Born in Sydney, NSW, Australia. After leaving school, he joined the ABC in Sydney with hopes of emulating his father, Jack Bruce, who worked as a cinematographer in Hollywood for Cecil B. De Mille and the Famous Lansky Players. However, the only opening at the time was in editing. He fell in love with the craft and spent 15 years with the ABC working on various current affairs and other programs before getting into drama. He left the ABC to work on the feature GOODBYE PARADISE (1983) before going on to CAREFUL, HE MIGHT HEAR YOU (also 1983) and Kennedy Miller's "The Dismissal" (1983, TV mini-series) and MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME (1985). It was through George Miller's studio film THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK (1987) that Richard was introduced to Hollywood. He again worked for Miller on his 1992 film LORENZO'S OIL. Richard got the job on THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994) over 30 of Hollywood's best editors because the producer had a similar background (at the BBC) and took a liking to him. In June/July 1996 Richard visited Australia for the first time in four years and during that time spoke at a seminar at the Australian Film Television and Radio School entitled "Frame By Frame," where he took the audience cut by cut through every aspect of the production of SE7EN (1995). He was also interviewed for the ABC- TV program "Review". Richard was also nominated for the Eddies (American Cinema Editor's Awards) for his work on SHAWSHANK and SE7EN, and in 1997 Richard was invited to become a member of the American Cinema Editors - a rare honour. In 1998 he received his third Oscar® nomination for his work on AIR FORCE ONE, a fact which attracted considerable attention by the Australian TV and press. However, although it was hoped he would be third time lucky, the Oscar went to the blockbuster of the year TITANIC (1997). Other notable (non-nominated) credits include DEAD CALM (1989), CADILLAC MAN (1990), SLIVER (1993), SPEECHLESS (1994), THE ROCK (1996), INSTINCT (1997), THE GREEN MILE (1999), THE PERFECT STORM (2000), HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE (2001), THE ITALIAN JOB (2003), THE FORGOTTEN (2004), GHOST RIDER (2007), DAVID & FATIMA (2008), and REPOSSESSION MAMBO (scheduled for 2009).  Nominated for Achievement in Film Editing 1994: THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION  Nominated for Achievement in Film Editing 1995: SE7EN  Nominated for Achievement in Film Editing 1997: AIR FORCE ONE 3 nominations