Richie Valdovinos

Richie Valdovinos is a main character in the Paramount+ original series, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies. He is portrayed by Johnathan Nieves.

Richie is the boss of the T-Birds, Rydell High's gang of greasers.

Biography[]

Richie Valdovinos was born to Raul and Irene Valdovinos. He is the brother of Olivia. During his high school years, Richie founded the T-Birds with his best friend Gil Rizzo. They were joined by fellow friends Potato and Shy Guy.

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies[]

In "We're Gonna Rule the School", Olivia honked her way into a parking spot at the drive-in theatre. She signaled for the T-Birds to get out. The gang emerged from the trunk and backseat in spades. She talked to her brother Richie who assured her no one remembered last year. He gave her money for peanuts. Cynthia drove up on her dirt bike and joined the T-Birds in song.

After the song, Cynthia waved around a bottle of alcohol and offered to ditch the passion pit for real fun, but the gang shot her down. They wanted to prowl for girls; the first to get a girl won the keys to the car. Susan arrived and asked Richie to buy her a soda. Gil dropped the keys into Richie's expectant hand. They settled across the lot where Richie shared his plans for the future with a clueless Susan, who then noticed Buddy and laughed dramatically at Richie's words. Richie and Susan later made out in his car but he stopped her so they could watch the romantic part of the movie.

The next morning, Olivia walked to school with the T-Birds, who gossiped about Jane, and Cynthia joined them. Richie commented on Olivia's good mood. She decided to stop worrying about what everyone said and lean into it. She removed her long jacket to reveal a vibrant outfit. He tried to cover her with his jacket but she wanted to find out what everyone would say. She sauntered into the school as boys catcalled her.

The T-Birds burst through the corridor of Rydell and peeped up Jane's skirt as she hung the banner, which shocked her. Gil remarked that under her skirt is NYC's biggest tourist attraction. She grabbed hold of Richie to ask him what people said and learned the extent of the salacious rumors. He ditched when Susan called out to him.

Richie walked along the football field and bleachers when Susan approached him. He tried to brush her off but froze when he saw Jane under the bleachers. Susan wanted him to ask her out but he couldn't, because kissing her was “like going through a car wash without a car!”. She screamed, called him despicable, then ran to her fellow Socs. She lied that she had one soda with him to be nice and now he won't leave her alone. Richie, the T-Birds, Olivia, and Cynthia stalked over as Richie argued that Susan flipped the roles. Neil didn't believe Susan would associate with low-life dirty greasers or “their whore sisters”, which provoked Richie to attack Neil. Jane intervened before it could escalate and told everyone what she saw. She reasoned with Susan that someone could get hurt. Susan admitted that she exaggerated a little. The Rangers mocked the T-Birds as the groups dispersed.

In a garage, the T-Birds plotted revenge against the Rangers for the disrespect at the football field. Cynthia announced she wanted to be a T-Bird, but they laughed at her. She gave her case and offered an initiation; she would get them revenge. She led them in a performance of “New Cool” that took them from shop class to a warehouse. After it ended, Cynthia explained to Gil that they would interrupt the pep rally that night. If they pull it off, she would get her own T-Birds jacket. Richie agreed and joked that if they pulled it off, he'll give her his.

The T-Birds arrived at the pep rally that night. The band and cheerleaders took center stage under a banner that read “THIS YEAR, RYDELL GOES ALL THE WAY”. Jane took the stage in the front as a baton twirler under their banner. When the cheerleaders pulled a rope meant to mark their grand finish, a second banner covered the words "THIS YEAR, RYDELL" and replaced it with "JANE FACCIANO", which humiliated the girl and her family. The T-Birds arrived wearing mascot costumes to orchestrate their prank. They stood in front of the band and mooned the audience. Unfortunately, Cynthia's mascot's head fell off, which exposed her identity. She made a distraction while the T-Birds fled the scene.

The student body headed to Frosty Palace afterward, and the Rydell Review asked the T-Birds for a comment about their actions that night. They played it coy until Cynthia arrived having escaped McGee and taken the fall for them. They thanked her and she eagerly asked about her jacket. Gil and Richie explained that the T-Birds just got their respect back and couldn't let a girl in now. Shy Guy insisted they wanted her to pal around with them still, but Cynthia pretended it was fine.

The student body gathered at the Rydell High auditorium for the student council candidacy assembly. Richie and the T-Birds joked around during Buddy's speech, but paid attention when Jane unexpectedly decided to give a speech. Olivia shouted her endorsement from the side of the auditorium. Susan corrected that Olivia couldn't endorse her if she wasn't running. Cynthia seconded the endorsement as she thought Jane should run for something. Nancy thirded the movement and the four girls stood on stage together. The crowd booed and called them tramps. McGee threatened to give them all detention if they didn't stop. Jane decided to run for president. Most of the crowd booed, though for the theater kids, outcasts, nerds, and Dot, until Susan corrected her, clapped for Jane. Cynthia shouted “Vote for Jane!” and then mooned the audience. Nancy, Olivia, and Jane, followed Cynthia's gesture. Susan shouted it was indecent, a gay student said it was fantastic, Potato developed a sudden interest in politics, and Gil wanted to register. Richie yelled for the boys not to look at his sister and tried to corral them. The girls gave parting words as they fled the stage with everyone in pursuit. Cynthia snagged the keys to the T-Birds car from under the rim and tossed them to Olivia, who drove them away. Gil protested over his stolen car while Richie chuckled as he taught her that.

