Richard Jay Potash (June 26, 1946 – November 24, 2018) was an American actor, magician, cardsharp, and film consultant. Ricky's love and deep study of card tricks and deception gained him worldwide fame and respect, and he was often called in to consult for movies and TV shows where deception was a key element of the story. Ricky was an exceptional close-up magician and playing-card handler, but he also acted in movies such as Boogie Nights, Tomorrow Never Dies, and Magnolia, as well as TV shows like the X-Files, HBO's Deadwood, and David Mamet's The Unit, always playing intense characters who seemed to know everything but only handed out information in riddles and suggestions.

Filmography

• 2016The Automatic Hate — Uncle Josh
• Sneaky Pete — T.H. Vignetti
• Getting On — Thoracic Surgeon
• Teen Titans Go! — Narrator (voice)
• 2010Lost Masterpieces of Pornography — Narrator
• FlashForward — Man in Warehouse
• Lie to Me — Mason Brock
• 2009The Brothers Bloom — Narrator (voice)
• 2008Redbelt — Marty Brown
• 2008The Great Buck Howard — Gil Bellamy
• 2007Ricky Jay Plays Poker — Self, Executive Producer, Writer
• 2006The Prestige — Milton
• The Unit — Agent Kern
• 2005Last Days — Detective
• Deadwood — Eddie Sawyer, Writer
• 2001Heartbreakers — Dawson's Auctioneer
• 2001Heist — Don 'Pinky' Pincus
• 2000State and Main — Jack
• 1999Magnolia — Burt Ramsey / Narrator
• 1999Mystery Men — Vic Weems
• 1997Boogie Nights — Kurt Longjohn
• 1997Sink Or Swim — The Hat
• 1997The Spanish Prisoner — George Lang
• The Story of Magic — Host
• 1997Tomorrow Never Dies — Henry Gupta
• 1996Hustlers, Hoaxsters, Pranksters, Jokesters and Ricky Jay
• 1996Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants — Self, Writer
• 1995The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky — Hawkes
• The X-Files — The Amazing Maleeni / Herman Pinchbeck / Albert Pinchbeck
• Ring of the Musketeers — Kerns
• 1992The Water Engine — Ratty Inventor
• 1991Homicide — Aaron
• 1990Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women — Writer
• The Simpsons — Ricky Jay (voice)
• 1988Things Change — Mr. Silver
• 1987House of Games — George
• 1976Doug Henning's World of Magic

Appearances as themselves (15)

• 2017Dai Vernon: The Spirit of Magic — Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon — Self
• 2012Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay — Self
• Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood — Self
• 2007David Mamet on House of Games — Himself
• 2005David Mamet on 'House of Games' — Himself
• 2004Incident at Loch Ness — Self - Party Guest
• 2004The Making of Last Days — Himself
• 2000That Moment: Magnolia Diary — Self
• Muppets Tonight — Self
• The Paul Daniels Magic Show — Self
• Doug Henning's World of Magic — Self
• Saturday Night Live — Self / Patron
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson — Self
• The Mike Douglas Show — Self