Ricky Schroder

Ricky Schroder
April 13, 1970
Staten Island, NY

This Ram is as happy on the ranch as he is in the movies.

'I learned about ranching from old cowboys. I never intended to stay. But I fell in love with the ranch so much, eight years went by before I knew it.'

Ricky Schroder's Tarot Reading

Richard Bartlett Schroder, better known as Ricky Schroder, was a bona fide child star. His first photo shoot took place when he was three months old and his career took off from there. He was born on Staten Island to parents who had been together since junior high school. 'My father was a phone repairman for AT and T who worked his way up to management,' he recalls. 'My mother also worked for the phone company but quit after my sister and I were born.' His older sister, Dawn, has also tried her hand at acting and modeling. Unlike many child actors who found it difficult if not impossible to keep their careers going through adulthood, Ricky has made the transition successfully. But it took some time and a lot of faith, especially after he got talked into changing his name to Rick. It didn't stick and after several years he changed it back. In an interview with Carol Motsinger in USA Today he admitted, 'Rick never felt comfortable. It just felt like it wasn't me. It just felt like a guy who was too cool or something. I'm a little more nerdy. Ricky kind of encompasses all of me ....'

His first film was The Champ (1979) in which he played Jon Voight's son. The next year he appeared in The Last Flight of Noah's Ark, The Earthling with William Holden and Little Lord Fauntleroy. From 1982 to 1987 he played Ricky Stratton in the TV sitcom 'Silver Spoons.' In 1988 he had the role of Calvin Graham in Too Young the Hero and in 1989 played Newt Dobbs the TV mini-series 'Lonesome Dove.' In 1993 he portrayed John Thornton in the made-for-TV-movie Call of the Wild. He was in Crimson Tide (1995), followed by two more TV movies, Innocent Victims (1996) and Ebenezer (1997). In 1999 he played Jon Voight's son once again, this time in the mini-series 'Return to Lonesome Dove.' 1993 was a banner year for Ricky as he took on the role of Danny Sorenson, a cop on the TV series 'NYPD Blue.' He left the show in May 2001 to be with his family in time for the birth of his fourth child.

Among his many other acting credits are TV movie The Lost Battalion (2001) and the series 'Scrubs' (2003). He was in Poolhall Junkies in 2003 and Black Cloud in 2004. Next came 'Strong Medicine,' another TV series, from 2005 to 2006. In 2005, Ricky also tried his hand at directing with music video 'Whiskey Lullaby.' He won Director of the Year at the CMT Video Awards as well as the award for Best Music Video at the 2005 Nashville Film Festival. In 2007, he took on the role of CTU agent, Mike Doyle on Fox's smash hit series '24.' About this role he jokes, 'I have been a huge nerd to my kids. I haven't done the cool movies that they like. With '24,' I gained a lot of respect. '24' is now, it's hip, it's their generation.'

Sun in Aries tells us Ricky is a person who thrives on challenge. He believes in being totally honest, true to himself and to his own convictions. Honesty, integrity and authenticity are his bywords. He needs enough freedom to follow his own path and works very well independently. Carrying out another's will is not his style. He loves action and if others are settling into a rut, he is ready to stir things up. He is not afraid of trying something new and in the process may discover, invent or initiate things that others will later emulate. Taking risks and following his own star are essential for him. He is spontaneous, direct and enthusiastic. He believes in the power of positive thinking and regards himself as strong.

Mercury in Taurus means his mind operates in a very deliberate and methodical manner. He dislikes being coerced into giving an opinion before he has thoroughly digested an idea. Though slower to learn new skills, he is patient and persevering and becomes quite adroit at whatever he puts his hand to. He succeeds because he has the ability to concentrate and follow a project through to completion. Mercury conjunct Saturn indicates his mind is serious and deep. He has excellent powers of concentration and enjoys studying in solitude. He has an aptitude for research, which requires organized thinking, attention to detail and a methodical approach. He is conservative. In fact, he is a member of the National Rifle Association and in 2000 spoke at the Republican National Convention in support of George W. Bush. Socially, he can be rather reserved and somewhat uncomfortable with light, frivolous conversation. Mercury conjunct Venus/Saturn means he is very realistic in his world view.

Venus in Taurus tells us that in love, he is steadfast and loyal, especially if he has a warm, demonstrative partner. He is very attentive to the comfort and enjoyment of the one he loves. He is tremendously responsive to beauty and the physical attractiveness of his partner is very important to him. In 1991 he was working on the film Blood River when he met Andrea Bernard. As he remembers it, 'I thought she was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. And we became good friends. She's one of the only people I've ever been comfortable enough to just talk to and be myself. She's my first real adult love.' On September 26, 1992 he and Andrea were married. They have two sons and two daughters. Holden, named after actor William Holden, was born in 1992 and Luke was born the following year. Cambrie was born in 1997 and Faith Anne came along in 2001. In 1998, he and Andrea designed and built Mesa Mood Ranch in Grand Junction, Colorado, where they lived with their family for several years. In 2005 they sold that ranch and bought one in Topanga, California.

With Venus conjunct Saturn, intimacy does not come easily to Ricky and he may appear unfeeling to others due to his emotional reserve. Perhaps due to painful separations in his early life, he does not trust others easily and it takes him a long time to let down all of his barriers and defenses. He may feel that he has few friends or people that really care about him. As he told Tom Seligson of Parade Magazine, 'I left school in the third grade. I had a private tutor on the set. I always thought I had a problem socially, because I was pulled out of school so early. I had a tough time talking to other kids and being comfortable with them.'

Mars in Taurus shows that once he sets his mind on a goal, his determination and commitment to it are extraordinary. He pursues his ambitions tenaciously and will stubbornly refuse to give up. Like Aesop's tortoise, he labors patiently and steadfastly until he achieves what he wants. He is a reliable, consistent and productive worker who prefers a regular routine with definite hours and clearly defined responsibilities and tasks. He is interested in concrete results and solid, practical achievement. Says Ricky, 'I have a big thing about feeling productive. I love having a list of 32 things to do and I'll be done with it by Thursday. It feels good.' Mars opposition Neptune suggests that unless he has a goal that transcends personal gain, he is apt to become disoriented and uncertain of his direction in life. At his best, he will work for a larger cause and feel fulfilled through service to the whole. With Mars trine Pluto he has a strong sense of mission. His enthusiasm and clarity of purpose enable him to achieve whatever he aims for. He has a strong will, but is usually quiet and understated about it.

Jupiter in Scorpio indicates his strength lies in his unwillingness to settle for superficiality in any area of life. He is not afraid of experiencing the depths. The mysterious and the unknown are very attractive to him. His intuitive understanding of others' inner drives and motivations is highly developed as well. Jupiter opposition Sun/Mercury shows he has a jovial and friendly manner along with a sound emotional and mental disposition. His enthusiasm for life is contagious and he probably enjoys many happy relationships as well as a happy marriage and family life. Jupiter opposition Sun/Venus reveals he has an optimistic and positive outlook on life with a heart big enough to embrace the whole world. Subjects that deal with high-level thought appeal to him and he is always looking for ways to expand his horizon.

'I've been very blessed. My parents always told me I could be anything I wanted. When you grow up in a household like that, you learn to believe in yourself. Consequently, my ego and self-esteem have never been locked up just in acting. So, when I'm succeeding or failing, I'm still the same person. This is merely what I do. It's not who I am.'

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