In "Too Pure to Be Pink", the T-Birds sarcastically knelt to a hall monitor, then blocked the girls from passing through. Gil demanded which one of them would pay for a new paint job for his car. They laughed him off but he insisted until Olivia said she'd pay for it, and he told her that he'd get it. Shy Guy complimented Cynthia for her headline while Potato mocked the girl gang. Everyone dispersed except Richie and Jane. He acknowledged that what she said took guts - and it wasn't a bad show, either. Gil laughed then led Potato and Shy Guy down the hall to knock books out of people's hands and run from hall monitors.

Jane practiced her speech in front of her detention mates - the T-Birds. Gil called it shrill, Shy Guy thought she sounded jealous, and Potato wasn't paying attention. Richie liked it but he didn't vote. She sat down with Olivia, Cynthia, and Nancy to discuss new jacket and name ideas. Cynthia drew a line at pink so the girls redirected to find a way to expose Buddy. Miss McGee entered and reprimanded the girls for their behavior but didn't bother with the boys. Cynthia faked severe stomach pain so the others could get out. Jane tried to get into Buddy's locker and Richie startled her to ask if she wanted a key.

He led her to the principal's office as she tried to convince him she didn't usually do this type of thing. He took her hand and led her into the office where he grabbed the keys. Principal Nicholson arrived so Richie and Jane hid behind his door. He listened to the radio and then answered a call from the Superintendent, and blamed Miss McGee for the missing budgets. He hurried out and closed his door behind him. Richie and Jane lingered for a moment until she held up the keys and left.

Jane and Richie tried to open Buddy's locker to no avail. He admitted they might be the classroom keys. He spun her around, removed her barrette, and then guided her hand to pick the lock. Buddy's locker was barren except for a picture of a pro-MLB player, a schedule for the soup kitchen, a birthday card, a non-overdue library book, and a note that Richie found addressed to Jane. She walked off and he stole the library book, locked the locker, and mused that the book was overdue now.

That night, the Socs party was crashed by the T-Birds and the four girls. Dot allowed them to stay and gave the house rules to everyone. Gil called the house fat, but Potato thought it looked smart. Dot's father was the colonel from Colonel Candy, which made her the candy princess. Neil called for everyone to gather to spin the bottle. Cynthia took control of the game as the game master. Different people kissed with varied degrees of intensity. Jane spun and it landed on both Buddy and Richie, so Cynthia ruled Chef's choice. Jane picked Buddy for seven minutes in heaven, which angered Susan and disappointed Richie, but Cynthia allowed it. Cynthia pantsed Gil when he went to kiss Olivia which created a tense situation. Richie decided it was time to split and offered Olivia a ride, but she wanted to wait for Jane.

The next morning at school, the hall doors opened and Susan's mouth dropped, followed by shocked murmurs from the student body. Jane, Olivia, Nancy, and Cynthia strutted down the hall in their pink jackets. Cynthia snubbed the T-Birds, Olivia didn't glance at Mr. Daniels, Jane smirked at Buddy, and Nancy pushed a smiling Richie out of the way. He combed back his hair and watched the girls strut down the hall, their new name visible on the backs - The Pink Ladies.

In "So This Is Rydell?", the T-Birds and Pink Ladies picked Jane up from her house on the way to school. Olivia showed Jane the “Vote Pink” pins that she made and kissed with her lipstick. Gil wanted one for personal use, which earned a shove from Olivia and a shout from Richie. Jane asked her to be a campaign manager and Olivia agreed.

After school, the T-Birds and Pink Ladies went to the Frosty Palace where they talked about the dance, though none of them would typically go. Jane asked Richie if anything would make him go, and he said better tunes. She ran to the radio and offered to throw another dance that even Richie Valdovinos would go to.

The next day, the student body went to Frosty Palace where the students appealed to Jane about their issues. Dot screamed when Jim Johnson arrived. He was there to see Jane as he wanted to do a broadcast about the Rydell High School student election. The show would star Buddy and Jane. Susan and Olivia quickly agreed on behalf of their fellow campaigners. Jane was overwhelmed and Richie noticed, so he offered to get Gil's wheels for them. Olivia interrupted and pulled Jane to the car.

The trio drove home as the Valdovinos siblings pitched their ideas for things Jane could implement. Richie learned Jane was Puerto Rican, but she clarified that she was half, then told Richie to drop her off at the curb. He refused as he offered door-to-door service and followed her to the porch while Olivia watched from the car. He admitted he would like to go to her dance but with her. She smiled but Kitty interrupted before Jane could answer.

Richie turned his television on to watch Jane's debate, and shushed his loud family. Jane choked up on the debate and made herself appear unintelligent. She went home, upset, when she heard clinking on the window and opened it to see Olivia, Richie, Cynthia, and Nancy on her lawn with the T-Birds car. The girls didn't have to give the jacket back as Jane knew she let them down, which wasn't in question. Olivia called an emergency campaign meeting which meant Jane would have to sneak out. Richie shouted up that it was their tia's birthday so there was a party, and asked if she would leave him hanging again.

