This article is about the character. For the mission, see Mr. Richards.
Solomon Richards is a character in the Grand Theft Auto series, appearing as a main character in Grand Theft Auto V and a supporting character in Grand Theft Auto Online.
He is voiced by Joel Rooks.
History[]
Background[]
Solomon Richards is a successful Vinewood film producer and the owner of Richards Majestic Productions, a film company he inherited from his father, classic Vinewood producer David Richards, in 1978. Solomon began his career as an associate producer on his father's movies, though he later began to produce his own and eventually gained fame during the late 1970s and early 1980s for making commercially successful but artistically mediocre movies, in sharp contrast with his father's critically acclaimed projects.
He had a complicated work relationship with one of his father's lead starlets, Leonora Johnson, because she considered him a "hack" and refused to complete work on a film Solomon was producing, due to "artistic differences". This great dislike for Leonora eventually made Solomon one of the lead suspects for her murder (which in reality had been committed by Peter Dreyfuss), but he was never charged due to lack of evidence.
By 2013, during the events of Grand Theft Auto V, Solomon's studio has run into financial difficulty after the economic failure of some of his more recent productions. Tired of the movie business, Solomon seeks to recover his studio's prestige and successfully retire after making one final movie: Meltdown.
Events of Grand Theft Auto V[]
Solomon is introduced to Michael De Santa by their mutual contact, billionaire holdings investor Devin Weston, who is also a major shareholder in Richards' production company. Michael, a big fan of Solomon's work, agrees to help his idol complete his swansong picture. Solomon tells Michael that his lead actor, Milton McIlroy, and his director, Anton Beaudelaire, have left production after being persuaded to sign up with former gangster Rocco Pelosi's management firm and Rocco is trying to force Richards to pay him off to get his lead and his director back. At Solomon's request, Michael tracks down and beats up Rocco to get him to back off and then successfully intimidates Milton and Anton into returning to the set.
Some time later, Rocco and his partner, Gianni, confront Solomon at his studio and assault him, trying to force him to pay them off. However, they get caught by Michael, who chases them out of the studio and eventually kills them both.
Solomon manages to complete the film, but he gets betrayed by Weston, who decides to shut down the studio and the production in order to cash in on the insurance and so that he can sell the studio property and develop it into luxury condos. Weston gives the analogue copy of the film to his attorney, Molly Schultz, as she leaves the city so that she can dispose of it, but Michael follows her to the airport and attempts to recover the film, scaring Molly (who believes Michael is trying to kill her) and causing her to accidentally get sucked into a jet engine. The film is left undamaged and Michael manages to recover it, only to later discover that Solomon shot several digital copies just in case, which Michael was not aware of.
Following the Molly incident, Solomon and Michael attend the premiere of Meltdown, but Michael misses it to save his family after Weston sent a platoon of his Merryweather soldiers to his home to kill them. Meltdown receives a mixed critical response, but is popular with audiences and becomes the biggest box office hit of Solomon's career.
Events of Grand Theft Auto Online[]
Los Santos Summer Special[]
In August 2020, Solomon suddenly texts the GTA Online Protagonist telling them that his office has been raided, and with no faith in the capabilities of the LSPD, urges them to come take a look. Once there, he sends a follow-up message asking the Protagonist to help find his stolen Movie Props and deliver them back to his studio. After all ten Movies Props have been returned, Solomon sends a final message thanking the protagonist for their help and telling them that he has left them a gift "money can't buy" in his office, and makes no further appearance.
Films Produced[]
- Nelson in Naples (1968)
- High School! (1969)
- Rum Runner (1973)
- An American Divorce (1978)
- Vinewood Zombie (1981)
- Lions & Donkeys (1984)
- The Shoulder of Orion II (1992)
- Arthur Penny's Sanitorium (1994)
- The Welshman
- Deep Inside (2013)
- Meltdown (2013)
Mission Appearances[]
Grand Theft Auto V[]
- Mr. Richards (Boss)
- Minor Turbulence (Post-mission phone call)
- Monkey Business (Post-mission phone call)
- Fresh Meat (Post-mission phone call)
- The Ballad of Rocco (Boss)
- Reuniting the Family (Post-mission phone call)
- Legal Trouble (Boss)
- Meltdown (Boss; Post-mission phone call)
- Something Sensible (Option A; Post-mission phone call)
- The Third Way (Option C; Post-mission phone call)
Grand Theft Auto Online[]
Los Santos Summer Special[]
- Movie Props (Boss/Phone messages)
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Michael De Santa can call Solomon after the completion of several missions. Solomon starts every phone call with a quote from one of his movies, Michael will then name the movie, and Solomon will ask how Michael is doing or tell him how the production of a movie is doing.
- If called after Minor Turbulence, Solomon asks Michael if he has gone to rehab, since he just disappeared from the city, Michael replies that he needed to leave Los Santos for a while. Solomon thanks Michael for making Anton and Milton cooperate with the movie, saying that both of them have been working without complaining, and also says that Michael's help is essential to finish the movie, which leaves Michael very happy. Michael finishes the call saying that he will try to visit the studio as soon as possible.
- If called after Monkey Business, he will use a phrase from the movie High School!, he also mentions that he is in Liberty City receiving a lifetime award.
- If called after Meltdown, he will use a phrase from the movie Meltdown, Michael will not recognise the quote but also mention that working for Solomon was the best thing that ever happened in his life.
- If called after Something Sensible, or The Third Way, he will use a phrase from the movie Arthur Penny's Sanitorium. He will also ask Michael if he knows anyone who can fund their next movie, because the robbery at the Union Depository messed with their economy. Michael says that he "knows the perfect guy" and invites Solomon for dinner so they can talk more about it.
- Richards appears to be based on Gene Hackman's character Harry Zimm from the 1995 movie Get Shorty; both have a dusty office filled with movie memorabilia, produce mostly science-fiction and horror B-movies, and become involved with criminals.
- Sometimes when switching to Michael, he might be a block away from his house arguing with a restaurant bouncer and saying: "I don't know him, I work with him!" or coming out saying: "Great lunch amigo!". This is a possible reference to Solomon.
- His contact/phone number is 328-555-0123.
- His Los Santos Summer Special picture shows him wearing a wedding ring.