born musician and actor has revealed his long struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts. According to Springfield, he made his first suicide attempt at the age of 16, and his struggle with depression continued even when he was at the height of his career. He has also described his lifelong struggle with depression and his coping mechanisms in his well-known memoirs Late, Late at Night: a memoir published in October 2010.