They arrived at the Valdovinos' home which was filled with family. Irene was thrilled to meet Jane, Rydell's first female president who was also Mexican, though Richie clarified she was half Puerto Rican. Jane fumbled over Spanish as she didn't know much, then rambled until Richie invited her to dance. Olivia pulled Jane aside to talk first. After a while, Richie interrupted and pulled Jane out to dance. He encouraged her to not worry about how she was supposed to do it and just go for it, so she did. Cynthia and Nancy stumbled out, drunk. Everyone danced happily to the music and laughed together. Jane danced with Richie then pulled him into the hall where she kissed him twice.

The next day, Jane, the T-Birds, Pink Ladies, and Hazel approached Buddy and the Socs at the Frosty Palace to demand a rematch. Susan refused on his behalf as there was no point, he had already won. It would have to be now as Nancy convinced her parents to close early. Kitty arrived and asked what was going on, and Jane admitted she wanted a second chance at the debate. She was grateful to her mom but had to be herself. She approached Buddy and asked for the debate, and he agreed. They sang their debate in “Take The Wheel” until Buddy fell off a counter and broke his arm. Jane rushed to his side until Susan pushed her away, and Olivia pulled her to the door. Jane offered Hazel a ride, but the girl refused. The T-Birds and Pink Ladies hurried out of the Frosty Palace.

In "If You Can't Be an Athlete, Be an Athletic Supporter", Richie greeted Jane in the halls of school, but she wasn't chipper as everyone blamed her for everything. He knew that feeling well, and she wanted to remind people why they didn't want to vote for Buddy. The Pink Ladies talked her out of it, as Cynthia knew it was classless, while Olivia ordered her to do nothing. They bumped into Miss. McGee and Richie scurried off.

By the afternoon, the entire class read Olivia's scathing response. They loved the response and praised the Pink Ladies in their own ways. Jane thanked Olivia for saying everything she couldn't. Miss. McGee responded on the intercom that, in the interest of impartiality, they would institute a brand-new dress code for everyone. Boys will be required to wear long-sleeved button-up shirts, no sneakers, no T-shirts, no dungarees. Ladies will be required to wear skirts below the knee and shirts up to the neck. No tight clothing or loud colors. Most importantly, to end divisions, they banned jackets. The class quickly turned on Jane, with even Gil annoyed.

The next day, Jane found the T-Birds in the stairwell, and Richie tried to hide from her. She thought he made a nice square and they flirted. She offered to cut class so he could teach her how to do nothing. He snapped his fingers and Gil gave him the car keys. The pair snuck out of the school.

Jane and Richie hung out at the park, though Jane couldn't unwind because of her nerves and anxieties. Richie helped her calm down, not to care about everything so much, and they sang their troubles away in “Carelessly”. They danced through the park, went on the swings and the roundabout, then ended their romantic endeavor with a kiss.

Richie and Jane ate lunch at the Frosty Palace. He distracted her with algebra while he stole a Socs wallet to pay for food. He wanted to hear her dreams, and she narrowed it down to doctor, professor, senator, and/or first woman on the supreme court. He wanted to go to India to see what there was to see. He wanted to travel all around the world and pulled her out to dance. She thought it was wonderful he wanted to travel, but he didn't want to join the military, and never gave much thought to college. He wasn't serious about his dream, but she was and told her to get off his back. She had homework to do and they planned to meet up at the game. She stormed off while Richie combed his hair.

During the game, Miss. McGee took the students' jackets, flasks, bullhorns, and whistles. She collected the jackets in a bin. The T-Birds hopped a wall to get into the game. Richie looked over to Jane who averted her eyes. The mascot Rowdy walked onto the field and saw their love for the mascot. She did a little dance before the game. Wally was tackled shortly after the snap and the Titans scored a touchdown. The T-Birds booed loudly and drank from their flask, while Nancy tried to keep everyone's spirits high as the Rangers lost. McGee helped Nancy escape the pelt of food from the stands.

The Pink Ladies made a scene at the track but no one listened. Nancy stole a megaphone from the cheerleaders while Cynthia corralled Susan. Olivia was tired of how the administration pitted them against each other, and took a megaphone to rile up the student body in “Pointing Fingers”. The T-Birds and band joined in first, slowly followed by the rest of the students. Gil stole the basket full of jackets and dispersed the jackets out to everyone. They ended their number with a march to Vice Principal McGee and Principal Nicholson and ended with a flip of their middle fingers.

That night, the T-Birds hung out in the parking lot of the Frosty Palace. Richie spotted Jane and the Pink Ladies and hurried over to her. They both apologized for the day while their friends laughed. A glare from each set them in their places. He liked that she was a dog with a bone, and thought being different was what made it fun. They both needed a little of what the other had. He offered to cut class tomorrow to explore their differences, but she hated missing class. But she has hall monitoring tomorrow and slipped him a hall pass that he could return to her in the broom closet during the second period. He walked away suave and she imitated his signature comb move. He showed off the hall pass to the T-Birds who cheered.

Rydell High School watched a video about what to do when an atomic bomb hits. The T-Birds were excited to light up the sky with the fireworks hidden in Richie's jacket. Olivia scolded them against pranks at the drive-in as she wanted to watch the movie. Gil asked her to watch it next to him. She pushed him back to his seat and agreed. She told Nancy that Gil would give them a ride, so Potato eagerly joined in. Jane was worried something bad might happen at the drive-in and led the student body in a song about their impending dooms and how they couldn't predict when an atomic bomb would land in their lives. After the presentation, Richie moved into the seat next to Jane and she told him to pick her up for the drive-in. He agreed, but said they had to talk that night and left.

