Richard Harlan was born in Lima, Peru, where his father was an attaché at the American Embassy in Lima. At the age of three he was taken to Havana, Cuba and received part of his education at the La Salle School in that city. At 15 attended the Clason Point Military Academy in New York City and when he was 17 studied medicine at Pennsylvania University for three years. At 20, studied sculpturing under such famous artists as Gurzon Borglum and Paul Manship. He met Richard Barthelmess and got a job as first assistant director on "The Bright Shawl." From 1919 to 1923 was a first assistant director, was a director/producer from 1924 to 1926 and from 1927 to 1929 back to assistant director jobs. In 1930, he directed the Spanish versions of "Freindship", "Man Who Came Back", "The Valiant" and "East Lynne" for Fox Films, and the Spanish version of "East Borneo" for Universal Pictures. Continued on from 1930 to 1938 as Technical Director, First Assistant Director and Literary Collaborator. Started directing Spanish-language pictures in 1938 for Dario Productions releasing through Paramount Pictures. Finished his film work as assistant director of many Monogram pictures through 1948.
