Following the end of the Second World War, Stapley began appearing in theatre roles in London.[2] He soon signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), making his film debut in a supporting role in the 1948 film, The Three Musketeers.[2] He next appeared in the 1949 remake, Little Women, in which he played John Brooke, the love interest of Janet Leigh's character, Meg.
Stapley returned to Britain and Europe in 1960, where he adopted the stage name, Richard Wyler.[2][3] His British television credits from that era included the crime series, Man from Interpol[3] and the film Identity Unknown (1960). He also appeared in the 1961–1962 American dramatic television series Window on Main Street.
During the early part of the decade, he wrote Thru the Gears, a monthly feature for American magazine Motorcyclist,[4] a weekly column for Motor Cycling magazine, Richard Wyler's Coffee Bar Column,[5] and owned a shop in Central Road, Worcester Park, London, specialising in performance motorcycle parts and accessories.[6] The shop was later sold to Cyril Jones.[7]
When his acting roles became fewer he became a radio announcer in Britain, raced motorbikes,[8] and in the 1970s worked part-time as a motor cycle courier.[9]
Stapley became a naturalisedUS citizen during his later life.[2] He focused on writing following his acting career. He published a novel entitled, Naked Legacy, in 2004.[3] Stapley also completed a second novel and corresponding adapted screenplay, both called Tomorrow Will Be Cancelled.[2] He was working on an autobiography at the time of his death in 2010.[2]
Richard Stapley died of kidney failure at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, California, on 5 March 2010, at the age of 86. His death was announced by his publicist, Alan Eichler.[3]