At the drive-in, Richie and Jane made out in his car which messed up his hair, so he fixed it as they laughed. They talked about the election and he planned to help her make the changes she wanted - they were going to rule the school together. He wanted to talk to her about that. They were good together and he liked her more than any other girl he's ever met, but became flustered when he accidentally brought up his mom and his sisters. He started to take off his jacket to give it to her but she stopped him just as an evil laugh came from the screen. It was Dot and another student advertising a party on Sparrow Lane to show why it would be “Insane to Vote for Jane”. The Pink Ladies hurried over and came up with a plan to crash the Socs party. Cynthia and Shy Guy followed Richie on their bikes, though he was behind because his bike wouldn't start.

Once at the party, the T-Birds showed off their stock to the Pink Ladies, which included eggs, toilet paper, and a water line through the window, and with enough time, could disassemble Buddy's car and reassemble it on the roof. Jane thought they could get into the party and figure it out from there. Nancy held up the costumes she made as they would serve as disguises for each of them. Richie and the guys wanted to sneak around back, but Jane suggested they stay outside to drive the getaway cars. Potato managed to make a disguise so he joined Nancy indoors.

Richie and Gil lazily egged and TP a car. Richie wanted to egg the school, TP McGee's and set off fireworks at Nicholson's. Gil wanted to do McGee's last for traffic. Shy Guy came over with empty egg cartons and TP rolls. Richie was annoyed as the T-Birds were supposed to be Kings on Halloween, but they missed the girls. Gil took off his jacket and decided to go in. He stole a mask to do just that while Richie snuck around back.

Richie walked around the house and hid from a group of party-goers. Jane admitted to Buddy that she didn't feel like the same person that she was back then, and he didn't either. Richie saw them on the steps together laughing. He straightened his jacket and strutted out to Shy Guy and Gil, who were drinking from the liquor Gil stole. Richie planned to end the party just like Jane wanted. They got out the fireworks and he struck his lighter.

A flash of light exploded outside. Everyone inside the party screamed and took cover while the T-Birds stared up at the flashes of color. Jane emerged from the house, scared, and saw Richie through the sparks. One of the sparks caught a girl's costume on fire and everyone flanked to stomp out the sparks. Susan shouted that this was what they wanted to warn everyone about - that Jane would burn the whole town down. Jane confronted Richie about what he was thinking, as people could have gotten hurt. He acted cool as he was trying to help, but she didn't ask for his help. They thought they were going to die there. He snapped back if Buddy held her real close because he saw them snuggled up earlier. She knew how that must have looked, but he didn't give her a chance to explain. She was into politics now and he wanted her to save the lies. The second he started talking about them at the drive-in she couldn't wait to get away from him. He was gonna give her his jacket tonight, but she exclaimed she didn't want it. She already had a jacket, but that didn't mean she didn't want to be his girlfriend because she did. She liked him too, but he moved away from her. Everything always had to be on her terms because it was all about her and the dopey election that she's roped everyone into. Him, his sister, and the whole school all while pretending it was for the greater good, but it was all about her. He shouted for everyone to vote for Jane so she could be popular, go to college, and be the “most perfect-est girl there ever was.” She told him to stop because he was being a jerk. He knew the real reason she didn't wanna wear his jacket was because being with a guy like him would bring down her stock. He slowly walked away from her as she watched, heartbroken and alone.

The next afternoon, the student body lined up to vote for the student council president. Miss. McGee gave them instructions and then let everyone into the booths. The Socs, T-Birds, Thespians, nerds, choir, and Pink Ladies all voted. Richie approached the registration table. He cast his vote and looked over at Jane, who was with the Pink Ladies. They held eye contact for a moment before he left.

In "Sloppy Seconds Ain't My Style", the Pink Ladies talked outside of the school when Jane looked over her shoulder at the T-Birds in their car. She saw Richie gesture to the boys then drop into the seat, put his sunglasses on, and look over to the girls. The car sped off.

In "Cruisin' for Bruisin'", Richie strutted up to the Frosty Palace where students moved out of his way and gawked. The restaurant was filled with students who celebrated the play. Richie spotted Buddy and stormed up to him where they faced off - Richie bruised and beaten.

Yesterday, the day before the play, Richie lay in his bed fully clothed surrounded by beer bottles. Olivia smacked him awake as he had to go to school.

Gil filled his car with oil while Potato and Shy Guy watched. They turned their sights on a drowsy Richie, who claimed he spent his nights with the girls from St. Bernadette's. He saw Jane and Olivia across the lot and announced their plan to skip school and head to Volcano Island, a desert casino. While Potato was thrilled about “thrills, chills, and dollar bills”, reality set in, and the boys claimed they had responsibilities. Richie took in the “sorry sight” of the boys in front of him. He egged them on until they agreed to go. They mused over the girls they'd find and Richie watched Jane as the car sped off.

The T-Birds drove through the desert as Potato shared his stash of Twinkies, though Shy Guy turned him down as he had to make weight. Richie teased Gil about his slow driving and being slow with girls, but Gil insisted he was doing fine and had his eye on a dime. He quickly covered up his interest as being someone Richie didn't know. He dropped his hands from the wheel so Shy Guy took over. He grilled Richie about how things stalled with Jane, which earned teases from the boys. Richie claimed he cut his losses. Shy Guy worried they couldn't get into the casino, but Richie told them not to worry. He passed around a reefer to help calm their nerves. They skidded into a parking space and put on their jackets. They burst through the doors of the casino as they sang “High Rollin'. They danced with the waitresses, imagined the slot machines came to life and partied. Their song ended when they learned their car was towed.

