Richard Dreyfuss Claims Dad, Uncle Owe Him $4 Million

LOS ANGELES — Richard Dreyfuss says his father and uncle owe him nearly $4 million on an unpaid loan.

The Oscar-winning actor sued the pair in August over the loan, but amended his lawsuit this week to raise new allegations of financial wrongdoing. Dreyfuss' complaint states he loaned his father and uncle $870,000 in the early 1980s to help them with a 13-story office building they own in downtown Los Angeles.

Gilbert Dreyfuss, who is an attorney representing himself and Norman Dreyfuss in the case, denied in court documents that the loan was that old and stated that his nephew didn't have a large enough stake in the building to warrant repayment. He did not immediately return calls and e-mail messages seeking comment.

The lawsuit claims Gilbert and Norman Dreyfuss may have diverted millions of dollars from a $6 million judgment they won against the state of California over a lease arrangement in the building.

Richard Dreyfuss is seeking to look at accounting records for the building, and repayment of the loan and interest.

The suit also states the Dreyfuss brothers failed to properly repay a $13 million loan on the building, resulting in a lender starting foreclosure proceedings on the property.

Gilbert Dreyfuss acknowledged last month in court filings that he made some mistakes in handling of the judgment money, but said payments on the loan are current. He stated he had used his own money to fight the case against the state and make improvements to the building.

Comments

[truthglow]

These kinds of things happen all the time. Since when are people "good," just because they are in your family? Some of the greediest people are family members, who bilk other family members out of their own money. It happened in my family, and that is why I know whereof I speak. Good for Richard Dreyfuss! Never loan money to your relatives!

[xxnounxx]

How about his dard sue his stingy pan ts off.
what is his heart made of.

[humboldtgold]

"Hoopa, drive the boat hoopa."

[Bystander]

Who could possibly be surprised at the machinations of Hollywood types?

[sonoffestus]

Families are not what they use to be........­..........­.LOL!

[ignorantwillyharper]

Three people you never loan money to; Friends, Family, or anyone else.

[zenwhenicanbe2]

Right-O!

[LMPE]

Of course, this is nothing compared to George W. Bush's beef with his dad: George H. W. Bush didn't go far enough in the first Gulf War.

[pinksghetti]

I'm a fan of Mr. Dreyfuss but he is rich (I think, lol) he shouldn't sue his dad and uncle. He's older like 61 or something so I'm sure his dad and uncle are pretty old (at least late 80's or even 90's). He should just forget the money and let them live their golden years in peace.

[ignorantwillyharper]

He may not be that wealthy, when ask why he took the part as Cheney in the movie "W". He stated he needed the money, or he would not have taken it.

[MsLiz]

I wondered what Richard Dreyfuss' career has been like recently so I checked IMDB. He has worked recently, including playing Dick Cheney in W. Sadly, his next appearance on television is Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and the Island of the Misfit Toys. Next year he will appear in a movie titled My Life in Ruins.

I'd forgotten that he won a Best Actor Oscar for The Goodbye Girl.

[AlligatorShuz]

Richard Dreyfuss is crazy? Why is he sueing his father out of all people!

[1201SLD]

This may well be a defensive move. As his father and uncle are under investigation, since the financial aspects of the building and judgment are suspect, and since Dreyfuss has a financial interest in the building and judgment, he may have to sue to establish that he is an outsider.

[terramartom]

I feel for Dreyfuss. I am in the process of suing my sister over family trut issues because of her greed. At the same time my brother who is part of the suit decided, after we hired an attorney not to pay the attorney his half of the legal fees leaving me stuck with the entire bill.
One expects to trust family members explicitly, but greed, selfishness and jealousy can creep in when it comes to money.
I was stunned only after the fact that even my own brother and sister were willing to chat me too.
But it happens.
The only recourse is in the courts! But it is very costly and time consuming, not to mention the emotional feeling of betrayal through it all.

[NotMcCain]

When did Dreyfuss start looking like Paul Newman?

As for "not suing your dad"....We­ll, if Dreyfuss was stealing millions from his father, people would be up in arms. Prisons are filled with parents who are crooks (or worse). No one should get a "pass" on stealing from you just because you share some DNA....

[SaucyB]

Paul Newman??? you're kidding right?

[spectacularbid]

never loan money to family members. either give it to them or don't.

[1201SLD]

And you will be much better off if you do neither.

[horsey]

Richard never has been the same since Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

[NewmanKitten]

Never loan more than you're willing to give away...whi­ch brings the question, couldn't Dreyfuss have given them the 800k rather than loan it? I mean, if they wanted to pay it back, they could have given the proceeds to charity or something.
I loaned (gave) $13k to my nephew to start a business several years ago. Christmas two years ago (6 years after the loan, he gave me a Christmas card with a check for $20k in repayment. I, with a huge smile, got up and tossed it into the roaring fire in the fireplace. Told him he owed me a box of chocolates though! I bought a lot of joy watching that kid succeed with that money. My Dad did the same thing with one of my brothers years earlier. If you get the money back - what a joy to give it away again!

[BeHonest120]

I've loaned and given money to certain family members. If they are able to pay it back...gre­at. If it helped get them through a hard time I'm glad I was able to help. I'm not worried about getting repaid although it would be nice surprise. If your able to help...why not? If you really can't afford to help because you need the money, invest it wisely. I can't fault Dreyfuss..­.who am I to judge?

[tiger313]

What a great spirit you have. Very nice to read something so positive.

[ponderingmuch]

Great post. I completely agree. When I have had money it delighted me to give it away to people who need it (friends, charities.­..no relatives asked, but they would have received). It always amazes me that there are many people who never even think of that, or even disapprove of that.

When I have truly needed it, some like-minded people (none of whom could have been predicted.­, so it was not that anyone was paying me back) have given to me. I love that.

I know many Hollywood rich people. They have never been part of the no-strings generosity group.

[melakfilms]

*squelch* "The loan shark is working... The loan shark is working...­" *squelch*