Honestly, if you missed the brief window when the Richie Rich 2015 cast was all over Netflix, you probably aren't alone. It was a weird time for streaming. Netflix was just starting to throw spaghetti at the wall to see what stuck in the kids' department. They teamed up with AwesomenessTV, a brand that basically lived and breathed YouTube energy, to reboot a character most of us associated with Macaulay Culkin or old Harvey Comics.
But this wasn't the tuxedo-wearing kid from the 90s.
Instead, we got a "new money" Richie who made his billions by inventing a way to turn uneaten vegetables into green energy. It was quirky. It was loud. And the cast they assembled was this fascinating mix of seasoned character actors and "next big thing" teenagers who were huge on Vine and YouTube at the time.
The Core Players of the Richie Rich 2015 Cast
At the center of it all was Jake Brennan. Before landing the role of the richest kid in the world, Jake had some momentum from Dark Skies. He played Richie with a specific kind of hyper-active charisma. He wasn't the spoiled brat you might expect. He was more like a tech-bro prodigy who happened to have a personal robot and a stadium in his backyard. Brennan had to carry the show’s manic energy, and he did it by leaning into the "cool nerd" persona.
Then you have the father figure. Joshua Carlon played Murray, Richie’s best friend and self-appointed manager. Every Richie needs a grounded foil, and Murray was the guy constantly worried about the "Richie Rich" brand. Carlon’s chemistry with Brennan felt genuine, like two kids who actually spent too much time in a high-tech mansion together.
But the real scene-stealer? That was Lauren Taylor as Harper.
She played Richie’s other best friend, the one who wasn't impressed by the gold toilets or the private jets. Lauren Taylor later went on to star in Disney Channel’s Best Friends Whenever, but you can see the seeds of her comedic timing here. She provided the necessary "normal person" perspective in a world that was increasingly absurd.
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The Adults in the Room
You can't talk about the Richie Rich 2015 cast without mentioning the adults who had to play off these kids. Kiff VandenHeuvel played Cliff Rich, Richie’s dad. If you’re a fan of video games or niche voice acting, you might recognize his name—he’s done a ton of work in BioShock Infinite and Star Wars projects. In this show, he was the lovable, slightly clueless father who was just happy to be along for the ride.
And then there was Irona.
In the old comics, Irona was a robot maid. In the 2015 version, she was played by Brooke Wexler. They turned her into a "humanoid" model, which basically meant Brooke had to act like a high-tech assistant with a dry, deadpan wit. It was a smart move. It saved on the CGI budget and gave the show a consistent source of sarcasm to balance out Richie’s optimism.
Why the Casting Reflected 2015 Trends
The mid-2010s were the peak of the "influencer" crossover. AwesomenessTV was the engine behind this show, and their whole strategy was putting digital stars into traditional formats. You saw guest spots and recurring roles from people who were blowing up on social media.
Jenna Ortega actually appeared in the series as Darcy. It’s wild to think about now, considering she’s basically the queen of Netflix today with Wednesday. Back then, she was just a talented kid actor finding her footing in the industry. Seeing her interact with the Richie Rich 2015 cast is like looking at a time capsule of future Hollywood power players.
The show also featured Jake Short, known from A.N.T. Farm, in a guest capacity. This was intentional. The producers wanted kids to see faces they already recognized from Disney, Nick, and YouTube. It was a calculated move to bridge the gap between "TV" and "Internet."
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The Performance Style: Why It Was Polarizing
If you go back and watch the show now, the acting is... intense. It’s very much in the vein of "multi-cam sitcom energy." There are lots of bright lights, fast talking, and exaggerated facial expressions.
Critics at the time were somewhat harsh. They compared it unfavorably to the 1994 film. But those critics weren't the target audience. The kids who watched Richie Rich on Netflix in 2015 didn't care about Macaulay Culkin. They cared about the fact that Richie had a "Cool Room" and gadgets that looked like they came out of a Silicon Valley startup.
The cast had to work within the confines of a script that was very "punny."
- Jake Brennan had to deliver lines about vegetable power with total sincerity.
- Joshua Carlon had to act like a 12-year-old accountant.
- Brooke Wexler had to stay perfectly still while chaos erupted around her.
It wasn't easy work. Even if the show didn't become a decade-long staple, the actors put in the effort to make that specific, wacky world feel lived-in.
What Happened to the Cast?
It's been years since the show wrapped its two-season run. Where did everyone go?
Jake Brennan has stayed active, though he’s moved into different types of roles as he’s aged out of the "child star" bracket. Lauren Taylor, as mentioned, became a Disney staple for a few years. Joshua Carlon has popped up in shows like Teachers and Fresh Off the Boat.
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The interesting thing is how many people involved in the Richie Rich 2015 cast moved behind the scenes or into the voice-over world. Kiff VandenHeuvel continues to be a powerhouse in the VO industry.
Is Richie Rich 2015 Still Worth a Watch?
If you’re a completionist for 2010s pop culture, absolutely. It’s a fascinating look at what Netflix thought "the future of kids' TV" looked like before they moved into higher-budget fare like Stranger Things or The Umbrella Academy.
The show is a relic. It represents a transition point in media.
We shifted from the "big movie star" era of Richie Rich to the "relatable kid inventor" era. The 2015 cast perfectly embodied that shift. They weren't untouchable icons; they felt like kids you might see on your "For You" page today.
Quick Facts About the Production
- Filming Location: Much of the show was shot on stages in Los Angeles to maintain that bright, sitcom look.
- The Original Concept: The show was actually based on the 1950s comic book character, but modernized for a world where kids can become millionaires through apps.
- The AwesomenessTV Connection: This was one of the first major scripted series Netflix bought from a digital-first studio.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Researchers
If you are trying to track down the work of the Richie Rich 2015 cast today, here is the best way to do it:
- Check Disney+ for Lauren Taylor: Her work on Best Friends Whenever is much more indicative of her range than the Richie Rich scripts allowed.
- Follow Jake Brennan on Socials: He often shares throwback photos and updates on his current projects, giving a glimpse into the life of a former Netflix lead.
- Look into the AwesomenessTV Archives: If you liked the vibe of this show, their other mid-2010s productions like Project Mc2 or Bizaardvark (though Disney-produced, it shared that "influencer" DNA) will be right up your alley.
- Watch Jenna Ortega’s Early Work: If you’re a fan of her current darker roles, seeing her in the lighthearted environment of the Richie Rich set is a fun contrast.
The 2015 reboot might not have the nostalgia of the 90s movie, but for a specific generation of streamers, this cast is Richie Rich. They brought a sense of fun and modern absurdity to a character that was otherwise collecting dust in a comic book vault. While the show is no longer the "new shiny thing" on the Netflix home screen, the careers it helped launch are still very much in motion.
Tracking the trajectory of these actors is a lesson in how the entertainment industry worked during the great streaming land grab of the mid-2010s. It was fast, it was experimental, and it was undeniably unique.
Next Steps for Deep Divers:
To truly understand the impact of this era, compare the casting choices of Richie Rich (2015) with the casting of the live-action One Piece or Avatar: The Last Airbender. You will notice how Netflix moved from "influencer-adjacent" casting to "fandom-focused" casting. This shift explains why the 2015 series feels like a very specific time capsule of a lost internet culture. You can find the series still listed in the "Kids" section of many regional Netflix libraries, though availability fluctuates. For the best viewing experience, watch it alongside other AwesomenessTV productions from that era to see the "house style" they were trying to build.