They rushed to the junkyard only to learn it was $20 to get the car out. Richie tried to talk him into letting it slide, then threatened to turn Shy Guy on him, but the guy was in prison and wasn't fazed. Gil was frustrated so Richie decided they'd earn it back at the casino. They rallied their change, but Potato only had his lucky dollar that saved his father's life in the war. The boys wouldn't let him bet that. Gil remembered the woman who tipped him $5 earlier, which earned cheers.

The T-Birds headed to a gambling spot where Shy Guy nudged Potato about their competitors, whom they called an older version of themselves. Gil put their money on black as it was the official T-Birds color, and they won. They decided to split up to increase their chances. Potato won at the slots while Gil faced his “older version” at craps, whose advice on making money was true. They had a side bet of $5 while Shy Guy and his older self played the opposite side. Gil lost his side bet while Richie downed his drink, flirted with a waitress, and played craps.

The T-Birds made $35 which made Gil happy, as he could get the car back and bring some home to ma. Shy Guy enjoyed a burger while Richie encouraged Gil to make a move on a fellow patron. He only had eyes for one girl and Richie groaned over it being Olivia, which wasn't going to happen. He didn't want some creep all over his sister and thought he would understand since Gil had five sisters. He bet Gil wouldn't want him near any of his sisters either. He encouraged him to take advantage of the situation, but Potato panicked when he saw it was almost midnight. They wanted to leave and Richie mocked Shy Guy for caring about his “little school play”. He didn't care but promised Cynthia he'd do it, while Gil had to open the deli at five. Richie didn't want to stop, so he ordered more drinks. He snatched the chips and danced with a waitress as the boys pondered what to do. Gil knew there was no fighting him, as Richie had to get it out of his system.

Richie ordered more drinks from the waitress who wanted a tip, so he told her to meet him in the bathroom. The rest of the boys divided up the chips but Richie stole it, as he felt lucky. They went to the craps table where their “older selves” egged Richie into betting more, even though Gil warned against the fleecer and Potato wanted to quit while they were ahead. Richie bet all of the money and lost. Gil angrily told him they were screwed and Shy Guy knew they couldn't beg. Richie decided to fight instead and told their “older selves” to meet them in the parking garage for a winner takes all fight.

Once there, Gil and Potato tried to talk Richie out of the fight as the guys would kill him, but Richie wasn't an idiot and wouldn't fight. He pulled Shy Guy into a fight but he refused to fight for him, so the other party walked away. Richie accused him of leaving them hanging, but Shy Guy lashed out that Richie was the one who lost their money. Richie tried to bribe the men to come back with Potato's lucky dollar bill, which Gil refused to let him use. Shy Guy told him he was acting like an asshole and Richie insulted him back. Angered, Gil sucker punched him, which started Richie's anger-fueled rock song where he egged on the T-Birds to fight him. He also worked out his anger issues and resentment against society. The song tipped to depression when he fell over a ledge. He crawled off the car and sat on the ground, which is when he "got it out of his system" according to Gil.

The T-Birds sat on a ledge as Richie iced his face with ice Shy Guy stole from the seafood tower. Richie apologized to Shy Guy for trying to make him fight, as he just assumed Shy Guy would because he was a boxer. He hated fighting and only did it for his dad, which made his voice crack. He decided to quit as it wasn't what he wanted. His emotional state made Potato admit he wished his dad wanted anything, but he came back differently after the war. Gil thought they were lucky to have dads, as he's been the man of the house since he was eight and is exhausted. Richie broke down as he thought he was in love. But he screwed it all up. The boys blamed the desert air for their cracked voices, allergies for their noses, hay fever, and onions for the tears. Gil saw Richie's sobs and remarked on his “dusty jacket”. He brushed it off with reassuring strokes, and Shy Guy joined in. Potato stood behind him to dust off the back and pat his shoulders. They rested together until they broke apart as the dust was gone. Richie apologized as he dragged them all there but promised to find a way out of the mess. Potato realized they still had his lucky dollar bill left.

Potato and Richie approached the older version of Shy Guy at the casino. They bet one dollar that Potato could tickle his nipple and make him giggle like Shirley Temple. The man took the bet but Potato failed and lost his dollar. Gil and Shy Guy cheered from the bar, as they had bet the guy's friend $21 that he would let them tickle his nipple. Potato swapped out his lucky dollar for the one they'd won from his friend. The gang gleefully leaped out of the casino and ran to the junkyard.

They waved the twenty dollars at the owner, though the fee was upped to twenty-five. Gil stepped forward, but Richie stopped him to tell the guy the truth. They were four kids trying to get home and needed a break. The guy didn't care about the plays or their feelings. He taunted Richie with the keys, so Shy Guy sucker-punched him. They snatched the keys, hopped into the car, and sped through the gate.

Shy Guy fretted over Gil's shoulder about not making it to the play. Richie offered to run lines with him but Potato took the booklet from him. Richie thanked Gil for always driving them around. If Gil wants to ask Olivia out, he should do it. The boy swerved the car out of shock and asked if he was being messed with. Richie assured him he wasn't, as Gil was a good guy. He should date Olivia instead of some jerk-off whose ass Richie would have to kick later. He thinks Olivia kind of likes him, and Gil wondered if she said something. She hadn't, but she was mean to Gil, which is how he knew.

Back at the school, Buddy knocked on the door of the apothecary who didn't answer. Mr. Vaughan prepared to take the role of apothecary just as Shy Guy raced to the stage. He yanked open the door and wheezed over for a moment before he delivered his line. The T-Birds erupted into cheers and claps for their boy.

After the play, Richie arrived at the Frosty Palace with a bruised face and stormed up to Buddy. He asked if he'd seen Jane, but Buddy was just looking for her. Richie wanted him to be sure and then left the restaurant.

Richie arrived at Jane's door moments before Buddy did. She worried they fought but Richie assured her they hadn't, as they didn't come together. Betty and Frenchy eavesdropped from the staircase where they mused over Jane's romantic situation. Richie wanted to go first as he'd make it quick. He didn't know what was going on between her and Buddy and guessed it wasn't his business, but he apologized for Halloween. He saw them together and couldn't handle it. When they got together, he started feeling things, real things, good things. The feelings didn't stop and he felt other things too, things he tried not to feel for a long time, that scared him. It was easier to explode than feel them. But he'd rather feel everything with her than nothing with someone else. He knew he had a lot to prove but hoped she'd let him take her to the dance to start. She didn't have to decide now, as he'd let Buddy say his piece. Buddy walked back over and began to tell Jane, but changed his mind. He told her Johnny Vavoom would DJ as he got him to agree. She was surprised, and Richie approached as she had two offers now. Richie decided to give her time and the two boys walked off the porch as Jane watched them leave, stunned.

The boys went home and sat on their beds. Buddy drank out of a bottle of liquor while Richie smiled and put his beer bottles in the trash. He laid down on the bed and smiled while Buddy lay with his liquor.

In "Or at the High School Dance...", . Shy Guy shouted for Richie to hurry up and he lazily strutted through the front doors in sunglasses.

Over at the Frosty Palace, Jane told Richie that she had decided to go to the dance with the Pink Ladies. It made sense since they worked so hard to get the dance together, and it was fine if he wanted to ask someone else. He was visibly disappointed and said he would catch her later.

Outside, Richie played with his lighter in the T-Birds car when he heard someone cry. He hopped out of the car and found Dot on the curb. He asked if she was okay and she wasn't. The person that she liked was going to the dance with someone else. He knew how that one hit, and she gave him a lollipop. All her friends always got dates but she never did, which was humiliating. Richie smiled at her as they were the last two losers on the shelf.

The night of the dance, In the principal's office, Dick helped Buddy get prepared. He reminded Buddy to tell the cameras who he was and that he was the president, to have the Aldridge name out there before his campaign. He asked where Buddy's arm candy was, though Jane turned him down. Dick told him not to tell Jane about the election business. He eagerly spotted the camera crew. Buddy didn't tell her, he couldn't, which Dick thought was for the best. Nicholson would never admit that he threw out Jane's votes. He urged Buddy to get himself together because he looked terrible. After Dick left, Buddy took a bottle of liquor out of his jacket and drank it. Unbeknownst to them, Richie sat on the other side of the wall and heard everything.

Jane found Richie in the hall. She assumed they both flew solo. Dot arrived in a black dress and greeted Richie as a stud. She fumbled with a cigarette, dropped it, then tried to recover. She called him “cowboy” and that they would rock the rodeo. She walked over to him, looped her arm through his, and told Jane “You snooze you lose”.

The Pink Ladies and T-Birds were next in line for the dance sign-in. Tippy reviewed her clipboard and refused to let them in. They made recent changes to the code of conduct, approved by the PTA earlier, and agreed that dances were a privilege and those with permanent marks on their records were not allowed to attend school functions. Olivia called it convenient and saw Susan inside. Dot pushed past and tried to bargain for her to just let Richie in as they were on a date. Tippy refused as rules were rules. Jane called it unfair as this was their dance. Olivia knew it wasn't anymore and they all walked away.

Susan passed the T-Birds and Pink Ladies on the steps. Olivia scoffed as they spent hours decorating that gym. The night was still young, so Cynthia recommended the drive-in, but Jane just wanted to go home. Shy Guy didn't want to give up since the girls made this dance happen. Richie suggested they have it somewhere else, and smiled at Jane, who realized they didn't need a gym. She asked Nancy about the Frosty Palace. She initially said no as her parents closed on dance nights. She realized after obvious looks from her friends that was what made it perfect. As everyone scattered toward the gym, Gil offered his hand to Olivia and she took it giddily. Jane started to approach Richie but Dot swooped in and they walked off.

The Pink Ladies and T-Birds snuck into the dance through a side door in the gym to pass along their message of a party at Frosty's. Nancy plucked decorations and other students followed suit. News spread quickly and Hazel told Wally it sounded fun, so they had to go in the name of science. Susan told the band to get their things as the party moved - and she needed Johnny's phone number. Olivia started to take food and the thespians helped. Tippy came inside with a huff and tried to stop the students, who ignored her. Gil asked her to hold a jello tray which allowed him and Olivia to run out. She shouted they weren't permitted, and nearly everyone vacated the gym. Tippy shouted for the camera crew to stop filming.

The party arrived at the Frosty Palace. Nancy told them not to break anything or ask her to make milkshakes because she was off the clock. Dot told her not to worry as they stopped by her house and got all the refreshments they needed. Richie opened a sack full of liquor, and the T-Birds peeked inside. She had raided her dad's liquor cabinet, which was full of 50-year-old scotch and nothing newer. Richie raised a bottle and shouted for them to get the party started. Gil poured scotch into coffee cups and then took a swig. The party started in full swing as everyone danced. Dot danced in front of Richie before she joined the crowd. Jane shimmied up to Richie to congratulate him on having snagged the hottest girl in school. He still had his eye on someone else, but she turned him down cold. She smiled at him and Dot noticed so she grabbed Richie and pulled him away to dance.

Shy Guy made his way through the crowd of dancing students. He passed Olivia, Jane, and Richie, the first of whom celebrated the party they always wanted. Jane welcomed Richie to the dance party committee, but he didn't want her to get any ideas. She flirtatiously said she already had a few. Dot shoved between them. She wanted to be honest. She got interest from other people and didn't want to feel caged. He put his hand over his heart, remarked she was breaking it, but got it. He told her to fly free. She kissed him once more for the road then gestured for Jane to go for Richie. She approached him now that he didn't have a date. He asked about Buddy, but she merely responded with, “What about Buddy?”. As they were about to kiss, Johnny Vavoom loudly entered. Dot screamed that it was Johnny from the radio, and everyone flocked to him.

The music changed to upbeat rock ‘n' roll. Cynthia tried to make her way through the rambunctious crowd which had grown aggressive. Wally asked Hazel if they should go, but she just started to have fun. Nancy remarked this was getting scary and wanted to get some of these people out of there. Hazel cut in that, if she may, they didn't have a capacity problem but a personal radius problem. People needed to dance smaller and Nancy asked how that happened. Wally told her to show the Pink Ladies how she danced, and she did. Jane gushed that she was a lifesaver. Jane adapted it quickly into the hand jive. The song worked as they took control back of the party together. Olivia joined in and danced against Gil, then Nancy on a table with a seated Potato, and Cynthia on the counter. Hazel and Jane climbed on top of the tables to show everyone the dance moves. The song spilled out into the parking lot and Johnny Vavoom joined in. Potato and Nancy danced in the middle of a circle. She ran over to the Pink Ladies to complain that Potato had her under a spell. Giddy, Olivia reminded her there was only one way to break a spell in a fairy tale. By the cars, Shy Guy saw Arthur and Floyd talk. Cynthia danced her struggles out on the hood of a car, while the students around her kept up. When the song ended, Nancy grabbed Potato and kissed him.

Olivia confronted Susan inside the Frosty Palace. Susan tried to get them into the party but Olivia didn't believe her. Jane wanted to hear her out. Olivia asked if she forgot this was the same girl who tried to get Richie beat up, who threw an entire party to make sure Jane wasn't elected, and who humiliated Jane at the pep rally. She was a scorpion. Susan saw Rosemary, Dot, and everyone else staring. She blurted out that at least she wasn't a homewrecker like Olivia. She saw Olivia with Mr. Daniels, but Jane butted in that it was last year. Rosemary realized that meant the rumors were true. Susan confirmed it was last year but also today, as she saw them kiss in his classroom before the dance. A hurt Gil questioned the statement, and Olivia turned to look at him. He shook his head and left. Dot pushed between them, but the girls shouted to stay out of it. Nancy suggested they go somewhere else, and Cynthia seconded they should go somewhere without a crowd. Olivia saw Buddy enter and turned back to Susan. She knew Susan thought she was superior on her high horse, but she was the one who tried to make everyone think Jane was easy when Susan was the one who put out for Buddy Aldridge. Buddy shouted that it was no one's business. Susan grabbed his hand and pulled him away.

Jane confronted Olivia as they weren't supposed to tell anyone. Olivia accused her of being on Susan's side, and Jane insisted she wasn't on anyone's side. Olivia was glad to see where she stood. Buddy saw Rosemary laugh with a guy and shoved him to stop laughing at Susan. He went to punch the guy but elbowed Dot in the nose, and the girl burst into tears. Wally didn't think they should be there, and Hazel agreed. The duo left just as Richie approached Olivia to suggest they leave. She accused him of being on Jane's side and thought he should know Jane kissed Buddy less than 24 hours after breaking up with Richie. Everyone gasped, and Jane quickly explained that it was after the election. Richie couldn't believe that Buddy kissed Jane after he stole the election. Jane questioned Buddy, who admitted he came there to tell her. His dad and Nicholson rigged the votes. He tried to stop her from walking away, but Richie stopped him. Buddy shoved him back and said to get out of his way. Richie shoved him back, and Jane tried to stop it, but Cynthia pulled her aside. Buddy came at Richie, who reared to hit Buddy and accidentally elbowed Dot in the nose again. Nancy pushed Dot out of the way, and the girl bumped into a line of students, which made people fall into each other. A student threw a bottle that hit a window and cracked it. Buddy grabbed Richie's shoulder so the boys were face-to-face. Olivia shouted for her brother, but the Pink Ladies kept her back as police sirens wailed.

Everyone spilled into the parking lot. Rosemary pulled Dot, Johnny Vavoom exclaimed he was never there, while Shy Guy and Potato ran from the entrance. Buddy and Richie, who fought, toppled through the open doors. Richie grabbed Buddy, and they grappled before they fell to the ground. The police came and pulled the boys away to arrest them. Olivia cried out for her brother again, but Cynthia held her back as the cops already had him. She yanked away and stormed back inside.

Olivia tearfully talked on the phone. When she hung up, the Pink Ladies asked if he was okay, if her parents saw him, and if he was alright. He wasn't as he was in jail. Jane offered to go to the police station with her. This spurred a fight between Jane and Olivia and Olivia subsequently quit the Pink Ladies.

In "You're Dropping Out of Rydell?", Richie faced the consequences of the fight at the Frosty Palace. After being he spent two nights in jail, Richie and Buddy were expelled from Rydell High. His parents then enrolled him in military school, with plans to ship him off as soon as possible. Jane saw him in the office with his parents, Buddy, and Mr. Aldridge. After he left the office, he hugged Olivia goodbye. At some point, Richie left a note for each of the T-Birds saying goodbye. He left his jacket with Cynthia and the chance for her to join the T-Birds officially. Jane tried to use her power as student president to convince Principal Nicholson, who wanted to run for superintendent, to let Richie back in the school, but he refused as he wanted to crack down on delinquency. When the newly reunited Pink Ladies and remaining T-Birds rushed to Olivia's house, she revealed her engagement to Mr. Daniels. Jane knew Richie would never go for it, but Olivia solemnly told her that her parents sent him out on a bus that morning. He was gone. Jane was devastated and Cynthia gave her Richie's T-Birds jacket, as it belonged with her.

In "Racing for Pinks", Jane was inspired to get Richie back to Rydell so Olivia wouldn't marry Mr. Daniels, and everything would go back to normal. She arranged a drag race between the T-Birds and Socs. Jane explained her plan for both gangs to race. If Buddy won, they would all go to Nicholson and McGee together to say that Richie started the fight, which would let Buddy back in. But if Buddy lost, they say that Buddy started the fight, which would let Richie back in. Buddy asked how it would work since Richie wasn't there to race. Gil stepped up as Richie's second.

The next at the Rydell Raceway, Susan sneakily hurt Gil's hand so he couldn't race. This led Jane to take his place and Susan to take Buddy's, for a fair race. Gil ensured the car was perfect and Nancy put Richie's T-Birds jacket on Jane. Unfortunately, the T-Birds new carburetor went out in the final lap, and the Socs won.

Jane cried in bed with Richie's jacket over her. She curled up on her side and fell asleep with it in her arms. In the morning, a soft thump from the window awakened Jane. She called out for Richie, only to find Hazel instead. Hazel had boy problems and hoped Jane could help since she had been in that situation. Jane wasn't sure how much help she could be as she ruined both of those boy's lives.

Later, the Pink Ladies stopped Olivia's wedding and they headed to the Rydell High Carnival. The Socs ran up to encourage Jane to tell Nicholson what she had been dying to tell him. Jane admitted the Frosty Palace fight was Richie's fault. They all saw it and agreed Buddy should stay. Nicholson revealed it was too late as Buddy called him that morning and confessed to everything. Richie Valdovinos was free to come back to Rydell High. This elated Olivia and Jane.

Personality[]

"They threw a thousand punches, but I always survived. A black leather jacket compliments a black eye. The world was never made for me, so why even try?"

—Excerpt of Richie's lyrics in "Hit Me Again" about his life.^[src]

Richie appears as a confident, snarky, rebellious teen with a dangerous edge. He skips classes and leads the schools boy gang, encouraging their wild antics and rule-breaking. Beneath his rugged exterior is an aspiring young man who wants to travel the world, be with a girl who has her own mind and ideas, and be challenged by the world around him. He's very protective of his sister and ensures that the other T-Birds don't ogle her the way he and the others do other girls, which does show a hypocritical element of his personality. He is also resourceful, street smart, flirtatious, and full of suave.

Richie, however, is very much a product of his environment and the difficulties he's endured in his life. He bottles up his feelings and panics when he starts to feel things like hope, love, and happiness. These emotions trigger his defense mechanism of a nonchalant attitude and cruel words. He lets out his frustrations and exhaustion with being punched down by society and not encouraged to read or be more then what he is in "Hit Me Again". Through his relationship with Jane, Richie allows himself to feel things and wants to be a better person with her.

Physical Appearance[]

Richie is a junior in high school with a solid build, almond-shaped brown eyes, and slicked black hair that always looks like it's been styled in grease. There's one stray curl that always falls free from the slicked back style, prompting him to carry a comb with him and inspires his signature move. He has broad shoulders and wears heavy jeans, a black t-shirt, and his leather T-Birds jacket.

Notes and Trivia[]

Richie is bilingual, speaking both Spanish and English fluently.
Richie is the first character in Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies to be arrested. He was arrested for disorderly conduct and fighting.
Because of his fight with Buddy and subsequent arrest, Richie was originally expelled from Rydell High School. However, after Buddy told Nicholson the truth about who started the fight, Richie was allowed back to the school. Unfortunately, he had already been shipped off to military school.
He gave his T-Bird Jacket to Cynthia Zdunowski before he left. While this showed his acceptance of her into the gang, it also meant he didn't believe he'd ever return to Rydell.

Richie Valdovinos

Contents

Biography[]

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies[]

Personality[]

Physical Appearance[]

Notes and Trivia[]

Gallery[]

References[]

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